hello, i'm lewis vaughanjones. you're watching the context on bbc news. what's notable is this is the first far away from the front line assassination of a hamas leader that we have seen in this current war. there is a very, very sense of, you know, very high alerts in the country, because a question no on everyone's minds is hezbollah going to retaliate, and how is it going to retaliate? we know that the secretary—general urges all parties to exercise - maximum restraint and take urgent steps to de—escalate _ tensions in the region. hamas says its deputy leader has been killed in lebanon.

we'll look at that claim and what it could mean for the conflict. also on the programme. the passengers and crew managed to escape from this. but five people were killed in the other plane involved in the crash injapan. in the uk. the government is claiming success on processing asylum claims. we'll have a look at the numbers. and a new discovery goes on display it's more than 100 million years old. a marine reptile — nicknamed — sea rex we will start with developing news out of the middle east. hamas says its deputy leader has been killed in an explosion in lebanon. saleh al—arouri was deputy chairman of hamas�*s political bureau but is also known to have been deeply involved in its military affairs. hamas is designated a terrorist organisation by many western governments.

this is the aftermath of the explosion — thought to be hamas office in beirut. reports six people killed. local media have described as an israeli drone attack. bbc hasn't verified that. the israeli military has told the bbc that it will not comment on reports in the foreign media. one line from afp news agency in the last few minutes claimant with a bit more detail about what has happened and the response by hamas to what has happened. hamas�*s chief saying that the assassination of hamas�*s top official, one of the top officials there in beirut, is it" terrorist act, a violation of lebanese suffered the, and contingent of hostilities against

palestinians" also mentioned that the deputy leader and two other leaders of the attic is some brigade killed two according to hamas claims. the un has described the beirut strike as �*extremely worrying'. here's a spokesperson for the un secretary—general speaking a short time ago. we know that the secretary—general urges all parties to exercise maximum restraint and take urgent steps to de—escalate tensions in the region. i mean, he was very clear in mentioning that this continued fighting has the risk of a great miscalculation by multiple actors, and i think this is what we have been seeing in different parts of the region, sadly. we can cross live tojerusalem and our middle east correspondent shaimaa khalil. what has been the reaction? we have been getting —

what has been the reaction? we have been getting reaction _ what has been the reaction? we have been getting reaction from _ what has been the reaction? we have been getting reaction from that - been getting reaction from that lebanese caretaker prime minister who described the blast as a new israeli war crime. saying that it aims to drug lebanon and onto a new phase of the conflict. we have heard from mark ray give, the adviser to the prime minister at benjamin netanyahu, he has been speaking to the us network msnbc, and he reacted to the blast saying that israel did not take responsibility for the attack and it should be carried this attack and it should be carried this attack was not one on the lebanese state but as he pointed a surgical strike against the hamas leadership. we reached out to the idea, as he said, who said they would not comment on reports from foreign media, but we have been getting comment ammunition from my or. saleh al—arouri is one of the most senior officials on the political side and also the military side. leading on both fronts. he is one of the people

who established the attic is some brigades early on and has been involved early on in the construction of its, in the hierarchy of it, in the very close details of it as well. there is one famous piece of footage of saleh al—arouri and other officials... i’m al-arouri and other officials... i'm sorry about _ al—arouri and other officials... i'm sorry about that we're just losing the sound quality there on your microphone, but thank you for that, we got that initial response from jerusalem. we would take a moment to look into what the potential indications of what all this would be. we want to reiterate, the abc has not independently verified the details being claimed by hamas thus far. live now to hussein ibish, senior resident scholar at arab gulf states institute washington — a think tank. thank you for coming in the

