live from london. this is bbc news. a powerful earthquake strikes japan, destroying buildings and killing at least one person. thousands have fled their homes, spending the night in shelters. britain says it won't hesitate to act against rebels in yemen, targeting ships in the red sea. migrant boat crossings in the english channel drop by almost a third, but the figures are still some of the highest on record. and what it means for disney as the copyright expires on the earliest versions of mickey and minnie mouse. hello, i'm nicky schiller. we start injapan, where a powerful earthquake has struck the centre of the country, bringing down buildings and power lines. one person is known to have died,

and several others are believed trapped beneath the rubble. the epicentre of the 7.6 magnitude quake, was in the province of noto in the ishikawa prefecture, with the tremors felt as far away as the capital tokyo. tens of thousands of people were told to head to higher ground and many are spending the night in emergency shelters. but a major tsunami warning has been downgraded to an advisory. suranjana tewari has the latest from japan. this footage from inside someone�*s home captures the moment the powerful earthquake struck. more than 140 kilometres from the epicentre, this video was taken by english teacher barney davies. itjust kept going. it was really long. the fridge door was opening and shutting, pictures were going all over the place, everything fell off the shelves. it was pretty dramatic. barney and his family went

to the local evacuation centre until he was told it was safe to return home. but then... literally as we were talking my phone alert said there was another earthquake up north again. the whole evening there have been aftershocks. futher north, some staff at this news network took cover while others wanted to cover the story. the 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck just after four o'clock in the afternoon local time. it was caught on camera in this supermarket. there was chaos and confusion. tsunami warnings were issued then downgraded on ishikawa coastline. and people were told to head to higher ground. translation: i would like to ask | all residents to continue to pay. close attention to the occurrence of this strong earthquake. if you are in a region

where a tsunami is expected please evacuate as soon as possible. despite the damage to roads and buildings, this earthquake is not as severe as 2011 when a magnitude nine quake triggered a tsunami leading to a nuclear meltdown at the fukushima power plant. this time all nuclear facilities are currently unaffected. but following the earthquake a huge fire broke out in one of the affected areas, and thousands are now spending the night outside in below zero temperatures, fearful of going back into their homes as aftershocks continue to hit. sura njana tewari there. live now to dan faulkner — a professor of geology and earth sciences at the university of liverpool. thank liverpool. you forjoining us. we heard thank you forjoining us. we heard in that report that a lot of people in that report that a lot of people in japan were in that report that a lot of people injapan were surprised about the size of this earthquake, were you? not really. in this part of the

world to expect events of this size and in fact, world to expect events of this size and infact, 60 world to expect events of this size and in fact, 60 years agojust world to expect events of this size and in fact, 60 years ago just about 200 km to the north—east of where this event happened there was a similar size earthquake back then as well. so it is certainly not unknown to have earthquakes of this size in that particular area.— that particular area. japan used to deafinu that particular area. japan used to dealing with _ that particular area. japan used to dealing with the _ that particular area. japan used to dealing with the earthquakes. - that particular area. japan used to l dealing with the earthquakes. they have a sophisticated warning system particularly for these nominees. absolutely. i thinkjapan is probably one of the best. countries for events like this. —— sue nominees. certainly the tsunami warning when straight out and people were prepared for that and thankfully did not turn out as dramatic as we first beer when the earthquake first happen. i dramatic as we first beer when the earthquake first happen. i explained to us the tectonic _ earthquake first happen. i explained to us the tectonic plates _ earthquake first happen. i explained to us the tectonic plates and - earthquake first happen. i explained to us the tectonic plates and why - to us the tectonic plates and why japan is so liable to earthquakes. it is an amazing part of the world, japan is on the pacific ring of fire

were there is lots of huge subduction zones where up tectonic plates are being thrust back down into the earth dismantle all the pacific and whilst this earthquake did not happen on one of the subduction zone folds it is all part of that same system where the tectonic plates are pushing up against the other and this earthquake was a thrust fault earthquake was a thrust fault earthquake in which the earth crust which would have been pushed up around 3.5 metres in this event and it is all related to the stresses in tectonic forces that are affecting the region. tectonic forces that are affecting the region-— the region. we've had dozens of other earthquakes _ the region. we've had dozens of other earthquakes today, - the region. we've had dozens of other earthquakes today, could | the region. we've had dozens of i other earthquakes today, could we get more and will they be small or could we have a never large one? from studying many earthquakes over many years now we do know that earthquakes of this size typically are followed by an aftershock sequence with aftershocks becoming less and less severe in their strength. but this was a really huge

