live from london, this is bbc news. a day or mourning in iran after two explosions in the southeast of the country kill nearly a hundred people. the funeral will take place in lebanon of the deputy leader of hamas killed in a drone strike in beirut. a us court releases hundreds of documents from a legal case, naming people connected to the late convicted sex—offenderjeffrey epstein. hello. i'm sally bundock. we start in iran, which is holding a day of mourning for the nearly 100 people killed in two explosions in the southeastern city of kerman, which have further raised tension

in the middle east. the blasts came as hundreds of iranians gathered to mark the anniversary of the death of qasem soleimani, iran's top military commander, who was killed by a us drone in 2020. crowds fled after two bags containing explosives were detonated remotely at the entrance to the cemetery. it remains unclear who was behind the bombings. iran has blamed israel and the us for the attack, though that's been dismissed as "irresponsible" by washington. here's iran's president, ebrahim raisi. translation: i warned the re . ime, translation: i warned the regime. do _ translation: i warned the regime, do not _ translation: i warned the regime, do not have - translation: i warned the regime, do not have doubt. | translation: | warned the - regime, do not have doubt. you will pay the price for this crime and all the crimes you have committed which will be very regrettable. the us has denied any involvement and says there's nothing to suggest that israel was behind the attack. here's national security spokespersonjohn kirby

responding to reporters�* questions at a white house briefing. we have no indication at this time at all that israel was involved in any way whatsoever. no indication? you don't think they— no indication? you don't think they support and assist in some other_ they support and assist in some other way?— other way? i'm not going to seak other way? i'm not going to speak for— other way? i'm not going to speak for another _ other way? i'm not going to speak for another nation. i l speak for another nation. i will tell you that we have no indication that israel is in any way involved in this. we can speak to professor sahar razavi, director of the iranian and middle eastern studies centre at california state university. a warm welcome to bbc news. todayis a warm welcome to bbc news. today is going to be an extremely difficult day for so many reasons, isn't it?- many reasons, isn't it? yes, incredibly — many reasons, isn't it? yes, incredibly difficult. - many reasons, isn't it? yes, incredibly difficult. there - many reasons, isn't it? yes, | incredibly difficult. there are a lot of national security implications as well as the grief many are going through. in iran it is a very tense

time. ., ~ , in iran it is a very tense time. . ~ , ., ., time. talk us through what we can exoect _ time. talk us through what we can exoect and _ time. talk us through what we can expect and are _ time. talk us through what we can expect and are you - can expect and are you concerned about this escalating further? ~ , ,., , ~' further? absolutely. i think we can exoect _ further? absolutely. i think we can exoect a — further? absolutely. i think we can expect a response - further? absolutely. i think we can expect a response from . can expect a response from iran. of course, it is not surprising the president and supreme leader have blamed israel and the united states, notjust because of the situation and girls at the moment, but everything that has led here and the ongoing tensions between israel and iran. i expect a response. i think the days to come could inch closer to a regional conflict that could go much wider than it is now. certainly i am concerned about what is going to happen next. shill i am concerned about what is going to happen next. all sides are concerned _ going to happen next. all sides are concerned about _ going to happen next. all sides are concerned about this, - are concerned about this, aren't they? to this point, it has not escalated further. then the war in gaza. that has always been the concern right from the very beginning. are you concerned it is a given

that it will now? i you concerned it is a given that it will now?— you concerned it is a given that it will now? i think it is . iven that it will now? i think it is given will— that it will now? i think it is given will see _ that it will now? i think it is given will see a _ that it will now? i think it is given will see a response i that it will now? i think it is i given will see a response after qasem soleimani was killed, without a response and the response can put it came at a time when there were no servicemembers at the base in iraq and people were not killed. it was more of a symbolic act than an act of warfare. we don't know at this point who was responsible, i think it is far too early for us to come to any kind of responsible conclusions. i think it is quite possible there will be more of an escalation. it is also possible they will be a strategic or symbolic act that is meant to send a message without engulfing the entire region in a wider war. has engulfing the entire region in a wider war.— a wider war. as we have 'ust mentioned. i a wider war. as we have 'ust mentioned, secretary h a wider war. as we have 'ust mentioned, secretary ofh a wider war. as we have just i mentioned, secretary of state antony blinken is headed to the middle east. another trip stop he has done if you already. it will include israel. what do you think you will be saying to