programme. first of all, your reaction to what we have been hearing. i reaction to what we have been hearinu. ~ �* , reaction to what we have been hearinu. ~ �*, ., ., ., , hearing. i think it's a dangerous escalation _ hearing. i think it's a dangerous escalation by — hearing. i think it's a dangerous escalation by israel, _ hearing. i think it's a dangerous escalation by israel, though - hearing. i think it's a dangerous escalation by israel, though it. escalation by israel, though it could mean one of several things. it could mean one of several things. it could be the beginning of a sustained israeli camping of attacking and assessing it in outside of gaza. the bulk of them are in qatar, a state that has been friendly, cool, but friendly, towards israel, and that would have lots of implications for the region. it could also be an effort by israel to escalate with hezbollah in lebanon, possibly with an eye to eventually convince in the united states to attack iran's nuclear facilities. i know it sounds major stages away but the logic is there. we would leave those many stages for the moment but to reiterate israel

has not claimed responsible to for this. if your hypothesis, as it were, were true, the warnings and worries right from the beginning of the israel— gaza war, war has spread, essentially in the region, do you think that is no is significant step closer? yes, i think there — significant step closer? yes, i think there is _ significant step closer? yes, i think there is no _ significant step closer? yes, i think there is no doubt. - significant step closer? yes, i think there is no doubt. the l think there is no doubt. the israelis, if the vendors, which i think you have, think see no reason with it having happened and there's no doubt as to who would be responsible and by, because as your correspondent to said, saleh al—arouri was one of the head officials of hamas outside of gaza and the military wing and posted a irradiance and the turks and qatar is, so he embodies that group. but at the same time it clearly puts hezbollah in a difficult position

and israel would have known that is what they're doing. just and israel would have known that is what they're doing.— what they're doing. just expand on that for us- — what they're doing. just expand on that for us- i _ what they're doing. just expand on that for us. i want _ what they're doing. just expand on that for us. i want to _ what they're doing. just expand on that for us. i want to know - that for us. i want to know hezbollah has been, relatively speaking, on the sidelines here. do you think their conclusions will have to change now?— you think their conclusions will have to change now? they won't have to chance, have to change now? they won't have to change, hezbollah _ have to change now? they won't have to change, hezbollah still— have to change now? they won't have to change, hezbollah still has - have to change now? they won't have to change, hezbollah still has the - to change, hezbollah still has the ability to ignore this or recited in the border region within a mile or so of the border, either way. with his in the understood terms of engagement and want provoke a larger conflict with israel, but the hezbollah leader said he would retaliate against any targeted of palestinian and hamas officials in lebanon and this clearly seems to be that. so, once again, and not for the first time in this crisis, he is going to be asked by hamas to live up to what they perceive is work to

be. to come into the fray more, to be. to come into the fray more, to be on their side more, to be more of a military presence in this conflict. i hope he is going to continue to resist that. he could resisted. ., ., , resisted. 0k, we will wait and see him out front. _ resisted. 0k, we will wait and see him out front. before _ resisted. ok, we will wait and see him out front. before i _ resisted. 0k, we will wait and see him out front. before i let - resisted. 0k, we will wait and see him out front. before i let you - him out front. before i let you go, just briefly, the deaths of these individuals themselves, how much do they damage or we can hamas at all? they don't, they are all replaceable list of everyone outside of gaza is basically part of the diplomatic wing of hamas. the former political leaders first in damascus and now in qatar, except for saleh al—arouri who was toggling between turkey and lebanon, they are related implemented wing of hamas now. he was a important link to iran, for sure, and the link between the outside leadership in the military,

the brigades he had to command, but he is not irreversible. it doesn't change or we can hamas in any particular way. change or we can hamas in any particular way-— change or we can hamas in any articular wa . ., ,, i. ., _, particular way. thank you for coming on programme- _ particular way. thank you for coming on programme. you're _ particular way. thank you for coming on programme. you're very - particular way. thank you for coming | on programme. you're very welcome, an ime. now to japan. two planes colliding on a runway. take a look at the damage. this was an airbus 350 passenger plane. after landing on the runway and hitting another smaller plane. let's look at it coming in to land. this is runway on tokyo's haneda airport. it had flown from another airport in north of country. look at what the passengers