earthquake, a magnitude of 7.6. so some of the aftershocks that japan may experience are still going to be pretty large and they could affect infrastructure and buildings which are already begin to buy the main event. what we would expect scientifically in this region is to see a gradual diminishing of earthquakes. we would not expect anything of a similar size, it should be less but still, perhaps some pretty significant aftershocks still to come. i some pretty significant aftershocks still to come.— still to come. i assume because it has such a — still to come. i assume because it has such a sophisticated - still to come. i assume because it has such a sophisticated system l has such a sophisticated system in japan, that you, as geologist can learn a lot to be able to predict them in the future? absolutely. we do have events _ them in the future? absolutely. we do have events like _ them in the future? absolutely. we do have events like this _ them in the future? absolutely. we do have events like this they - them in the future? absolutely. we do have events like this they do - do have events like this they do provide a learning opportunity for us in particular in an area like japan or things us in particular in an area like japan orthings are us in particular in an area like japan or things are so well instrumented, we would be able to tune in and learn a lot from this from all of the instrumentation and

measurements that will be made around this as well. so if one good thing can come from this is hopefully we can look more about these kinds of events in the future. thank you forjoining us, professor. an update now on some breaking news in the last hour from israel. the supreme court has struck down a controversial judicial reform bill — that would have limited its powers. the highly—disputed law was passed by prime minister benjamin netanyahu's right—wing government last year — triggering months of protests in israel. it had removed one, but not all, of the court's tools for quashing any government decisions it deemed "unreasonable". critics said the changes would weaken the independence of the courts — and judicial oversight of the government. responding to the supreme court's decision, mr netanyahu's likud party accused the court of abusing its power and quote, "opposing the will of the people for unity, especially during wartime."

israel says the war in gaza, which has reduced much of the territory to rubble, could go on throughout 202a. but it has signalled a shift in tactics, withdrawing some forces to focus on more targeted operations against hamas. an official says this will allow some reservists to return to civilian life, shoring up israel's war—battered economy, and freeing up military units, in case of a wider conflict in the north. from jerusalem, here's shaimaa khalil. the sound of gunfire and air strikes. ushering in the new year for the people of gaza. as they continue to flee further south, seeking the ever shrinking spots of safety. for many families it is an arduous and an all too familiarjourney.

there is no safe place left in gaza. we used to live in gaza city, then we had to move to central gaza and from their khan younis. right now we are outside khan younis but there is still no safe place. in central gaza the intense bombardment shows no sign of easing. in this building people are using their bare hands and whatever equipment they can find to pull out casualties from the rubble. this was meant to be one of the safer areas for people who needed to evacuate other parts of the centre. the un has yet again warned of the worsening humanitarian situation in gaza. it says teams on the ground are facing restrictions on different areas. israel says it is not limiting aid. but with continuing fighting across the gaza strip, delivering aid to those who need it most has become a dangerous and complex process. israel's war in gaza has come at a very heavy price. these were the words of the prime minister a few days ago. as the number of soldiers killed in battle now nears 200.

israel's military says it is now withdrawing some combat troops and switching to more targeted operations, but the aim remains the same — to dismantle hamas and bring back the hostages. and this war looks set to last well into the new year. shaimaa khalil, bbc news, jerusalem. britain says its forces are ready to act against houthi rebels targeting cargo ships in the red sea. they have declared their support for hamas and launched more than 100 drone and missile attacks against ships travelling to israel. live now to our security correspondent, frank gardner. what is britain suggesting? grant shapps is calling it the risk of direct action if the houthis do not stop their attacks. i think there are a number of options. at the minimum it means continuing to shoot down the drones that the houthis are firing, but this is not a very