benjamin netanyahu and others? i expect he will assure benjamin netanyahu and others that the united states remains supportive of israel. i think it is in the interest of many of the vested parties in the region, there are some of whom it will be very beneficial for the conflict to escalate and there are some who are going to want to ease the tensions. i expect he will assure benjamin netanyahu the us will have ongoing support and presence. there will also be conversations about how to navigate the next steps were a more intense response from iran to come that would make it almost inevitable that further retaliation will be required. do you believe the hope of a cessation of the violence going

on between israel and hamas is something we cannot expect in the near future? something we cannot expect in the nearfuture? of course, there is ongoing hopes they would be a pause in hostilities so that the much needed humanitarian aid can come into gaza, etc. humanitarian aid can come into gaza. ete— humanitarian aid can come into gaza, etc. ben'amin netanyahu vowed the — gaza, etc. benjamin netanyahu vowed the walk _ gaza, etc. benjamin netanyahu vowed the walk will _ gaza, etc. benjamin netanyahu vowed the walk will not - gaza, etc. benjamin netanyahu vowed the walk will not end - vowed the walk will not end until he must map is eradicated and the hostages are returned. hamas and the brigades have not indicated in any way that they plan to stop. it is more likely it will continue than we will see any kind of sensation, unless there is further intervention from outside parties. as you know, the icc is going to hear the case that south africa brought onjanuary ii. it is possible some more programming is going to happen around that but i suspect we

are going to see this crisis continue for some time. thank ou for continue for some time. thank you for your — continue for some time. thank you for your time. _ members of the united nations security council have called on yemen's houthis to halt their attacks on shipping in the red sea, saying they are illegal and threaten regional stability, freedom of navigation and global food supplies. disruption to shipping has prompted some companies to re—route container ships, leading to higher costs. ajoint statement by a dozen countries, including the us and uk, earlier warned the iran—backed houthi militants that they would bear the consequences if they continued to threaten lives and the freedom of navigation. that's being seen as a threat of military action against targets in yemen. at the un security council, israel's ambassador, gilad erdan, called for sanctions to be imposed in response to what he called

blatant terror attacks. if we remain ideally in the face of the global security threat that is iran, and the houthis are just the beginning of a direct future we will be ushering in. a future in which terror organisations and terror regimes murder, maim and terrorise with impunity. and this will inspire terrorists around the globe. let's act now. shortly after the meeting our north america correspondent will vernon sent this update. the un security council holding a meeting today to discuss the situation in the red sea. and while there were no resolutions or votes taken, i think it's still a sign of the increasing alarm globally at the risk to trade in one of the world's most important shipping routes and one of the us representatives to the un, chris liu, said at that meeting that the situation requires a global response and is at an inflection point. but not everyone, of

course, is in agreement. the representative from russia, for example, blamed the us and israel, saying the situation was a direct response to israel's war in gaza and accused the us of fanning the flames in the red sea. but this meeting came shortly after a joint statement was released by the us, the uk and ten other nations. quite a strong, strongly—worded joint statement, saying that these illegal attacks are profoundly destabilising and sent, i think, a very clear warning to the houthis that they will bear the responsibility of the consequences should these actions continue. these are actions, of course, that not only threaten the lives of merchant sailors, but also disrupt trade. and this comes two weeks after the announcement of the creation of a multinational naval task force — operation prosperity guardian, as it's called — and this is also to protect shipping