were going through. this is from inside that flight. you can imagine the fear there. 379 passengers and crew on board. they all got out safely. as we go back to pictures of the aftermath. this plane collided with a smaller coastguard aircraft. it was taking emergency supplies to help earthquake rescue efforts. five people were killed on that plane. joining me is geoffrey thomas, editor in chief of airlineratings.com — an airline safety website. thank you for coming to the programme. so, those pictures are extraordinary to see, what was your reaction? , ., , .,

reaction? terrifying images, for sure, reaction? terrifying images, for sure. and _ reaction? terrifying images, for sure. and a _ reaction? terrifying images, for sure, and a ghastly _ reaction? terrifying images, for sure, and a ghastly tragedy - reaction? terrifying images, for. sure, and a ghastly tragedy which could have been far, far worse. terrible tragedy for the five people 12 lost their lives on that coastguard aircraft but certainly dramatic images.— coastguard aircraft but certainly dramatic images. what do we know about what potentially _ dramatic images. what do we know about what potentially could - dramatic images. what do we know about what potentially could have l about what potentially could have happened? clearly, it is early stages and there'll be an investigation, but what potential could have unfolded here was a mark? there was a suggestion there was a miss commission or is understanding between eric traffic control and the pilot of the coastguard aircraft, and it appears as though the coastguard aircraft entered the runwayjust coastguard aircraft entered the runway just as the japan airlines, coastguard aircraft entered the runwayjust as the japan airlines, a 350 from sapporo, was touching down. the japan airlines craft struck the

coastguard aircraft, it exploded and then the japan airlines craft continued its lending role but now on fire itself. and that's, essentially, all we know at this stage. it may take some time before the precise details of what happened come to light. the precise details of what happened come to light-— come to light. indeed. what do you make of the — come to light. indeed. what do you make of the fact _ come to light. indeed. what do you make of the fact that _ come to light. indeed. what do you make of the fact that all— come to light. indeed. what do you make of the fact that all the - make of the fact that all the passengers and crew, as we see it kind of on fire, did manage to get safely off that passenger aeroplane? that is a very good question and a miracle. first of all, all aircraft are certified so that all passengers can get off within 90 seconds with only half the emergency exits open, assuming there a fire on one side of the aircraft or one part of the

aircraft. that is how they are certified. recently, we have seen so many passengers insisting on taking their baggage with them, you know, their baggage with them, you know, their carry—on baggage, and that had slowed up the egress from these damaged aircraft, aircraft on fire, to the point where lots of people have lost their lives. in this case, all passengers got off. i couldn't see any of them carrying bags of soil, and they got off, basically through three slides, two at the front and one at the back. so that's an incredible feat to get all those people off in such a short time, just on three exits.— people off in such a short time, just on three exits. jeffrey thomas, treat to just on three exits. jeffrey thomas, great to get — just on three exits. jeffrey thomas, great to get your — just on three exits. jeffrey thomas, great to get your expertise, - just on three exits. jeffrey thomas, great to get your expertise, thank l great to get your expertise, thank you for talking us through that. well the people on board the coastguard plane were on their way to the west coast of japan with aid for those affected by the powerful earthquake on new year's day. 55 people are now known to have died in the 7.6 magnitude quake that

hit the region of noto. tremors were felt hundreds of miles away in the capital tokyo. japan's prime minister says it is now a race against time to rescue those trapped beneath the rubble, as our correspondent jean mckenzie reports. sirens. this is a race for survival. rescue workers stream throuthapan's isolated noto peninsula, the roads blocking their way. they're trying to reach these worst—affected areas in the north — where people are trapped under their collapsed homes. many families were out at temples, celebrating new year's day, whenjapan was hit by its strongest earthquake in 12 years. nomura—san thought his shrine was going to collapse. "the whole gate was swaying. the alleyway was swaying, too. the children had to squat on the floor so as not

to fall over," he told me. alerts chime. as we travel towards the epicentre, we're alerted to another earthquake. these aftershocks keep coming. further in, old wooden homes have been brought to the ground — not made to withstand the ferocity ofjapan's enduring quakes. toshio iwahama lives here alone after losing his wife. at 82, he doesn't know how he'll manage the repairs. translation: we always have earthquakes around here. - but i just didn't think we'd get a big one like this. i didn't take it seriously. i thought we were safe here. this is only the tip of the destruction. we are trying to get closer to the epicentre, to a city where we know that at least a dozen people have died and many more are trapped