cost—effective exercise for the west. so you have us, britain, france and other nations all who have navies in that region as part of a coalition of us led coalition called operation prosperity guardian, but it costs roughly 100 times more to fire off a sea viper missile from a distro to shoot on a drum than it the houthis to launch a $20,000 drone. so that isn't what you work in the long run. they're hoping to dissuade houthis from doing more of these and with that the more implicit threat that if they carry—on, there is the risk that the us and britain and others will actually use air strikes and tomahawk missile strikes to take out the houthi launch site. they do not want to do that because it is quite risky. you risk metastasizing the hamas is war into something much bigger. potentially, putting iran and us forces into direct confrontation because iran supports

the houthis. confrontation because iran supports the houthis-— the houthis. give us an idea how much support — the houthis. give us an idea how much support iran _ the houthis. give us an idea how much support iran is _ the houthis. give us an idea how much support iran is giving - the houthis. give us an idea how much support iran is giving to i the houthis. give us an idea howl much support iran is giving to the rebels and what is it? let’s much support iran is giving to the rebels and what is it?— rebels and what is it? let's be clear at the — rebels and what is it? let's be clear at the houthis _ rebels and what is it? let's be clear at the houthis could - rebels and what is it? let's be i clear at the houthis could never have taken, could never have got to where they are today and quite a powerful militia army that controls much of the parts of yemen and could not have gotten to that status without iranian supports so there have been numerous sets of iranian weapons shipping this coming into yemen. iran always denies that they are giving the support there's no question about it in fact there is even a iranian mother said that's is on the south part of the red sea that helps the houthis. —— mother ship. where it has made a difference is strong and missile technology when houthis took over the seas power legally in 2014 september and were backed by the ousted president to take over much of the country, but since then they have fought an eight—year war with the saudis. they

they could bomb them into submission and did not work and the houthis retaliated by firing drones missiles at saudis cities and airports and sometimes even hitting the emirates. that is where countries in the region are very nervous about starting a war —— all of that up again because there is a tentative cease—fire in yemen. everyone in the region is hoping for the whole problem to go away. i'm not sure the houthis will settle for that. live now to raphael cohen. he's a senior political scientist at the global policy think tank, rand corporation. we were hearing earlier on. israel says it expects war to continue during the year — how do you see the conflict developing in the coming weeks? i think ithinki i think i am looking at some trends.

first on the military fund israel in the last couple of weeks has been focused on khan younis in particular. that is the city of the south of the gaza strip. where israel believes a lot of senior hamas leadership to include the head as well as the head of the military wing and they believe they are hiding underneath khan younis tunnels. so i think that is where the focus of the fighting is going to be along with some of the fighting in the central refugee camps that i mentioned earlier. 0n the diplomatic fund, there has been some limited negotiations between the two sides of a possible truce. that does would not be a long—term truce but some sort of exchange of hostages for some amount of palestinian prisoners had by israel and pause in the fighting. again, both sides are more or less but

knows that. the third thing i will be looking at is what is happening on those wild card difference. we talked in your previous segment about the houthis but there is also an ongoing tit—for—tat war along the northern israel border with lebanon. and there is concern with the israelis that it could go off triggering a wider conflict as well. how much pressure is the us putting on israel on the humanitarian situation in gaza? the on israel on the humanitarian situation in gaza?— situation in gaza? the biden administration _ situation in gaza? the biden administration has _ situation in gaza? the bidenl administration has expressed situation in gaza? the biden - administration has expressed to the israelis that would like a least a number of civilian casualties to go down, some of the more destructive elements of israel's operation to be curtailed. what the biden administration is pushing from a tradition soon from phase two which is the large—scale clearing operations with lots of air strikes, ground clearing operations to phase

