lebanon accuses israel of trying to ignite conflict across the middle east — after a senior hamas leader is killed in beirut. junior doctors in england begin the longest strike in nhs history — joining a six—day walk—out over pay. investigators in tokyo say they're still searching for the flight recorders from a passenger jet that went up in flames on tuesday. and, aftershocks and heavy rain complicate earthquake rescue efforts injapan. at least 64 people are now confirmed dead.

hello, i'm luxmy gopal. lebanon's government has accused israel of trying to ignite conflict across the middle east, after a senior hamas leader was killed by a drone strike in southern beirut. saleh al—arouri, and at least five others, died in tuesday's blast. he was considered one of the founders of hamas�* military wing, the al qassam brigades. hamas is considered a terror organisation by the uk and us governments. israel has been blamed for the attack — but it has not claimed responsibility. hamas condemned the strike, calling it an "act of terrorism". the iranian—backed armed group, hezbollah, said it was an assault on lebanese sovereignty. if it were an israeli strike, it marks the first targeted killing of a hamas official outside the palestinian territories. the hamas—run health ministry says at least 22,000 palestinians in gaza have been killed since israel began bombing the territory after hamas�*s october 7 attacks. 0ur middle east correspondent, yolande knell, injerusalem has more

on the death of the hamas deputy leader. well, this is really reigniting fears of a wider escalation in israel's war with hamas in gaza. saleh al—arouri was the most senior hamas figure to have been killed since the october 7 attacks. he was in an office in beirut, along with other members of the armed group, we understand, meeting members of a local islamist faction when this drone strike happened. now, israel has neither confirmed nor denied anything, but it's widely assumed to have been responsible, and that's why we've had the lebanese prime minister coming out accusing israel of a crime here, saying that this attack could lead to a new phase of confrontations with israel. we've had the lebanese armed group, hezbollah, which is a powerful group, coming out and saying that this will not go without a response or without punishment. and we're waiting very much to see what the head of hezbollah, hassan nasrallah, has to say.

he's already scheduled to give a speech later on in the day. so, in terms of this response that they are promising or threatening, do we have any indication of what it might be, and what the concerns are from other nations at the moment in terms of how this may represent an escalation of the conflict beyond its parameters so far? so, already since october 7, what we've seen on israel's northern border is actually the worst violence since the 2006 full—scale war between israel and hezbollah in lebanon. so, we've had almost daily kind of cross—border fire. but up to now, hezbollah has been using its shorter range rockets across that border, flying attack drones across the border as well, and it's been relatively contained, the violence, to that border area. the fear now is, of course, that with much longer range,

more precise rockets in hezbollah�*s arsenal, that it could resort to using some of those. already what we're seeing is the israeli military moving some of its air defenses up to the northern border. that's according to reports in the israeli media. the israeli military has said that it is prepared for all scenarios. and do we know how this is potentially going to affect israel's military efforts? because, of course, it's it's widening the number of fronts, potentially, that the war is being carried out on from their perspective. well, certainly the biggest concern at the moment is about what this means with hezbollah, but also a lot of attention to the occupied west bank. saleh al—arouri came from just outside of ramallah, he is somebody who directed west bank operations for hamas, continued to do that while he was living in exile away from here.

and he's somebody who still has a considerable following. right now, the different palestinian armed factions have called for an official day of mourning. that's happening in the west bank. and we're expecting demonstrations to take place in different palestinian cities within the coming hours. so i think israeli forces will also be on alert for retaliatory action coming closer to us here injerusalem in the west bank or perhaps in israel itself. gideon levy is a columnist for the haaretz newspaper. i asked him for his assessment on the strike that killed saleh al—arouri. it's a childish game. i don't think that anyone serious has any kind of doubt that israel did it. i mean, who else can it be? but in any case, the outcome

is problematic in my view. on one hand, it's very impressive mossad, the israeli army and god knows who, know exactly how to target those leaders of hamas. but at the same time, one should remember that the middle east is full with graves of assassinated leaders, dangerous commanders of all kinds of organisations that israel has assassinated throughout the years. after each assassination, everyone was praising israel, or praising the mossad for the great achievement. did it matter much? did it make any change? usually the successors were almost always more dangerous than those who were assassinated. so i don't applaud to such kind of operations. very good for another netflix series or hollywood film, but not much more than this. and some israeli commentators have already been saying since this attack that this

represents a good development for the overall war and for leading towards peace because it has taken out, in theory, somebody who is higher up in hamas leadership. what do you make of that argument? as i say, there are always successers and replacements successors and replacements and above all, nobody speaks about the real danger of this operation mainly for the safety of the hostages. israel has over 100 hostages being kept in gaza. to go and assassinate senior hamas commander is really risking their lives. israel will not be able to claim any more than those goals of crushing hamas and releasing those hostages are equally

