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 on that but first it is time for sportsday. hello. welcome to a new years day sportsday on bbc news. i'm ben croucher. coming up... teenage dreams continue at alexandra palace — as luke littler storms into the semi finals of the world darts championship. i know i've got a good chance and i'll get a good feeling i can go all the way now. can liverpool go all the way in the premier league? victory at home to newcastle tonight would extend their lead at the top. we'll look ahead to the game at anfield. and it's an unhappy new yearfor andy murray in the first round of the brisbane international.

thanks for your company. 16 years old and into the semi finals of the world darts championship. if luke littler�*s impressive run at alexandra palace became the story to round off 2023 — could he go all the way and write a chapter in the 2024 fable that could be tough to top? on his world championship debut — he breezed past brendan dolan to reach the last four where even his opponent that's won the tournament before admits, littler will be the favourite. we'll start sportsday with this report from matt graveling. ladies and gentlemen, luke littler! in three days he could be world champion. in three days he could be world champion-— in three days he could be world champion. in three days he could be world chamion. . , ., ., ., champion. littler has averaging a hundred pretty — champion. littler has averaging a hundred pretty much _ champion. littler has averaging a hundred pretty much every - champion. littler has averaging a| hundred pretty much every game. champion. littler has averaging a - hundred pretty much every game. he's not scared of— hundred pretty much every game. he's not scared of anything. he's gonna smash_ not scared of anything. he's gonna smash it _ not scared of anything. he's gonna smash it out — not scared of anything. he's gonna smash it out the _ not scared of anything. he's gonna smash it out the park. _ not scared of anything. he's gonna smash it out the park. luke- smash it out the park. luke littler!

the teenager _ smash it out the park. luke littler! the teenager captivating _ smash it out the park. luke littler! the teenager captivating the - smash it out the park. luke littler! the teenager captivating the world | the teenager captivating the world of darts. today face a quarterfinal. in his way northern ireland brendan dolan, dylan faced a teenager making his own history. the youngest player ever to win a match at this tournament soon to control this one. control became domination. his three dart average rose to 121. with that he swept the second set.- dart average rose to 121. with that he swept the second set. 2-0 to the teenaaer. he swept the second set. 2-0 to the teenager- dolan _ he swept the second set. 2-0 to the teenager. dolan could _ he swept the second set. 2-0 to the teenager. dolan could get _ he swept the second set. 2-0 to the teenager. dolan could get into - teenager. dolan could get into the mat. the third _ teenager. dolan could get into the mat. the third and _ teenager. dolan could get into the mat. the third and fourth - teenager. dolan could get into the mat. the third and fourth set - mat. the third and fourth set went to littler. despite dolan pulling on back it was only ever one winner. this teenage dream come to an end. while littler has burst onto the scene his talents were honed from a young age. this footage posted by his mum shows a young luke throwing atjust 18 months old. so the fairy tale continues for the end for the

lad from warrenton who celebrates every victory with his favourite fast food, he's just too kebabs from one of the biggest achievements in the world of darts is ever seen. regardless what happens next, he's guaranteed to win a hundred £100—thousand but with just two more matches between littler and what could be the most unlikely champion in the sport's history — he and others believe he has what it takes. the world like two games away and brandon said well done, you can all the way for the a lot of respect for raymond for say you can go all the way. what does that mean to you? unbelievable. i know! way. what does that mean to you? unbelievable. i know i got the ability to go all the way. if it's not to be tomorrow night and it's not to be tomorrow night and it's not to be tomorrow night and it's not to be. whatever turns up, it is what it is. thank you.— not to be. whatever turns up, it is what it is. thank you. given the go ends... that's _ what it is. thank you. given the go