three which is more targeted reads which would involve israeli forces being withdrawn to the periphery of gaza and doing more targeted raids on suspected hamas facilities. as the israelis are somewhat reticent to transition back to that too early there is still some fighting from there is still some fighting from the israeli perspective in khan younis and also in rafah along because the egypt border as well. so some tension between those two areas and that is the negotiation that the biden initiation is having with israel as we speak.— biden initiation is having with israel as we speak. biden initiation is having with israel as we seak. ., . , israel as we speak. how much is the domestic us — israel as we speak. how much is the domestic us election _ israel as we speak. how much is the domestic us election going - israel as we speak. how much is the domestic us election going to - israel as we speak. how much is the domestic us election going to drivel domestic us election going to drive policy in the middle east? it is policy in the middle east? it is re policy in the middle east? it is pretty clear — policy in the middle east? it is pretty clear that _ policy in the middle east? it 3 pretty clear that the biden administration is a little bit caught in between. particularly the progressive flank of the democratic party is a very reticent about israeli operations particularly concerned about the civilian

casualties inside gaza along with the destruction that has been brought onto because of the population at large. and that is going to factor into the political calculus of the biden administration. they have been probably far more pro—israel and sympathetic to the is really population than the base of the democratic parties that will be playing out in the background as well. ., ~ playing out in the background as well. . ~ , ., ., playing out in the background as well. . ~ ., ., , ., well. thank you for “oining us on bbc well. thank you for “oining us on sac news. h around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news here in the uk. police in london have named the sixteen—year—old boy who was stabbed to death on new year's eve as harry pitman. he died just before midnight at the top of primrose hill. a man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. almost three—million people were seen for an urgent cancer check over the last twelve months — according to new analysis from nhs england.

the number being tested has increased by more than a quarter compared with the same period before the pandemic. the government says catching the disease early is crucial to improving survival rates. an increase in the cost of domestic energy has taken effect in england, wales and scotland — adding to the pressure on household budgets in the new year. a higher price cap — set by the regulator 0fgem — from now to april means gas and electricity costs will be 5% higher than the last three months. you're live with bbc news. here in the uk — the number of migrants crossing the english channel fell by over a third in 2023, compared with the year before. more than 29,000 people made thejourney, and migration is likely to be one of the key issues in the general election expected this year. our home editor — mark easton —

has been analysing the numbers. with a general election looming, the government wants to start the new year with evidence that the prime minister's two big promises on immigration are being delivered. promise number one ? stop the boats. well, no, they haven't stopped but the home office claims its plan is working. the number known to have crossed the channel in 2023 was down around a third from 2022. still almost 30,000 individuals arrived on the kent coast, the second highest figure ever, but officials point to three key deals which they claim are helping turn the tide. a deal with france improving security on the coast around calais. a deal with turkey to disrupt smuggler supply chains. and a deal with albania to return failed asylum seekers. of course, the deal the government regards as the gamechanger is with rwanda, but that plan was ruled unlawful. almost everyone who arrived in small boats last year has claimed asylum, which brings us to the prime minister's second big promise on immigration ?

to clear the asylum backlog. we will have to wait until tomorrow for the official numbers but we expect the prime minister to claim it'sjob done. number ten says the promise only relates to what it calls "the legacy backlog" — people stuck in the system for more than 18 months. this is what we think the picture looked like three months ago. the legacy backlog shrinking, the blue bars, but the backlog of new claims — so—called flow cases — still numbering 100,000 people. there will be claims of "creative accounting" with thousands of legacy cases simply withdrawn and thousands more excluded as "complex". yes, an election is looming and the arguments over promises kept or broken will only intensify. a host of famous films, books, music and characters, including early versions of mickey and minnie mouse enter the public domain in the united states from today. this means disney will no longer enjoy exclusive copyright over

the earliest versions of the characters in the us — seen here in the animation that launched the house of mouse — steamboat willie — back in 1928. live now tojenniferjenkins — professor of law and the director of duke university's centre for the study of the public domain. thank you forjoining us. this has something disney has fought for decades — so a symbolic moment. yes, this is a deeply symbolic moment, not only because disney along others had fought for this not to happen for years but because disney itself has made so many wonderful inclusions for the public domain material. we have the lion king, frozen, snow white, pinocchio,