in their homes that have collapsed. but we are struggling because, if you look at this road here, it is completely ruptured. and this is what we keep coming up against — these roads that are totally blocked off and even these emergency services here, these rescue teams, have been struggling to reach people in these worst—affected areas. so we are still trying to piece together the extent of the damage, and how many people have been killed and injured. some firefighters have managed to get into the wrecked city of wajima, and are searching for survivors. but the death toll is expected to rise. the people here have lived through many an earthquake, but never felt tremors of this magnitude — which have shaken both their surroundings and their sense of safety. jean mackenzie, bbc news, in noto peninsula, injapan. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other

stories making news a man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a 46—year—old man in sheffield, who was married, father of two was hit by a car while trying to help a stranger. the man, who is 23, was remanded in custody. working parents in england can apply for more help with childcare costs from today, eligible 2 euros will deceive 15 hours of childcare a week. providers at saint they won't have the resources to manage the increased demand. last year, was provisionally the second warmest yearin provisionally the second warmest year in the uk since records began in 1884, according to the met office, the national weather service with a professional mean temperature of 9.97 celsius, was behind the figure recorded in 2022, the warmest

year on record. asante say claim is change is to blame. —— saint tc. you're live with bbc news what is in store in 2024 in store? look at geo—politics. war in ukraine and gaza. no quick end in sight. so what happens next? us will play a big part in that answer. large aid packages held up by us lawmakers right now. all this plane into the fact that it is an election year in the us, what impact will that have? we will look at some of those questions now. melinda haring — nonresident senior fellow at the atlantic council, a think—tank focusing on international affairs. matthew schmidt — who taught strategic planning at the us army's school of advanced military studies. now at the university of new haven.

thank you both for coming on the context, a huge range of topics and issues to try and get to. we will start with where we think the war in ukraine is heading over the next few months. there is no sign, certainly, of any end, but that issue of funding from the us, funding from europe, the threat of a stalemate, that start with you melinda, what is your take on where we are heading over the next few months? first of all, ha-- over the next few months? first of all. happy new _ over the next few months? first of all. happy new year _ over the next few months? first of all, happy new year and _ over the next few months? first of all, happy new year and thanks - over the next few months? first of all, happy new year and thanks for| all, happy new year and thanks for having us back on, i think you nailed it, there will not be a big change with ukraine in 20 24, unfortunately. in the past week, we have seen the russians intensify their missile strikes across ukraine which is sort of puzzling. if you look at what the russians did last year with major missile strikes, the numbers were higher last year that

this year, so analysts did not know what to make of it, we thought that maybe they weren't going to shoot them because the rocket strikes were unsuccessful, but the aggressors are —— the russians are clustering these strikes to try to overwhelm greens air defence systems, and is a tricky moment because the united states has not sent the ukraine package, and a number of air defence missile systems are going down and down, so everyone is very worried will stop so, i think the big prediction right now is we are likely to see more action on the black sea as well, the ukrainians have done well on the black sea, is an underreported story in the last year. in the last week they had a huge boat and had major hits and are really innovating with naval drones as well, that's one area i'm watching. one positive thing, i expect polish and ukrainian

