there was something young age there was something different about luke littler? very different. we have seen some very good _ very different. we have seen some very good players come through this academy, _ very good players come through this academy, but luke littler is a different_ academy, but luke littler is a different grade compared to all darts _ different grade compared to all darts players, notjust youngsters. he's one _ darts players, notjust youngsters. he's one of— darts players, notjust youngsters. he's one of the best in the world i've ever— he's one of the best in the world i've ever seen at that age. and what has he done — i've ever seen at that age. and what has he done for _ i've ever seen at that age. and what has he done for this _ i've ever seen at that age. and what has he done for this sport _ i've ever seen at that age. and what has he done for this sport and - i've ever seen at that age. and what has he done for this sport and this l has he done for this sport and this club? certainly, earlier, this place was packed with kids, may be wanting to emulate him. yes, i think the world will want to be the _ yes, i think the world will want to be the next — yes, i think the world will want to be the next luke littler. he is such a great _ be the next luke littler. he is such a great person and a great dart playeh — a great person and a great dart player. we are so proud of him, and i can't _ player. we are so proud of him, and i can't say— player. we are so proud of him, and ican't say any— player. we are so proud of him, and i can't say any more! we are just... he lost, — i can't say any more! we are just... he lost, he _ i can't say any more! we are just... he lost, he had a chance to win! put them _ he lost, he had a chance to win! put them a _ he lost, he had a chance to win! put them a few— he lost, he had a chance to win! put them a few millimetres next year, he will put _ them a few millimetres next year, he will put it— them a few millimetres next year, he will put it right, because he's a winner. — will put it right, because he's a winner. he _ will put it right, because he's a winner, he is one of the best players in _ winner, he is one of the best players in the world. carl holden from st helens _ players in the world. carl holden from st helens dance _ players in the world. carl holden from st helens dance academy, | players in the world. carl holden - from st helens dance academy, thanks forjoining us. luke littler still works away with £200,000, and has made history as the youngest player in the world

championship. shortly, he will have a lot of sponsorship deals ahead too, a lot of instagram and x followers as well. he took his gcses just six months ago. i understand his next ambition is when he turned 17 later this month, to start to i7 later this month, to start to learn to drive! thank you very much, joe and carl! thank you very much, joe and carl! thank you. let's talk now to jamie caven, himself a former world youth champion of darts and now a director at the professional darts players association, where he oversees youth darts. jamie, first of all, how are you feeling about what has happened tonight with luke? high. yes, it has been phenomenal. . —— hi. he has probably got an older head on young shoulders. i have known him forfive or six years, and when i first met him, he showed signs then. he was only i! or 12, so he has been phenomenal through the event, and the media coverage has been mayhem, really,

and that is just down to the fact that this young lad has taken his own game on to the biggest stage of all and shown all the pros how to go about it, and it has been phenomenal for the sport, completely. it was only last year that he was on your youth development tour. was he the best player in the room then? to be fair, he came on the development tour last january, because you have to start from the age of 16. that's the youngest you can be. so obviously, turning 16 last january gave him that first opportunity, and within12 months, he has gone on to become a full—time professional. so he is now exempt from playing from now, because he is in the top 32 in the world of all the pros. but in fairness, a lot of kids around that age are of similar standard stop i wouldn't say they are at his level, but not far off stop the thing that makes you look so different, i think, is because he

has taken the performance that he has taken the performance that he has done behind closed doors onto the biggest stage of all, and i think that is the actual thing. you are absolutely right. that sort of confidence, you know... we all remember what we were like when we were 16! for him to do that on the world stage and to keep doing it over and over is... where does that come from?! it is kind of phenomenal. they call him a freak of darts, in the kindest regards. but it is, really, you know. i played on the world stage in ten different years myself, and it can be very daunting, so for somebody so young to be able to deal with all that comes with that, the pressure, the life, the crowd, it is phenomenal. you know, i can't speak highly enough of the lad. he has proved to everybody that there is no age restriction. even if he was a lot older, you can still play great

darts. it's a sport where there is no age restriction either way, and he has just shown that, really. thanks very much, jamie, for being with us. take care. jamie caven. that's it from us. we are back tomorrow. see you then. breaking news from around the world. the aim — to crack down on incidents like this, which last year, nfu mutual says cost the midlands economy more than £11 million. you've had a tip—off already? yes, we were contacted by a volunteer. she had been out riding and come across some silver tents in a hedgerow ditch line.