in the red sea. elsewhere in the region, the funeral will take place in lebanon today of the deputy head of hamas, who was killed in a drone strike in beirut on tuesday. saleh al—arouri, will be buried in a cemetery in the palestinian camp of shatila. israel has neither confirmed nor denied that it carried out the assassination, in a southern suburb of beirut. but the leader of the lebanese militant group hezbollah has warned israel of a "decisive response". speaking at a rally, hassan nasrallah described the death as a serious crime that could not go unpunished. with me is bbc arabic correspondent, mohamed taha. good morning. as we already mentioned, a very significant day today for so many reasons. it is going to be a very important day to watch, isn't it? , a, , _ important day to watch, isn't it? , ., , _ a, important day to watch, isn't it? , a, ., important day to watch, isn't it? , a, it? yes, happy new year to you and i it? yes, happy new year to you and i wish _ it? yes, happy new year to you and i wish all _ it? yes, happy new year to you and i wish all the _ it? yes, happy new year to you and i wish all the peace -

it? yes, happy new year to you and i wish all the peace in - it? yes, happy new year to you and i wish all the peace in the l and i wish all the peace in the middle east and also everywhere in the world. very significant day indeed. your balls and stating this conflict became a regional conflict and we started the bulletin talking about the exclusion in iran and then the houthi oral mac problems in the red sea. and the assassination of saleh al—arouri an 11 on even before talking about what happened in gaza and the west bank. it is a regional conflict that is widening. that is what antony blinken is coming to the region. blinken is coming to the reuion. ~ ., ., blinken is coming to the reaion.~ ., ., , . , region. what do you expect is auoin to region. what do you expect is going to take _ region. what do you expect is going to take place? - region. what do you expect is going to take place? antony l going to take place? antony banen going to take place? antony blinken delayed _ going to take place? antony blinken delayed this - going to take place? antony blinken delayed this visit, . going to take place? antony| blinken delayed this visit, he was about to come a few days ago but had his visit delayed after the assassination of saleh al—arouri. he is trying to do his best to contain this regional conflict. but apparently it is getting worse.

thank you so much for the very latest on what is happening. prince andrew and former president bill clinton have been named in newly released court documents relating to sex offenderjeffrey epstein. they include associates, friends and alleged victims of the disgraced billionaire, who killed himself injail five years ago. the papers relate to a case that was brought against epstein's associate ghislaine maxwell. she is currently serving a twenty—year jail sentence for child sex trafficking. peter bowes is in los angeles. peter, this is a hefty document, isn't it? with a lot to read. what more can you tell us? it to read. what more can you tell us? , ., , to read. what more can you tell us? , . , ' ,': us? it is a hefty document, 943 ”aes us? it is a hefty document, 943 eraes to us? it is a hefty document, 943 pages to be _ us? it is a hefty document, 943 pages to be precise. _ us? it is a hefty document, 943 pages to be precise. these - us? it is a hefty document, 943 pages to be precise. these are | pages to be precise. these are documents made up of transcripts of interviews,

depositions, e—mails, all related to the civil lawsuit you mentioned brought by one of jeffrey epstein �*s accusers against glenn maxwell. it goes on to —— july. it goes on to potential witnesses. they have been named as potential accusers and to stress all along to be named in this document does not necessarily mean you are implicated in any crime. as you mentioned, there are key figures. well—known figures. known to be associated with jeffrey epstein for some time, including prince andrew. and allegations are repeated in these documents against prince andrew that we already know about. allegations that has been described as categorically untrue by buckingham palace. and there are no further

allegations made against him, at least in these documents. there may be more to come. and former president clinton, no surprise he would be named in these documents. we have known for some time that he was at least associated with jeffrey epstein. he flew in his plans on humanitarian trips. again, there is no suggestion that he has done anything illegal. so far, these documents do not appear to reveal any new on revelations about epstein but it does highlight the well—connected social circle he moved in. it well-connected social circle he moved in-_ moved in. it does. ithink it is fair to — moved in. it does. i think it is fair to say _ moved in. it does. i think it is fair to say that _ moved in. it does. i think it is fair to say that there - moved in. it does. i think it| is fair to say that there were no bombshell revelations. a lot of documents to go through here. a lot of detail. but that seems to be the bottom line at the moment. it does absolutely highlight the circles he moved in and that includes very famous politicians from presidents, to business people,