all coming from the public to pain so this is their opportunity to give back to the public domain that they have drawn so heavily from in the past. 50 have drawn so heavily from in the ast. , , have drawn so heavily from in the ast. , ., ., have drawn so heavily from in the past. so basically the landau says after 95 years. — past. so basically the landau says after 95 years, and _ past. so basically the landau says after 95 years, and he _ past. so basically the landau says after 95 years, and he allowed - past. so basically the landau says after 95 years, and he allowed to | after 95 years, and he allowed to use this property. —— the law now says. use this property. -- the law now sa s. use this property. -- the law now sa 5, ., , use this property. -- the law now sa s. ., , ,, ., , says. so only in the united states in the uk there _ says. so only in the united states in the uk there are _ says. so only in the united states in the uk there are still _ says. so only in the united states in the uk there are still a - says. so only in the united states in the uk there are still a few- says. so only in the united states. in the uk there are still a few more years. in the unites if you can use anything from the first two films, steamboat willie and plain crazy, the silent version and all of the version of the characters as they appear in those two films. what appear in those two films. what would you _ appear in those two films. what would you like _ appear in those two films. what would you like to _ appear in those two films. what would you like to bc— appear in those two films. what would you like to bc being - appear in those two films. what would you like to bc being made from these characters? are there any limits on what people can do with it. ., limits on what people can do with it. . ., ., ., , it. there are a few limitations. mickey and — it. there are a few limitations. mickey and minnie _ it. there are a few limitations. mickey and minnie appear- it. there are a few limitations. mickey and minnie appear in l it. there are a few limitations. i mickey and minnie appear in later copyrighted works he cannot use copyrighted works he cannot use copyrighted features from later films so that is the first limitation the second comes from a different body calls trademark law you cannot use the characters in a logo in a way that leads consumers

thinking it comes from disney. she cannot use merchandise featuring the early mickey mouse if disney itself makes the same merchandise nor you can use a debt steamboat willie as a local in yourfilm can use a debt steamboat willie as a local in your film but you can use it for new creative works as long as it is clear to the public that it is your film and not coming from disney. so it is like pandora's box, i can't wait to see. i have some ideas of my own but i cannot predict. 50 ideas of my own but i cannot redict. ~' ideas of my own but i cannot redict. ~ ., , ideas of my own but i cannot redict. 4' ., , ., predict. so thinking really out could bc mickey _ predict. so thinking really out could bc mickey and - predict. so thinking really out could bc mickey and minnie l predict. so thinking really out| could bc mickey and minnie as predict. so thinking really out - could bc mickey and minnie as serial killer source a something as as that? , ., killer source a something as as that? y ., a, _ , ., that? oh why do we always go there! that is what — that? oh why do we always go there! that is what happened _ that? oh why do we always go there! that is what happened with _ that? oh why do we always go there! that is what happened with winnie i that is what happened with winnie the pooh and what happened? the buzzworthy grotesque news was the blood and honey film. but those may happen in the short—term, but really about that use public domain material that has stood the test of time, those are the ones that retain

cultural relevance of we are talking and 20 as i don't think we will talk about the slasherfilm. and 20 as i don't think we will talk about the slasher film. i think about the slasher film. i think about shakespeare that has always beenin about shakespeare that has always been in the public domain you remember a side story, the kinds of uses a public domain material that stand the test of time in the kinds of works that i personally are the most excited about seeing with mickey and minnie. so most excited about seeing with mickey and minnie.— most excited about seeing with mickey and minnie. so what other works are said _ mickey and minnie. so what other works are said to _ mickey and minnie. so what other works are said to released - mickey and minnie. so what other works are said to released under. works are said to released under this law? this works are said to released under this law? �* , ., works are said to released under this law? ~ , ., ., works are said to released under this law? a ., ., works are said to released under this law? ~ , ., ., ., works are said to released under this law? a ., ., ., ., this law? as of today so we have a number of — this law? as of today so we have a number of works _ this law? as of today so we have a number of works that _ this law? as of today so we have a number of works that may - this law? as of today so we have a i number of works that may be familiar to your viewers. lady chatterley�*s lover the original version. virginia woolf wonderful book 0rlando exploring genderfluidity almost 100 years ago and we have the house of corner which is tigger�*s production and some wonderfulfilms.