she's hopped off to have a look and it was the remains of a cannabis grove. there was also a large box with cannabis in it. the 20 riders are vetted and recruited, and will work alongside rural policing teams to be their eyes and ears along quiet country lanes. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. you're live with bbc news. 2024 was rung in without any announcement of a host for the 2026 commonwealth games. the australian state of victoria pulled out lastjuly, saying that hosting would be too expensive — and the organisers have so far failed to find a replacement. so will these games happen, and what do these troubles mean for their long—term future? i'm joined by hunter fujak, from melbourne, who's a lecturer in sports management at australia's deakin university. welcome to bbc news. with victoria puling out, who might the organisers be speaking to? could it still be in australia?

well, we know with reasonable certainty that australia is off the list now, as are the uk, and that really narrows down the candidates to places like new zealand or potentially further left field, a place like india, south africa, or some of those more developing nations. with just a two—year lead time for any prospective host, is 2026 still realistic? not particularly, the commonwealth games federation wants to announce a winner by february, and realistically, join 27 is very much on the table simply because of the incredible infrastructure requirements around getting venues ready around the chosen sport. so 26 is looking very unlikely, and if it will proceed, it will most likely be into a 27. ., ., into a 27. you mentioned the infrastructure _ into a 27. you mentioned the infrastructure needed. - are these huge sporting events just getting too expensive and unsustainable for cities now?

we've seen both the olympic movement and the commonwealth games introduce measures to try to become more flexible and adaptive to try to lower the cost burden on these major mega events. in the case of the commonwealth games, there's only two sports on the programme like athletics and swimming, and everything else is flexible to the respective host bitter. there is an attempt to make these fit games more feasible simply by being more flexible to the requirements to that host nation. but undoubtedly the longer term trend is that there is getting more expensive, which is narrowing down the respective host bidders. after the death of queen elizabeth, republicanism in commonwealth countries has been rising. are the commonwealth games still relevant? it's a really difficult challenge for the commonwealth gave him movement. of course it's reinvented itself in the past, for originally being the empire games, for instance, and undoubtedly if it is to survive, it will need to reinvent

itself once more. but we do know is the commonwealth games, whilst polonium dutch colonialism might be a challenge in other countries, the games are available to other small countries that can't necessarily compete at the olympic level. so there is still intrinsic value in there is still intrinsic value in the games, but it certainly in need of a rebrand. just the games, but it certainly in need of a remand-— the games, but it certainly in need of a rebrand. just quickly, 2030 and be ond, of a rebrand. just quickly, 2030 and beyond. do — of a rebrand. just quickly, 2030 and beyond. do you _ of a rebrand. just quickly, 2030 and beyond, do you think _ of a rebrand. just quickly, 2030 and beyond, do you think they'll - of a rebrand. just quickly, 2030 and beyond, do you think they'll still - beyond, do you think they'll still beyond, do you think they'll still be taking place?— beyond, do you think they'll still be taking place? 2030 will mark the 100 ear be taking place? 2030 will mark the 100 year anniversary _ be taking place? 2030 will mark the 100 year anniversary since - be taking place? 2030 will mark the 100 year anniversary since the - 100 year anniversary since the inception of the games in hamilton, inception of the games in hamilton, in canada, so i think it's very probable or hopeful that there will be a 100th anniversary of the games. but perhaps it might be a case of 100 and out. but perhaps it might be a case of 100 and out-— but perhaps it might be a case of 100 and out. ., ~ i. , . ., 100 and out. thank you very much for our time, 100 and out. thank you very much for yourtime. we'll— 100 and out. thank you very much for your time, we'll have _ 100 and out. thank you very much for your time, we'll have to _ 100 and out. thank you very much for your time, we'll have to watch - 100 and out. thank you very much for your time, we'll have to watch out. your time, we'll have to watch out for that. let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines. japanese authorities say a coastguard aircraft involved in a fatal collision at tokyo's haneda airport tuesday was not cleared for take—off. the smaller aeroplane collided with a japan airlines passengerjet on the runway on tuesday.