and hollywood people as well. that is why there has been so much interest and anticipation for the release of these documents. it is also important to stress and point out that many other people are named in these documents, people who are not famous. interesting that the judge who gave the go—ahead for documents to be released remarked that many of those people had not objected to the release of these documents. i think that perhaps suggests that some people were quite happy for the names to be out there because it shows that they may have crossed paths at some point with jeffrey epstein but they are not implicated in his crimes. but they are not implicated in his crimes-— around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. a 15—year—old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder, after a teenager was stabbed to death on new years eve. on new year's eve. harry pitman, who was 16,

died following an altercation on primrose hill in north london, just before midnight, when people had gathered to watch a fireworks display. an 18—year—old man has also been arrested on suspicion of affray. the owners of pontins in southport have confirmed they're to close the holiday park for good. they'd just hosted a new year's eve party for families, but since then it's been shut due to flooding. it's the third of the company's holiday parks to close since november. sefton council, the landowner in southport, says it hasn't been informed of the closure. mortgage holders coming off fixed rates may not be paying quite as much as they thought, as a string of lenders slash the cost of borrowing. the uk's biggest, the halifax, has cut some interest rates by close to one percentage point, while hsbc, is expected to reduce the cost of new fixed deals today. we will have more on this story in 15 minutes.

you're live with bbc news. here in the uk, a row about emergency cover has broken out between national health service bosses and union leaders, as a strike byjunior doctors in england enters its second day. on wednesday, nhs leaders made 20 requests for striking doctors to cross the picket line and help overstretched services but the british medical association accused them of misusing the system. a number of nhs trusts have reported long waiting times in a&e, with some declaring critical incidents. here's our health editor hugh pym. withjunior doctors out with junior doctors out on strike, around between the union, british medical association and nhs leaders in england has blown off. if the

safety of emergency services is threatened they can call back striking doctors but they have to demonstrate they have exhausted all sources. bma claims they are not producing enough evidence out of 20 request so far almost all have been rejected. irate request so far almost all have been rejected.— been rejected. we have no reauest been rejected. we have no request for— been rejected. we have no request for derogation - been rejected. we have no request for derogation in l request for derogation in december, we have had a handful of credible request some we have granted. but this time we have granted. but this time we have substantial numbers with inaccurate or incomplete request forms which are demonstrating a real change in the approach from central nhs management which we think is a misuse of the process. hhs misuse of the process. nhs encland misuse of the process. nhs england says _ misuse of the process. nhs england says strong - misuse of the process. nhs england says strong evidence was provided when the most challenged systems needed support and it was expected local health managers would ask for allowances to be made to ensure safe cover. it comes at

a time of mounting pressure on nhs services with some organisations declaring critical incidents or warnings they were very busy with long waits in a&e. this is not unusual in midwinter. with the strike moving into a second day, this seems little prospect of talks between ministers and the bma before the action is over on tuesday. that means somewhat anxious day for hospitals and their patients. —— some more. hugh pym, bbc news. let's get some of the day's other news now. donald trump has asked the us supreme court to intervene over his disqualification from the colorado primary ballot. last month the state's highest court concluded the former president engaged in an insurrection before and during the january sixth capitol riots. as a result, it said he should not be eligible for inclusion on the ballot. mr trump has also challenged a similar exclusion from the state ballot in maine. russia and ukraine have agreed to exchange hundreds of prisoners of war,

after what moscow described as "difficult" negotiations. each side has released more than 200 military personnel in what's thought to be the biggest exchange yet. some of the ukrainian soldiers returning were captured in the city of mariupol in the early stages of the full—scale invasion. more than 50 people are still missing injapan, following the devastating new year's day earthquake. at least 78 people have been confirmed dead. more than a dozen communities remain cut off by landslides and blocked roads in central japan, where the 7.5—magnitude quake struck on monday. the powerful main tremor was followed by hundreds of aftershocks. a new documentary on the nazi occupation of amsterdam in world war ii, during which three—quarters of its dutchjewish population was killed, has been attracting some positive reviews. it's from oscar—winning british director, steve mcqueen,