ends... that's exactly _ what it is. thank you. given the go ends... that's exactly what - what it is. thank you. given the go ends... that's exactly what i - ends... that's exactly what i was expecting- _ ends... that's exactly what i was expecting- a _ ends... that's exactly what i was expecting. a clash _ ends... that's exactly what i was expecting. a clash but _ ends... that's exactly what i was expecting. a clash but it - ends... that's exactly what i was expecting. a clash but it worked | expecting. a clash but it worked to be. you'vejust expecting. a clash but it worked to be. you've just got to be and that's what i'm doing so far.— what i'm doing so far. inaudible i know i've got _ what i'm doing so far. inaudible i know i've got a _ what i'm doing so far. inaudible i know i've got a good _ what i'm doing so far. inaudible i know i've got a good chance - what i'm doing so far. inaudible i know i've got a good chance and i l know i've got a good chance and i know _ know i've got a good chance and i know it _ know i've got a good chance and i know it myself i've got a good feeling — know it myself i've got a good feeling that i can go all the way now _ if littler�*s match was remarkably straight forward, 2018 champion rob cross had to do it the hard way against chris dobey. dobey looked to be on the verge of a 5—nil whitewash before cross made an incredible fightback to take the next 5 sets. he described it as his best ever comeback. cross was the last man to win the world title on his debut and knows just what he'll be up against tomorrow night. he'sa he's a 16—year—old, you know? i look at him _ he's a 16—year—old, you know? i look at him and _ he's a 16—year—old, you know? i look at him and no — he's a 16—year—old, you know? i look at him and no disrespect, my boy is four years _ at him and no disrespect, my boy is four years younger. so straightaway want to _ four years younger. so straightaway want to protect everyone and look after _ want to protect everyone and look after him — want to protect everyone and look after him. this boys got a bright future — after him. this boys got a bright future. he's massive, he really is.

i have _ future. he's massive, he really is. i have a _ future. he's massive, he really is. i have a gut— future. he's massive, he really is. i have a got advice for him, he's better— i have a got advice for him, he's better than— i have a got advice for him, he's better than me at 16 then what i was apparently, — better than me at 16 then what i was apparently, i'm getting mature one point _ apparently, i'm getting mature one point come — apparently, i'm getting mature one point come boy has matured at a rate enough _ point come boy has matured at a rate enough the — point come boy has matured at a rate enough. the advice, he's going to keep— enough. the advice, he's going to keep his _ enough. the advice, he's going to keep his head down, he such a wise head~ _ keep his head down, he such a wise head~ he _ keep his head down, he such a wise head. he really does for a young box _ head. he really does for a young box that — head. he really does for a young box that is_ head. he really does for a young boy. that is special. that is special. one premier league game tonight with leaders liverpool hosting newcastle united. victory would takejurgen klopp's side three points clear. they've only lost once at anfield in their last 51 league games and not lost to newcastle here since 1994. but after a busy festive fixture list, the liverpool boss is wary of the toll its taking on his players. we played five games in 13 days and that is insane as well. we came somehow through that but then it is about using that extra recovery time because the next games are coming because we are still in all cup competitions so we have a busy

january as well. other teams maybe have a less busy january, which is helpful. we'll have to get through that as well and then from february we all have the same schedule again. well newcastle come to anfield, still searching for their first away win since that 8—nil demolition of sheffield united in september. they've lost their last four on the road and have slipped to ninth in the league — 13 points behind tonight's opponents. tough games coming up, but they are the games we relish. we had a lot of games this season against very good teams so we are not daunted by it. we'll attack it and give it our shot. recent results have been a challenge for us. the last couple of performances haven't been as good as they can be so we are determined to get back and produce our best football. updates of that one in 5 live sport. newcastle's next opponents are sunderland in the fa cup this weekend and their local rivals got their year off to a good start

with a 2—nil win at home to preston in the championship. less than ten minutes into the game alex pritchard put them ahead, with a great strike from distance. and they went two up just before half time through their ukrainian striker nazary rusyn. their first home win under new manager michael beale moves them into the play—off places for now. hull city can go back into the top six if they beat sheffield wednesday in the late kick off. currently 2—0. hull city down to 10 men. the other notable results this afternoon saw leaders leicester cruise past huddersfield 4—1. their lead at the top is now 10 points after ipswich were held at stoke, whilst 3rd placed southampton let slip a lead to draw 1—all at norwich. all today's results from the english football league are on the bbc sport website. to rugby union and in the united rugby championship, a powerful second—half performance saw ospreys overturn a 13—point half—time deficit to claim victory over cardiff. keelan giles scored twice

and ospreys were awarded a penalty try but this sensational score from 18 year old back row morgan morse was the picked of the bunch. 27—21 the final score at a rain soaked, very muddy bridgend. elsewhere, reigning champions munster slipped to their fourth defeat in nine games — losing 22—9 at connacht. the bottom two games kicked off at 5:15. bottom side dragons 13—7 scarlets. australia opener david warner has announced his retirement from one—day international cricket. he'd already comfirmed his retirement from test cricket before the current series against pakistan but has called time on a one day career that's seen him score 6932 runs — leaving him 6th on australia's all time list. he has kept the door open to a possible return at the 2025 champions trophy though but felt now was the right time after winning the world cup in november.