air traffic control transcripts shows the japan airlines flight was cleared to land. all 379 passengers and crew on board the passengerjet were safely evacuated. but five coastguard crew members were killed in the fiery crash. the former president of sierra leone, ernest bai koroma, has been charged with four counts of treason over an alleged coup plot in november. he is under house arrest following questioning by the police. at least 21 people were killed in attacks on a barracks and a prison in freetown in november. mr koroma's lawyer said the charges are part of a political vendetta. to the uk — and junior doctors working in england's public health services have begun a six—day strike. it's the longest industrial action in the history of britain's health service, and follows a break down in talks with the government over pay. before the strike, nhs england medical director professor sir stephen powis said

the health service was facing one of its most difficult starts to a year since i9li8. facing up to the first day of strike action, ben, the lead consultant in the emergency department. morning, everyone. good morning. how was your night? we were handed 15... 15 patients waiting. that's a lot more than we normally have. junior doctors who've been on overnight hand over to the consultants who'll take over. and aphra is supporting the strike action. i'm only two years into being a doctor, so knowing the longevity of the career and seeing how many of my friends have already left go to australia, i think on balance, it's an issue about retention rather than pay. and the hospital, along with others in north london, is coming under pressure. we're seeing high numbers of attendances in emergency departments, in nearby hospitals. we're having lots of ambulances coming both to uclh and also to the other hospitals, 0k.

so we could do with a few more discharges, guys. it's 9.30am and a key planning meeting has to work out how to free up more beds for new patients. not the best position to be in, particularly with the junior doctor industrial action going on. so we all know what we need to do. we'll try and get you home today. we'll try and get everything sorted. and louisa, who's a matron, is hoping danny can be discharged after an operation. but hopefully, third time lucky. because of the doctors' strikes, her ward has to take in some emergency patients as well as those recovering after surgery. it has been frustrating. i think it's, we want the best for our patients. so it's feeling for the patients and also for the nurses, because the nurses want to give that expert care. and when you're looking after patients that aren't your speciality, you're not necessarily doing that. and i think that's always something that they struggle with. hi — i'm calling you because we need to reschedule your— appointment due to strikes. here's a part of a hospital

you rarely see — staff who have to call patients with bad news about cancellations on strike days and try to rebook them. they are in pain. so i understand that they can be |aggressive, although i'm tryingl to calm them down and i'm trying to find a new date. _ i'm trying to make things right. that's what we aim for. every bed you see here has a patient in it. it's the middle of the day, and the emergency department's filling up. ben's a consultant helping cover the strike. he'll be working nearly 70 hours over the six days. it's so tiring to do this 24/7 cover. we can't do it for much longer than the six days we're going to attempt to do. but how does six days feel? i enjoy my work, but it's going to be busy and it's going to be hard. and after the sixth day, i'm going to be pretty exhausted. the message today is that the hospital's extremely busy but safe, though they are nervous about the next five days.

a british teenager has failed in his bid to win the darts world championship final. luke littler, who is 16, was beaten 7—4 by luke humphries at the tournament in london. he described his progress through the championship over the past few weeks as unbelievable. well, our sports correspondent natalie pirks has been outside alexandra palace, where the match took place — and our reporter nick garnett is at st helens darts academy, where luke littler has trained since he was a young child. well, luke littler had pretty much strolled into this final, steam—rolling former champions along the way — not this time. the i6—year—old had taken a 4—2—set lead, but luke humphries started playing some wonderful stuff, hauling himself back into the match. he won five sets on the spin, punishing littler�*s mistakes, making him look ordinary indeed. everybody in that arena was singing for him, but in the end, some of the composure that had been a hallmark of this fairy—tale run seemed to desert him, and he fell at the final hurdle.