corner which is tigger�*s production and some wonderful films. this corner which is tigger�*s production and some wonderfulfilms. this is 1928 works in the united states coming from 1928, it is the end of the silent film era and beginning of talkies so a time where having synchronised sound seemed amazing. so we are getting the last silent films from people like buster keaton, charlie chaplin and also some of the early talkies that were astounding audiences at the time. a quick note about some standards such as let's do it, let's follow love and also the very memorable song... . i assume briefly that the disney lawyers are going to keep a close eye on what is coming out. i lawyers are going to keep a close eye on what is coming out. i think the are, eye on what is coming out. i think they are. but _ eye on what is coming out. i think they are. but my _ eye on what is coming out. i think they are, but my hope _ eye on what is coming out. i think they are, but my hope is that - eye on what is coming out. i think| they are, but my hope is that they will continue to enforce their remaining rates along with what the law allows them to do. so if i use fantasia mickey, i will expect a letter from them. fantasia mickey, i will expect a letterfrom them. if fantasia mickey, i will expect a letter from them. if i start selling mickey mouse pyjamas, i would expect a letter from them. mickey mouse pyjamas, i would expect a letterfrom them. so mickey mouse pyjamas, i would expect a letter from them. so they can slip object to those kinds of things as

long as the copyright expiration allows. ., ~' , ., long as the copyright expiration allows. ., ~ , ., ., long as the copyright expiration allows. . ~' , ., ., ., long as the copyright expiration allows. ., ~ , ., ., ., , allows. thank you for “oining us in ex-alainin allows. thank you for “oining us in explaining that here _ allows. thank you forjoining us in explaining that here on _ allows. thank you forjoining us in explaining that here on bbc- allows. thank you forjoining us in | explaining that here on bbc news. thank you forjoining us. hello there. after wet and windy weather for weeks on end, now it looks like the weather pattern could be changing through this month. now, we started the new year with some sunshine across many parts of the country. already turning chilly in scotland where we've got those clearer skies, but towards the south—west of england, the clouds been rolling in, seen some rain coming in as well. you can see what's happening here on the earlier satellite picture. all this cloud is streaming up from the south—west, bringing yet more rain. and the winds are picking up, too, around that weather system. once that moves through, we've got another one following in behind. and those two combined could bring about two inches of rain, 50 millimetres of rain to england and wales and some flooding, too. we've got wet weather this evening across england and wales. moving clear of northern ireland heading into scotland — there may be some snow over the mountain tops here. clearer skies will follow

for a while, but the rain returns into the south coast and the south—west by the end of the night, keeping temperatures up here. and by the end of the night in scotland, after an early frost in the east, temperatures will be lifting here. the wetter weather continues northwards up towards the northern isles where it will be windy. it's also going to be windy in southern parts of england, some gales, particularly along the south coast. and we've got the spell of wet weather returning from the south—west from overnight across england and wales, maybe affecting northern ireland for a while. could turn a bit drier in the south of england in the afternoon, 13 or 14 degrees in those strong winds. bit of sunshine in between those areas of rain in scotland, but here temperatures will be lower. most of the wet weather, though, will be for england and wales. that will move away as we head into wednesday. we've still got some brisk winds in the north—east of scotland with a bit of rain. maybe the risk of some sleet and snow up towards shetland, won't be as windy across the south and generally on wednesday it's a day where we'll see some sunshine and some showers, particularly across wales and the south—west. temperatures though, looking quite healthy at eight to 12 degrees.

now, things will turn colder by the end of the week. instead of low pressure that will bring wet and windy conditions, we're going to start to see high pressure building down from the north. that will leave us with a north—easterly breeze, introduce colder air and lead to some frost as well. but the weather pattern looks like changing after a few more days of this wet and windy weather with an increased chance of high pressure really through the rest of the month, even. that will mean things are going to be drier, which is good news, but it will also turn a bit colder.

this is bbc news, the headlines. thousands of people injapan are spending the night in evacuation centres after a powerful 7.6 earthquake. dozens of buildings have collapsed in several towns, and at least one person was killed. the uk government says it's prepared to take military action against yemen's houthi rebels — who are backed by iran if they continue attacking shipping in the red sea. migrant boat crossings in the english channel dropped by more than a third last year, but the figure of almost 30—thousand is still the second highest on record. and in the uk, vat is removed from period pants. the government says it will save women an average of two pounds a pair.

we will have more