it was a decision i was comfortable with, and to win in india from where we were was amazing. i've said all along that i was a boy having a dream, you know, i have not always fit the mould, but i have been authentic and honest. i'm not someone different and i think that shows you on the field in test cricket i played the exact same way. let's take you through some of the day's other sporting headlines and chrisjordan was player of the match for hobart hurricanes as they beat sydney thunder in the big bash. the england international took two wickets for just twenty runs to restrict thunder to 150 for eight, which hobart reached with eleven balls and seven wickets to spare. the transfer window opens today and dutch midfielder donny van der beek has joined eintracht frankfurt on loan from manchester united. the bundesliga side have an option to make the move permanent. and two—time wimbledon champion petra kvitova will miss the australian open later this month as she is expecting her first child. the world number 17 announced

the news earlier today. lots of tennis going on on the other side of the world right now and in what could be his final year on tour, we were treated to the modern version andy murray. the 3—time grand slam champion showed glimpses of his old self, showed plenty of grit but ultimately as his reaction suggests — he came up short against grigor dimitrov in the opening round of the brisbane international. joe lynskey has the story. from great britain, andy murray! 2024 is the year andy murray says could be his last on court. he's 36 years old, this was his first singles match since october but he's still resolute for that murray took the first set against the bulgarian whose ranked 14th in the world but he responded. second set and demo

trough bought a shift in momentum. he sailed it 7—5 with helping her from a shot played with a broken string. an extraordinary win from that point murray couldn't fix things. he said last year he may leave the sport if he didn't enjoy it. this was another batch where he took the first set but went on to defeat. for now that for him is a worrying trend but he still has two weeks and one more tournament before the australian open. in this defining yearfor murray the australian open. in this defining year for murray it's not the way he hoped to start. joe lynskey, bbc news. elsewhere in brisbane, naomi osaka marked her return from the birth of her first child with a win. playing in herfirst tournment for 15 months, she said she was proud of her performance as she saw off germany's tamara korpatsch 6—3, 7—6. it felt really amazing and i think it is something you don't know you miss until you are away from it.

it was really incredible to see so many little kids out there. for me, i didn't care too much... well, that's a lie, but the process of it all, i know i trained really hard during the off—season and i think it's one of those things where i feel i'm playing well enough so it will come eventually. great britain are out of the united cup in perth after hosts australia beat the united states to top the group. it went down to the mixed doubles to deicde it and matthew ebden and storm hunter beatjessica pegula and rajeev ram 6—3, 6—1. australia go through to the quarter—finals having won more sets overall than the us or great britain. poland were the first team through. their women's world number one iga swiatek won her singles, then with hubert hurkacz breezed through the mixed doubles against spain's sara sorribes tormo and alejandro davidovich fokina without dropping a game. norway kept alive their hopes

of making the last eight with a much needed win over croatia. having lost to the netherlands in their opening match, norway's charge was led by casper ruud, who won singles and doubles to seal a 2—1win. their fate depends on the outcome of the croatia netherlands tie on tuesday. after eight months out with injury emma raducanu is back in action around breakfast time tomorrow. she's not played since april after surgery on both wrists and her right ankle. she takes on romania's elena—gabriela rusay in the opening round of the auckland classic and she's raring to go. i felt fresh, i feel ready, ifelt fresh, ifeel ready, ifeel happy, ifeel excited. ifelt fresh, ifeel ready, ifeel happy, i feel excited. over all of them feeling very positive and lighter. i think for two years after the us open i felt may be a bit more like weight on my shoulders. but now ifeel like weight on my shoulders. but now i feel completely fresh. it's like weight on my shoulders. but now ifeel completely fresh. it's been insightful, i would say. i got to spend a lot of time just thinking

how i feel and i definitely got that hunger backjust to be the court competing. and just before we go, a reminder of our top story. 16 year old luke littler is through to the semi finals of the world darts championship following a 5—1 win over northern ireland's brendan dolan. two more quarters to go tonight. michael van gerwen takes on scott williams before luke humphries meets dave chisnell. keep across it all on the bbc sport website and app but from all of us at the bbc sport centre. thanks for watching. and happy new year. i want to bring you an update on our top story of that earthquake in japan. we are hearing from the news agency injapan that four people have now been confirmed dead in that quake that struck earlier today. we

will keep you updated on that.