lebanon accuses israel of trying to ignite conflict across the middle east after a senior hamas leader is killed in beirut. aftershocks and heavy rain complicate earthquake rescue efforts injapan. at least 64 people are now confirmed dead. junior doctors in england begin the longest strike in nhs history, joining a six—day walk—out over pay. hello, i'm lucy hockings — welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. 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 the blast on tuesday. 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 not denied carrying out the explosion, and a spokesman mark regev described it as a "surgical strike" on hamas. hamas called it an "act of terrorism", while hezbollah said it was an assault on lebanese sovereignty. hezbollah, a politically influential islamist group which controls the most powerful armed force in lebanon, has been exchanging fire with israel along the israel—lebanon border since the war in gaza began in october. there's been reaction to the strike in beirut from the the un — it's peacekeeping mission in lebanon says it's "deeply concerned" by any potential escalation. a warning echoed by french president emmanuel macron. the lebanese foreign minister says his government has appealed to hezbollah not to retaliate.

live now to carine torbey in beirut. what is happening that now and what is being said about this strike? just a while ago the street was sealed off since morning. there is heavy presence of the lebanese army. behind me is at the apartment that was targeted yesterday. this is where saleh al—arouri and six other members of hamas were killed yesterday in a surgical attack believed in lib dem to have been carried out by israel. you cannot see because of the sheet ceiling of the place. —— in lebanon. workers

are still clearing the rubble from that apartment. there was also another car that was hit yesterday by a rocket, that could have been taken for evidence as well. as you can see, it is business as usual or the street, shops have reopened, crowds are actually in the place, lots of onlookers are coming to look at this apartment, to comment on how accurate and precise was the targeting, and also to ask what could happen next. this is the question on everybody�*s mind at this morning. find question on everybody's mind at this morninu. �* ., ., question on everybody's mind at this morninu. �* . ., , �*, morning. and what are people's concerns up _ morning. and what are people's concerns up there _ morning. and what are people's concerns up there in _ morning. and what are people's concerns up there in beirut - morning. and what are people's. concerns up there in beirut about what could happen next?-

concerns up there in beirut about what could happen next? there are concerns that _ what could happen next? there are concerns that this _ what could happen next? there are concerns that this could _ what could happen next? there are concerns that this could be - what could happen next? there are concerns that this could be at - what could happen next? there are concerns that this could be at the l concerns that this could be at the start of a new chapter. this is widely seen as changing the rules of engagement between hezbollah and israel. hezbollah opened that front just after hamas attacked israel. it said this was a front in support of hamas, and ever since it has been carrying out daily attacks and said it would not stop until israel stops its war on gaza. but what had yesterday takes things to a completely different level. this is an attack in a suburb of beirut. it is an area largely controlled by his hezbollah, but it is also an area in the capital away from that open the front. it is also an assassination, the nature of that attack is

different. targeted killings, something which hezbollah has set in the past will not tolerate to happen in lebanon. that is lots of anticipation about war hassan nasrallah might say and whether he will give any direction towards what kind of retaliation hezbollah could have. we kind of retaliation hezbollah could have.~ kind of retaliation hezbollah could have. ~ ~ , kind of retaliation hezbollah could have. ~ ~ ., have. we will keep across that address from _ have. we will keep across that address from hassan - have. we will keep across that| address from hassan nasrallah have. we will keep across that - address from hassan nasrallah this afternoon and bring new developments. we are expecting to hear some key statements from him. brandon friedman is the director of research at the moshe dayan center for middle east and african studies at tel aviv university. just hearing the concerns that in lebanon about what might happen next after that yesterday's strike. how do you believe this changes things and in anyway feels the risk of

regional conflict? let and in anyway feels the risk of regional conflict?— and in anyway feels the risk of regional conflict? and in anyway feels the risk of reuional conflict? , ,., ., regional conflict? let me respond to our regional conflict? let me respond to your report- — regional conflict? let me respond to your report- first. — regional conflict? let me respond to your report. first, this _ regional conflict? let me respond to your report. first, this was - regional conflict? let me respond to your report. first, this was an - your report. first, this was an attack on hamas, not his brother won, so i do not think it necessary to change the rules of engagement between israel and hezbollah. i don't think it was israel that has violated lebanese sovereignty. it is hezbollah that has violated israeli sovereignty continuously since at least 2006, but probably for two decades prior. thirdly i think it is important to remember that under un security resolutions, the security council resolution that ended the 2006 second lebanon war, his brother what matt was supposed to be disarmed. that didn't happen, so lebanon never really succeeded in asserting certainty over his brother. , .,,