still, he leaves here tonight £200,000 richer — and at the start of what could be a wonderful career. absolute nailbiter from start to finish. there were cheers, tears, and one or two beers. every single dart that's gone and was followed by the crowded — i mean, over 150 in the small room — and every time there was a break in play, all the kids ran over behind me to the dartboards to start practising, to try and be a bit like their hero. and remember, luke littler isjust 16 years old — he's still at school, he can't even learn to drive yet, and he can't even go and buy himself a pint to commiserate tonight. but he's still the youngest player in the final in the game's history. but the real legacy is what he's done to the game — he's brought new people in, but he's also brought in the people here. there are more members here than they've ever had before, 90 or so children coming every week to play and to try and be like their real hero.

before we go — the iconic game of tetris has apparently been mastered, almost a0 years after its release. tetris was originally created in 1984 by an engineer form the soviet union. and until a few years ago, many thought the highest level in tetris was 30. now a us teenager has reached level 157, causing the came to crash. this is 13—year—old, willis gibson, from oklahoma. the feat only took him 38 minutes, and he's now the first human to beat the game. he had previously placed third in the 2023 classic tetris world championship. that's all for now — stay with bbc news. soi so i guess we can all stop playing that game now that it's been completed.

hello there. we're only a few days into the new month, but already, some spots in eastern england have seen more than half their average january rainfall. and there's potentially more wet weather to come, too, in the forecast before things tend to settle down into the weekend, and it will turn drier. but plenty of flood alerts, flood warnings still in place. keep up to date with those on the bbc weather website, and of course, on your local bbc radio station, too. now, this is the pressure chart for thursday — low pressure still centred out towards the north west of scotland, still a brisk southeasterly wind with more rain for the northern isles, and some more rain heading towards the south of england, too. more on that in just a moment. temperatures to start off thursday morning above freezing — 4—7 celsius north to south. there'll be more showers across the far north of scotland into the northern isles, also for western scotland, with a few showers heading across northern ireland into northwest england. more sunshine further south,

but it's this area of rain that is of most concern — it will be falling on pretty saturated ground, and that band of rain will be pushing further northwards as we head through the afternoon. this is how we'll end the afternoon, between around 7—10 celsius. that rain set to push further northward. still some debate as to how far north it will eventually get, but it's likely to bring us some strong, gusty winds towards the south coast as it curls off towards east anglia — of course, all unhelpfully timed with the evening rush hour — so do expect more problems, particularly where we've seen the recent flooding. but friday is happily a much quieter day of weather, that low pressure starts to move away. we've still got a legacy of cloud and some rain towards eastern coastal areas, as we head through friday morning. there'll still be some showers, too, across parts of aberdeenshire heading towards the northern isles, and a good scattering of showers out towards those western coasts. but plenty of sunshine around, the winds will be lighter, and the temperatures will be a little lower, to 6—9 celsius. and then, as we head

through the weekend, the high pressure starts to build in — it will become quite firmly established across the uk, and should stick around into next week. but of course, as the jet stream dips southwards, we'll also be drawing in much colder—feeling air, so there will be a drop in temperature. so feeling colder, turning dry out with some frost and fog through the mornings. bye—bye for now.

this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines at the top of the hour as newsday continues, straight after hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk, i'm stephen sackur. in war, not all soldiers are fighting on or for their own soil. thanks to the internet, it has become easier than ever before for foreigners to immerse themselves in conflicts very farfrom home. my guest today is a young british man, aiden aslin, who has a remarkable story. hejoined the ukrainian army. he was captured, tortured and sentenced to death by putin's forces. he survived thanks to a prisoner swap. but why did he risk everything in someone else's war?