relations to improve with a new government in poland sending their war minister to president zelensky, so that is one ray of light, but i expect the ukrainians to make more progress on the black sea and the done best to come. tum progress on the black sea and the done best to come. two negatives, one positive. _ done best to come. two negatives, one positive, matthew, _ done best to come. two negatives, one positive, matthew, what's - done best to come. two negatives, one positive, matthew, what's your take? , ., ., , _ one positive, matthew, what's your take? , ., , ., one positive, matthew, what's your take? , ., ., , _ , ., take? first of, happy new year, good to see you. — take? first of, happy new year, good to see you, melinda, _ take? first of, happy new year, good to see you, melinda, and _ take? first of, happy new year, good to see you, melinda, and my- take? first of, happy new year, good to see you, melinda, and my take is| to see you, melinda, and my take is that melinda is right about everything, and i will bring a strategic insight here will stop with all the success and bravery and sacrifice that ukraine has made and have made extraordinary sacrifices and have a great success. thea;r and have a great success. they haven't had _ and have a great success. they haven't had what _ and have a great success. they haven't had what they - and have a great success. they haven't had what they need. i and have a great success. they haven't had what they need. which is a significant — haven't had what they need. which is a significant political effect in moscow. nothing is changing in who's in's moscow. nothing is changing in who's in'5 calculus _ moscow. nothing is changing in who's in's calculus is not changing the russian — in's calculus is not changing the russian ablation enough. he has

enough — russian ablation enough. he has enough power to accept the casualties he has and accept the loss of— casualties he has and accept the loss of a — casualties he has and accept the loss of a huge chunk of his military and it_ loss of a huge chunk of his military and it doesn't matter because he has the super— and it doesn't matter because he has the super police to put down protests _ the super police to put down protests and anybody else that is working — protests and anybody else that is working against the regime. in the end, military force, lethal military force. _ end, military force, lethal military force. has— end, military force, lethal military force, has to be able to have that kind of— force, has to be able to have that kind of effect on the enemy, and the only thing _ kind of effect on the enemy, and the only thing left at this point for ukraine — only thing left at this point for ukraine is to take crimea. that is a bil ukraine is to take crimea. that is a big price _ ukraine is to take crimea. that is a big price that might affect boots in's decision—making and the russian public, _ in's decision—making and the russian public, but _ in's decision—making and the russian public, but it— in's decision—making and the russian public, but it would be a stretch to be able _ public, but it would be a stretch to be able to — public, but it would be a stretch to be able to do it. what that all means— be able to do it. what that all means is, _ be able to do it. what that all means is, as melinda was saying, the real front, _ means is, as melinda was saying, the realfront, in— means is, as melinda was saying, the real front, in 2024, means is, as melinda was saying, the realfront, in 2024, is means is, as melinda was saying, the real front, in 2024, is in finding the money _ realfront, in 2024, is in finding the money-— realfront, in 2024, is in finding the mone . ., ,, ., the money. thank you matthew and linda -- melinda, _ the money. thank you matthew and linda -- melinda, i— the money. thank you matthew and linda -- melinda, iwant— the money. thank you matthew and linda -- melinda, i want to - the money. thank you matthew and linda -- melinda, i want to move i the money. thank you matthew and | linda -- melinda, i want to move on linda —— melinda, i want to move on to the israel— gaza war but slightly tight for time, but melinda, we had the news in the last few hours but wide in this conflict with the

events in lebanon, where do you see the months ahead? i will events in lebanon, where do you see the months ahead?— the months ahead? i will put my american hat — the months ahead? i will put my american hat on _ the months ahead? i will put my american hat on again _ the months ahead? i will put my american hat on again and - the months ahead? i will put my| american hat on again and i think thatjoe biden is watching the middle east very carefully both ukraine and the middle east, because it is a big presidential election, and americans don't vote on foreign policy but they vote on leadership. we know americans are paying attention to this, so i expect to see the white house to continue to try and de—escalate, trying to find a swift way out of the war. i don't have anything more specific than that. a, , ., ., , have anything more specific than that. , ., ., , ., that. matthew, your thoughts to that? we know _ that. matthew, your thoughts to that? we know from _ that. matthew, your thoughts to that? we know from the - that. matthew, your thoughts to that? we know from the study l that. matthew, your thoughts to | that? we know from the study of terrorism that _ that? we know from the study of terrorism that this _ that? we know from the study of terrorism that this kind _ that? we know from the study of terrorism that this kind of- that? we know from the study of i terrorism that this kind of approach to repress — terrorism that this kind of approach to repress and destroy at this level that israel— to repress and destroy at this level that israel is doing doesn't work. it that israel is doing doesn't work. it creates— that israel is doing doesn't work. it creates more terrorist and i think— it creates more terrorist and i think the _ it creates more terrorist and i think the real question is, where is that happening outside the world