asserting certainty over his brother. , , ., brother. there will be those of course, brother. there will be those of course. the — brother. there will be those of course, the government - brother. there will be those of course, the government in - brother. there will be those of - course, the government in lebanon, who say this as an assault on them. it had turned in the capital city on their territory. what other concerns do you think there are in israel about the fact that this could widen now? particularly as we wait to hear from hassan nasrallah this afternoon, iran's reaction as well. the fact of the matter is thousands of israelis have been displaced from their homes and are leaning off of israel since october 7, a situation thatis israel since october 7, a situation that is frankly unsustainable. his brother what mike has been carrying out daily attacks over the water. —— hezbollah. something will need to be done. i tend to see the attack

yesterday in the context of israel's a war against hamas and gaza, against saleh al—arouri, a hamas official. but certainly how hezbollah react to that will dictate how things go forward. i think there is a sense in israel that this could escalate. ,., . ,, ., is a sense in israel that this could escalate. . ~ ., ., is a sense in israel that this could escalate. ., ., ., escalate. going back to politics and israel. escalate. going back to politics and israel- what _ escalate. going back to politics and israel. what are _ escalate. going back to politics and israel. what are the _ escalate. going back to politics and israel. what are the chances - escalate. going back to politics and israel. what are the chances of - escalate. going back to politics and israel. what are the chances of any j israel. what are the chances of any kind of consensus at the moment in the coalition government about what might happen when the war ends? i thinka lot is might happen when the war ends? i think a lot is made about the disagreements. i think there are disagreements, i certainly would not want to pay for them over. but i think there is general consensus across the political spectrum that there has to be a role for both the international community, principally the united states, a role for those arab countries who have proven them selves to be partners of israel in

the past. we saw this in respect of a letter in the saudi press, a willingness to incorporate a reformed palestinian authority entered the civil affairs governance of guards at the day after. obviously israel will want to have security safe in terms of its border. it will be multilayered, including an international component, a regional component and certainly a palestinian component with israeli concerns accounted for. i think that there is a general broad consensus. obviously, there are some disagreements to do with the current governing coalition. but it politics are dynamic and i think it politics are dynamic and i think it is important for the public to be aware of that. —— is really a politics. in gaza itself, israel's military continues its campaign with shelling and air strikes of residential areas. gaza's health ministry says some

22,313 people are now known to have been killed. in 20 minutes, we'll update you on the situation there and also the condemnation from the head of the who over a deadly attack on a palestinian red crescent building in gaza. the japanese government is stepping up the emergency response to monday's earthquake, which is now known to have killed at least 64 people. we've been seeing just how extensive the damage actually is. this is the coastal town of suzu — the sheer force of the quake here flattened homes and dumped boats in the streets. rescue teams have been searching collapsed houses. japanese prime minister, fumio kishida, says the number of military personnel involved would be doubled to 2000. the region continues to be rocked by aftershocks. they're complicating rescue efforts. our correspondent, jean mckenzie, is in the region and travelled

close to the epicentre. we finally arrived in the town of wajima, three days after the earthquake, and this is close to the epicentre, and it is by far the most destruction we have seen. a fire broke out here during the earthquake and it spread to the house is and the stalls. this is to be an old marketplace. the people in the town code as the flames could be seen all around. you can see that much of the area is still smoking. walking around the side streets, and so many of the old wooden homes have completely collapsed. but most people have now left this town, they took those very early warnings to flee to higher ground because of the tsunami that was forecast. they have not been able to return because the homes are either destroyed or

structurally unsafe. but people are returning here to search for the relatives who they think may still be trapped under the rubble, because three days on they still doubt now. it has taken some of the search and rescue teams nearly as long as us to reach year. these search dogs only arrived here this morning. that has been a huge delay in searching for survivors, and the teams and now going one by one to each of these collapse wooden houses to search for them. but they don't know if anyone is inside here, their searches are not based on any information, they told us. and so this is an incredibly slow process, and this is a critical time. staying injapan — investigations continue into the cause of a crash between a japan airlines airbus and a coastguard aircraft at tokyo's haneda airport. teams today appeared to be inspecting the site — investigators can be seen standing in the debris. they have been searching