important, because this operation is saying, no, we prefer crushing hamas over releasing the hostages. this is not very promising for the safety of the hostages which from my point of view are the main goal and should be the main goal of israel. in gaza, israel's military continues its campaign with shelling and air strikes of residential areas. the army also said it raided a weapons storage compound in the southern city of khan younis. and the israel defense forces are again dropping leaflets there, urging people to leave specified areas, designating them "combat zones". the palestinian red crescent society says its headquarters was struck twice by israel bombardment — killing at least five people, including a new born baby, and injuring three others. the world health organization chief condemned the attacks on tuesday, described the bombing as "unconscionable". hundreds of displaced palestinians were seeking shelter at the premises.

junior doctors working in england's public health services have started a six—day strike. it's the longest industrial action in nhs history. people are being warned to expect significant disruption as urgent and critical care are prioritised over routine appointments. in the summer, the government gave junior doctors in england an average rise of 8.8%. but medics said the increase was not enough to address pay erosion over the past 15 years. there were further talks at the end of the year, but they failed to reach an agreement. junior doctors in wales are planning a 72—hour walk—out from january 15, while doctors in training in northern ireland for potential strike action.

those in scotland have already reached an agreement with the scottish government. dr vivek trivedi, co—chair of the bma junior doctors committee, explained why they had to resort to this long strike. ultimately, because doctors are not worth any less than they were in 2008. we've seen our pay fall by more than 26% in that time, and we've got doctors who are graduating after £100,000 of debt from five to six years of medical school being paid £15.50 an hour. and what that sends signals to for doctors, as they progress, is that they're not valued, especially after all the hard work that they put in to train, and they're being, you know, poached in some situations by places like australia, new zealand. and ultimately we're losing our workforce, and we need to do something about that. we're joined by the conservative mp, steve brine, who chairs the commons health and social care committee. given the importance of retention in that workforce and the impact on the

wider public health service, why isn't the government meeting what the bma is asking for? you isn't the government meeting what the bma is asking for?— the bma is asking for? you would have to ask _ the bma is asking for? you would have to ask the _ the bma is asking for? you would have to ask the government - the bma is asking for? you would l have to ask the government there, which i am not. it is a cross—party select committee. we had the new secretary of state before us just before christmas for the first evidence session. if i was in her shoes and still a health minister, i would say this is not the place to hold these negotiations, or a physical picket line on a wednesday morning. the government cannot hold these negotiations with a gun to his head on a strike day. as she said, let's colour of the strikes, we can have a conversation. we can talk about the 9% already on the table. the pay round for this year is already going ahead. we can talk about other important things, like the pension changes, the long—term workforce... we cannot do this on strike day. it is enough already. patient safety is deftly beating put

at risk here. would you have potential issues and this is not helping any of it. to potential issues and this is not helping any of it.— potential issues and this is not helping any of it. to address that oint, the helping any of it. to address that point. the -- _ helping any of it. to address that point, the -- bma _ helping any of it. to address that point, the -- bma said _ helping any of it. to address that point, the -- bma said there - helping any of it. to address that| point, the -- bma said there was point, the —— bma said there was strike action suspended in october for talks, strike action suspended in october fortalks, but strike action suspended in october for talks, but the early deadline set in september was passed without a resolution. they would argue that strikes were already suspended for talks and a resolution wasn't met. you have to keep talking, don't you? so why isn't the health minister meeting around the table? because the are meeting around the table? because they are on — meeting around the table? because they are on the _ meeting around the table? because they are on the strike. _ meeting around the table? because they are on the strike. but - meeting around the table? because they are on the strike. but let's - they are on the strike. but let's just be clear... it my local health trust, only 50% ofjunior doctors are on the strike. not alljunior doctors followed the militant activist action of the b and a trade union, who is exacting exactly like a trade union. they are notjust

asking for a 10% pay rise, they are asking for a 10% pay rise, they are asking for a 35% pay rise. no government is going to honour that. the bma have a choice. they either have to stop the strikes, or they are going to have to say they are on strike forever. i think public sentiment is already wearing very thin. this is not an election year story for my constituents and your viewers, who have got your drink cancer treatments being cancelled over the next six days at the busiest time of year for the nhs. this is a real life story... {iii this is a real life story... of course. _ this is a real life story... of course, these issues existed before the strike action, and junior doctors would say the reason that they are taking this action is because the pay erosion that they call it has led to a situation where doctors are overworked and there are retention issues. so, actually, this is the reason that they are doing