outside _ that happening outside the world outside of gaza? where is the leadership of hamas now? and who might— leadership of hamas now? and who might step into replacing leadership that is— might step into replacing leadership that is captured or killed? i don't think— that is captured or killed? i don't think the — that is captured or killed? i don't think the idf has answers about right— think the idf has answers about right now— think the idf has answers about right now but i think they are committed to the strategy. i think jimmy— committed to the strategy. i think jimmy netanyahu cannot stop now, he needs— jimmy netanyahu cannot stop now, he needs an _ jimmy netanyahu cannot stop now, he needs an exit ramp and he does not have it _ needs an exit ramp and he does not have it yet — needs an exit ramp and he does not have it yet and i think biden may provide — have it yet and i think biden may provide one for him, us pressure might— provide one for him, us pressure might provide that exit ramp, but we will see _ might provide that exit ramp, but we will see. , ., ., ,, might provide that exit ramp, but we will see. , ., ., ., ., i, , will see. great to get your analysis and thoughts _ will see. great to get your analysis and thoughts matthew, _ will see. great to get your analysis and thoughts matthew, and - will see. great to get your analysis i and thoughts matthew, and melinda, we will have to get you back to get more into the us election cycle and how that will play into the geopolitics of these conflicts, but for the moment we must leave it there. thank you both —— both very much. coming up next in the uk, the government is claiming success on processing assigning claims. we will be taking a look at the numbers, stay with us, i'm lewis vaughan

jones, this is bbc news. hello. storm henk certainly made its presence felt today with numerous flood warnings issued, particularly across england and wales. we also had this amber warning from the met office, this warning expiring through the early parts of the evening. some very strong winds, though, easing eastwards as the area of low pressure responsible storm henk continues to slide away. some outbreaks of rain pushing eastwards as well. most of the rain clearing out into the north sea, but some will remain across eastern parts of scotland, bending into the far north east where we'll see some snow falling across shetland. it does stay very windy across the north east of scotland, still quite windy through the night across english channel coasts as well. temperatures generally holding up between 3—10 degrees so the vast majority will avoid a frost. so as we head into tomorrow, low pressure still with us. although the main body of storm henk

will be moving towards southern scandinavia by this stage, where it will be bringing some quite significant snowfall. for us, many places seeing a day of sunny spells and heavy showers, still blustery down towards the south coast. those winds only slowly easing. also staying windy in the north east of scotland. still a bit of rain, sleet and snow across orkney and shetland and some showery rain more generally across the northern half of scotland. temperature wise, 8—11 degrees in many places. and then as we head into thursday, here comes another weather system. this one set to bring some heavy rain, particularly across the channel islands and into southern coastal counties of england. some of this rain could be on the heavy side. it mayjust be that this pulse of wet weather shifts a little bit further northwards as we go through the day. elsewhere, sunny spells and showers, some more persistent rain continuing to affect the north east of scotland, still cold in shetland. and elsewhere, those temperatures just starting to come down a little bit. that's a sign of things to come. as we move into the weekend, low pressure will loosen its grip and high pressure will start

to build, both from the west and from the east. so that is going to settle things down. as that happens, we'll see some colder air developing. nothing exceptional for this time of year, it is early january, after all, but those temperatures certainly lower than they have been by day and by night. any showers that do crop up could be wintry in nature. there'll be some frost and fog at night, but a lot of dry weather.

hello, i'm lewis vaughanjones. you're watching the context on bbc news. the uk government says it has met a promise to clear a large part of the backlog of asylum claims although figures show thousands of �*complex' cases remain unresolved. time for sport now. let's head to the bbc sport centre. hi. we will start in the english premier league because to inform sides are going head—to—head as west ten host brayton. the home side without too. a slow burn over the first half and

goalless at half—time at the london