for the airbus flight recorders. these are the scenes from tuesday when both aircraft were destroyed by fire. all 367 japan airlines passengers and 12 crew managed to escape. five of the six people on board the coastguard aircraft died. live now to our asia reporter, suranjana tewari, who's in tokyo for us. firstly, to the quake, are there still areas of japan that are cut off that rescuers have not managed to get to? off that rescuers have not managed to net to? ., off that rescuers have not managed to net to? . off that rescuers have not managed toaetto? . g ., �*, to get to? yeah, we saw in jean's re ort, to get to? yeah, we saw in jean's report. it — to get to? yeah, we saw in jean's report. it is _ to get to? yeah, we saw in jean's report. it is not — to get to? yeah, we saw in jean's report, it is notjust _ to get to? yeah, we saw in jean's report, it is notjust the _ to get to? yeah, we saw in jean's report, it is notjust the bbc- to get to? yeah, we saw in jean's. report, it is notjust the bbc teams have been unable to reach the worst affected parts of the country. it is also rescue workers. bad weather and potential landslides also making things worse. the other major problem is something that officials had warned about, three other

tremors. just this evening that was quite a big tremor of about magnitude five, and that is further hampering relief efforts. the government have said they have opened a sea route to deliver aid, but it really is a race against time, in the words of prime minister fumio kishida in order to reach those survivors with more than 48 a was passed. the window of time to reach those survivors and to help them is really closing fast. find reach those survivors and to help them is really closing fast. and how is the weather _ them is really closing fast. and how is the weather affecting _ them is really closing fast. and how is the weather affecting things, - is the weather affecting things, that heavy rainjapan has been experiencing? the that heavy rain japan has been exoeriencing?_ that heavy rain japan has been ex-aeriencin ? . , ., ., experiencing? the heavy rain and the landslides is — experiencing? the heavy rain and the landslides is hampering _ experiencing? the heavy rain and the landslides is hampering efforts. - experiencing? the heavy rain and the landslides is hampering efforts. it - landslides is hampering efforts. it means that rescue teams just can't reach so many of these remote areas. the other problem is that the earthquake damage lots of rows and infrastructure. they are just not

able to get the machinery required to access the rubble, the flattened buildings. there are some towns and cities where there is no building list standing. you can imagine how difficult it is. the government has doubled the number of self defence forces going in to try and help. they have also sent sniffer dogs as well. it really is a race against time to help people. some areas are without electricity, food, without water. some people are also complaining they are not able to receive enough food and water to survive in the coming days. find receive enough food and water to survive in the coming days. and can i ask ou survive in the coming days. and can i ask you about _ survive in the coming days. and can i ask you about the _ survive in the coming days. and can i ask you about the crash _ survive in the coming days. and can i ask you about the crash at - survive in the coming days. and can i ask you about the crash at hanedaj i ask you about the crash at haneda airport. what are these reports of differing accounts that we are getting as to what actually happened? to getting as to what actually happened?— getting as to what actually ha ened? ., ., , ., getting as to what actually hauened? ., ., , ., , getting as to what actually ha ened? ., ., , ., , , happened? to tragedies into my days for ja an,

happened? to tragedies into my days forjapan. that _ happened? to tragedies into my days forjapan, that crash _ happened? to tragedies into my days forjapan, that crash and _ happened? to tragedies into my days forjapan, that crash and that - forjapan, that crash and that massive fire at haneda airport yesterday. the remnants of the plane are now being investigated, the passenger plane that had more than 370 passengers and crew on it. japan airlines saying that it was cleared to land, the passenger plane was cleared to land. but the conflicting reports are coming from the smaller plane, which was operated by japan's coastguard. and it is not really clear what the pilot was instructed to do, whether the pilot was asked to do, whether the pilot was asked to stay on the runway or to stay out of the way of the runway. now the investigators are analysing the black box of that coastguard aeroplane and trying to ascertain exactly what the pilot was told. 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. uk firms are warning that attacks on commercial vessels in the red sea could lead to delays for goods and price rises. the attacks have led to long diversions to avoid one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. the head of the international chamber of shipping told the bbc thati in 5 commercial ships is now avoiding the red sea

because of the threat of attack. you're live with bbc news. junior doctors working in england's public health services have begun a six—day strike. it's the longest industrial action in nhs history. the term "junior doctor" can be somewhat misleading, as it can refer to a doctor with up to ten years of experience. 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 are being voting on potential strike action. those in scotland have already reached an agreement with the scottish government. live now to our health correspondent, sharon barbour, who's outside the royal victoria infirmary in newcastle.