it. before the series of strike action in 2022 and 2023, before there was barely any doctor strike action, there are still millions of hospital appointments cancelled. it is not really accurate to say this is not really accurate to say this is something that is borne out of strike action. this is a pre—existing issue, and the doctor striking are saying that this needs to be tackled. because if they continue to be on the pay that they are wrong, this retention, overwork and pressure on the nhs will continue. and pressure on the nhs will continue-— continue. that was quite a soliloquy. _ continue. that was quite a soliloquy. if— continue. that was quite a soliloquy, if i _ continue. that was quite a soliloquy, if i might - continue. that was quite a soliloquy, ifi might say. l continue. that was quite a soliloquy, ifi might say. i| continue. that was quite a i soliloquy, ifi might say. i am responding — soliloquy, ifi might say. i am responding to _ soliloquy, ifi might say. i am responding to the _ soliloquy, ifi might say. i am responding to the point - soliloquy, ifi might say. i am responding to the point you l soliloquy, if i might say. i am responding to the point you are making. it is putting their points of view across to you. the broader arguments — of view across to you. the broader arguments about _ of view across to you. the broader arguments about the _ of view across to you. the broader arguments about the nhs, - of view across to you. the broader arguments about the nhs, aboutl arguments about the nhs, about funding around workforce, that is not come up with the spirit, for doctors in training or otherwise on picket lines to be discussing. that

is for elected politicians. i would say that i think it would be helpful if some acknowledgement of the paid irrigation over the past number of years... one trust executive are to me yesterday said what i am concerned about is the dressing room ofjohn your doctors who are tomorrow's consultants. the concern we have is if we see the profession continue to be knocked in this way, may be young people will look at a career in medicine and think of doing something else instead. i would echo ministers' please, stop the strikes, it is hurting the nhs, it is hurting patients, it is certainly hurting the prime minister's pledged to cut waiting times. let's go into the warm, cup of tea, cup of coffee, around a

table with victoria atkins, and let's talk about the pension changes that the government made of... so why didn't this have him back in early december when they already suspended at the strikes in order to reach a resolution? why didn't it happen then and what makes you think it would happen now? i was happen then and what makes you think it would happen now?— it would happen now? i was in that room so i can't _ it would happen now? i was in that room so i can't really _ it would happen now? i was in that room so i can't really answer - it would happen now? i was in that room so i can't really answer that i room so i can't really answer that to you. all i would say is, they have just got to keep talking, because the alternative is to stay on strike forever. that is not sustainable because the nhs itself is being put at risk because of all this. it is not alljunior doctors, there are manyjunior doctors at work today helping their patients. given that they are saying they have had below inflation pay rises since 2008 and the pay deal they are asking for simply restoring luck pay, what do you think they should do? help with this impasse going to

be resolved? how do we break the stalemate? what you're asking is for them to return to work on what a continued below inflation wage. i can only assume a 35% is some sort of starting point, because it isn't serious, it isn't going to happen. if that is their position they are not going to move on, then they will be on strike forever because no government is going to do that. we should be paying health workers more, we should be paying people working in the care homes more. then you have the shadow chancellor on the news today saying that she wants to cut taxes. when we try to put up taxes to give the nhs more spending firepower, the labour party voted against that. the fact is, if we want to put more money into paying the nhs, not into services butjust into pay, then it has to come from

somewhere. i cannot be inflationary. inflation is at 3.9% and it is coming down. i don't know anybody in my constituency who is getting a 35% pay rise this year. just my constituency who is getting a 35% pay rise this year-— pay rise this year. just a word on the government _ pay rise this year. just a word on the government has _ pay rise this year. just a word on the government has might - pay rise this year. just a word on i the government has might respond pay rise this year. just a word on - the government has might respond to the government has might respond to the strikes. a spokesman for the prime minister has said pay deals with other health workers show thatjunior doctors are "outliers". "we have sought to come to a fair resolution — fair for the taxpayer, fair for hardworking doctors and health workers". around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. provisional data from the met office suggests 2023 was the uk's second warmest year on record. the average mean temperature of 9.97 degrees celsius was just 0.06 degrees cooler than 2022. the data says 2023 was the hottest year on record for wales and northern ireland.

a law that makes paying for sexual services a crime in northern ireland has led tojust one conviction since 2015. there have been calls for a review of the legislation, which was brought in to tackle human trafficking. the charity women's aid said injuly there was a significant increase in the number of trafficking victims they're supporting. the government says pupils at english schools that have been partially closed because of dangerous concrete will not get extra help in their exams. since september, some students have not been able to access design and technology work rooms, laboratories and other specialist spaces due to the crumbling concrete, known as raac. school leaders have called for special consideration. you're live with bbc news. an investigation is under way injapan into the crash between a japan airlines airbus and a coastguard aircraft at tokyo's haneda airport that

killed five crew members. these are the pictures of what's left of the airbus a350 after it caught fire in the collision. all 367 passengers and 12 crew managed to escape from the burning aircraft, and there's been widespread praise for the cabin crew. five of the six people on board the coastguard aircraft died. and the japanese government is stepping up the emergency response to monday's earthquake, which is now known to have killed at least 64 people. the prime minister, fumio kishida, announced that the number of military personnel involved would be doubled to 2000. but the emergency effort is being complicated by further aftershocks, as well as heavy rain and the risk of landslides. 0ur correspondent, jean mckenzie, is in the region and has spent the day trying to reach the town of wajima close to the epicentre. sirens. this is a race for survival.