what are the junior doctors telling you there? the what are the “unior doctors telling ou there? ., ., , my you there? the “unior doctors say the feel you there? the “unior doctors say they feel very — you there? the junior doctors say they feel very strongly _ you there? the junior doctors say they feel very strongly about - you there? the junior doctors say they feel very strongly about this | they feel very strongly about this strike action. there is no way that they are going to come off the strike unless they get what they say is a credible offer to put to members. they say all through christmas they were waiting for the health secretary, victoria atkins, to come forward with what she said it was a final offer. they didn't hear from it was a final offer. they didn't hearfrom her, and they it was a final offer. they didn't hear from her, and they say if they had they would never have gone ahead with the strike action. their strength of feeling as strong as ever, if not stronger. i have spoken to some consultants here today too. they seem to be supporting the junior doctors, although i think some have spoken out saying it is very hard work on the wards. but we have had a lot of picketers here, if you are left behind me, and a fair

amount of public support. a lot of beeping at least, anyway. to ukraine — where there are reports of more casualties from russian attacks. at least five people were killed and 127 injured in the strikes on kyiv and kharkiv onjanuary 2. several residential buildings and infrastructure facilities were also damaged in the past few days, as ukraine and russia exchanged aerial attacks. russia has continued its heavy winter bombardment of ukrainian cities, following vladimir putin's pledge to " i nte nsify" strikes. ukraine's president zelensky says moscow launched more than 500 missiles and drones against his country in the past five days. he says that includes ten hypersonic ballistic missiles, shot down yesterday. meanwhile, russian officials say they have foiled a ukrainian attack russian officials say they have foiled a ukrainian attack on the border city of belgorod, where 25 people were killed on saturday, and there were blasts heard in sevastopol in russian—occupied crimea. the number of ukrainian civilians killed since russia's full—scale invasion in february 2022 has risen to more than 10,000.

our senior international correspondent, orla guerin, tells the story of two young women — both civilians — killed last summer in zaporizhzhia. in the heart of kyiv, pride of place goes to those who died defending ukraine. grigori comes to show his wife some of his fallen comrades. there are many. "he was a poet," he tells her. "and he was a banker." "the country has lost all these people," he says, "they were the best of ukraine, the bravest, maybe the most heroic." and ukraine has lost voices of the future, like kristina and svitlana.

this was in august in the city of zaporizhzhia. "our last song will be for her son," says kristina, who was 21. 20 minutes later, both were dead. they were having a rest at a playground around the corner when a russian rocket slammed to earth. kristina's mother, halyna spitsyna, doesn't know how to live without her. translation: you don't know i what plans to make for tomorrow. sometimes you are able to smile. but then you remember that she can't smile any more. i can't explain it. it's as if you have died, but can still speak.

svitlana's family inhabit their own universe of grief. father yurii siemieikin, mother anna and 12—year—old sister sasha. "i live in my own world," she says. "i feel safer now because i feel that svita is always with me." yurii tells me svitlana, who was 18, was musical from childhood and wrote her own songs. he heard the explosion here at home and rushed to look for her.

translation: police . brought me to the place, and i saw what i saw. svitlana was lying on the ground in front of me. how is it possible in the 21st century to do something like this completely unprovoked ? i don't know. kristina and svitlana lie buried side by side. they sang to raise funds for troops and civilians and to raise morale. halyna finds cold comfort at the graveside.

translation: you come - here to see or hear something. the winds blows and you think it's the soul of your child hugging you. her child and so many more are gone, killed on and off the battlefield. the hope of ukraine filling early graves. orla guerin, bbc news. from that conflict back to the middle east. we can show you at live pictures from israel looking into gaza. we will boot live injerusalem in a moment. we have been hearing the israeli army has raided a weapon storage compound in khan younis. more on that and the latest across

the region coming up 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 port 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, 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.

this is bbc news, the headlines: the world health organization condemns an attack on a palestinian red crescent building in khan younis that killed five people. aftershocks and heavy rain complicate earthquake rescue efforts injapan. at least 64 people are now confirmed dead. and this history—making teenager is on target for further glory. 16—year—old luke littler could tonight become the youngest player to win the world darts championship. we getting reports of some explosions in iran. they happened at a cemetery where a ceremony was being held to mark the killing in 2020 of iran's top commander qassem soleimani

in a us drone attack. it happened in the southeastern city of kerman,