rescue workers stream throughjapan�*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. 0ur asia correspondent, suranjana teqari, told me how the conditions are hampering the rescue effort. there is actually heavy rain forecast and potential landslides, and the authorities have said that that will hamper rescue efforts further. the peninsula where the earthquake struck on monday is a very narrow peninsula, it is not heavily

populated, but the roads are quite narrow and they have been damaged in the earthquake and that has made it really difficult, asjean�*s report mentioned not only for our teams to reach the most affected areas, but also those rescue workers. the other problem that is hampering rescue operations as after—shocks and tremors. just this morning there was another big tremor, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake, and that is further hampering the rescue efforts. in fact, we understand that rescue workers that were trying to rescue people from a collapsed building had to pull out because of that tremor. the president of harvard university has announced her resignation.

claudine gay — the first black woman to hold the post — leaves her position after facing heavy pressure to step down following criticism of her handling of anti—semitism on campus. she also faced allegations of plagiarism. nearly 700 staff members had rallied behind her, as the university said she would keep herjob despite the controversy. the resignation is being celebrated as a high—profile victory by conservatives, who have objected to gay on ideological grounds since she took the job injuly. stay with us here on bbc news. the vendors who pack new york's famous brooklyn bridge selling souvenirs and trinkets are to be banned from today. the bridge is popular with tourist, and city officials said 311,000 people visit the bridge each weekend, looking to snap up anything from yankees caps to new york number plates. it's part of a crackdown on unlicensed vendors across the city. stay with us here on bbc news.

hello, we may be done with the worst of the wind and the rain for this coming week, but the impact of what has fallen is still being felt. plenty of flood warnings still across the country today, all the details of them on the bbc weather website. for the impact, bbc local radio is your best ports of call for what's happening where you are. now, the storm which brought some of the rain yesterday, storm henk, that's now in across parts of northern europe. it's still low pressure with us, and that's why it's not a dry day out there, still got some showers around, some of those heavy and thundery around the coast. fairly frequent, but fast moving showers through parts of wales and southern england. fewer showers, northern england, far south of scotland and northern ireland, some staying completely dry here throughout the day. but some lengthier bursts of rain into the west of scotland and some snow in shetland, where it's still chilly, where it's still chilly, 3 degrees here. elsewhere, temperatures above average, but down on yesterday. into tonight, continuing with some rain across the north and east of scotland,

some snow in shetland at times. isolated showers elsewhere, turns dry, but some clear skies around. colder night than recent nights. don't be surprised if one or two sheltered valleys sees a touch of frost into the morning. so your thursday commute will be a colder one, but a brighter one for the most part, a lot more sunshine around. still some outbreaks of rain to the north and east of scotland. a few showers elsewhere, scotland, parts of northern ireland, northern england. but channel islands turning wet through the morning, some of that rain could edge into southern counties of england. bear in mind, that could be a bit further north than shown on these charts. and that's because of this system here, which is moving out of france. just how far north it gets is a bit of a question mark, but it will get out of the way as we go into friday. still got low pressure to the north—west of scotland, so still the focus for the bulk of the showers here. but there will be a few showers elsewhere. as you can see, though, the winds for many of you will be still on the lighter side, some sunshine in places. temperatures dropping closer to where we should be injanuary, and they will be set to drop further. low pressure that has dominated for so long gets squeezed away by high pressure building in scandinavia and out

from parts of the atlantic, and that will eventually not only turn things drier, but also colder across the country, with the arrival of more widespread night—time frost. will be some mist and fog by night as well. but i think the crucial thing, especially with all those flood warnings around at the moment, very little rain. there will be a few showers. it's not going to be a completely dry picture, but the emphasis for most of you is some longer, drier spells, and that will continue through much of next week. take care.

in the red sea shipping crisis, one in five commercial ships are now avoiding the area because of the risk of attacks. there are warnings it will lead to higher consumer prices. and grocery inflation in the uk has slowed but remains high, as supermarkets report their busiest christmas since the pandemic. welcome to world business report. we start with global trade and the news that one in five commercial ships are now avoiding the red sea because of the threat of attack, that's according to the international chamber of shipping. it includes ships operated by two of the world's

biggest shipping firms, maersk and hapag—lloyd.