who's promoting the documentary called, 0ccupied city, at a time when anti—semitism has surged as a result of the conflict in the middle east. but mcqueen says, for him, that has just made the film even more vital and urgent. he's been talking to the bbc�*s tom brook. soon, the nazis started to take over— soon, the nazis started to take over shops and public life. this— over shops and public life. this documentary is a steve mcqueen family endeavour. he lives in amsterdam and it is a project by his wife bianca stigter who wrote a book atlas of an 0ccupied city, detailing the fate of amsterdam jews during the nazi occupation. steve mcqueen juxtaposes images images with chilling stories. i

started rounding people up. in 1942, — started rounding people up. in 1942, the _ started rounding people up. in 1942, the deportations began. steve — 1942, the deportations began. steve mcqueen hopes his film brings out from the shadow of a very dark chapter in the history of his adopted city. i thought they were ghosts in amsterdam. and somehow to trace that through the present—day was semi— vital. there was evidence of things not seen. my film, how do you make sense out of 6 million people being executed?— of 6 million people being executed? , .. ., executed? out they came of these wagons. _ executed? out they came of these wagons. we _ executed? out they came of these wagons. we had - executed? out they came of these wagons. we had to i executed? out they came of. these wagons. we had to line up and i_ these wagons. we had to line up and i asked, where are we, and they— and i asked, where are we, and they told — and i asked, where are we, and they told me auschwitz.- they told me auschwitz. other documentaries _ they told me auschwitz. other documentaries like _ they told me auschwitz. other documentaries like shoah -

they told me auschwitz. other documentaries like shoah use| documentaries like shoah use testimony from the survivors themselves but the population is fast disappearing so as steve mcqueen's wife bianca stigter explains, it is trying to talk the story in a different way.- to talk the story in a different way. to talk the story in a different wa . ~ ., , ., , to talk the story in a different wa . ~ ., , , different way. what you see is contemporary _ different way. what you see is contemporary images - different way. what you see is contemporary images of - contemporary images of amsterdam, you are seeing what happened — amsterdam, you are seeing what happened they during the german occupation. happened they during the german occu ation. . ~ . ,, �* , occupation. steve mcqueen's documentary _ occupation. steve mcqueen's documentary has _ occupation. steve mcqueen's documentary has one - occupation. steve mcqueen's i documentary has one significant endorsements from majorfilm critics but they have been detractors. the running time for hours and 20 ministers intimidated by director maintains once the body starts watching, they become immersed. in a tumultuous time with the conflict in the middle east and the war in ukraine, mcqueen hopes this helps making people aware of political dangers. being active in the everyday to change things. we have to be

proactive, particularly in these times. like i said, it is all about love. these times. like i said, it is allabout love. it these times. like i said, it is all about love. it is anything we have worth living for. it comes at a time when the middle east conflict has become very inflamed once again and anti—semitism is rising. do you think that is going to change the way people view the film? yes, in fact, it may make the film more vital, more urgent. this is a film about resilience and try in us all, jews, jews non—. absolutely. there is no point making this feature if it is just going to be about some kind of idea of people. this is about resilience and triumph, absolutely.

tom brooke with talking movies. here in the u.k.'s millions were glued to the tv screens last night. looking to see if luke the nuke littler would win the world championship and darts. hasjusti6 the world championship and darts. hasjust 16 years the world championship and darts. has just 16 years old. sadly he was by luke humphries at the tournament in london, however the winner described his progress through the championship over the past few weeks as absolutely unbelievable. it has captured the nation. that is official. so to luke littler but what an absolutely incredible achievement for the 16—year—old. we will be back with a top business stories next on bbc news. stay with us. i will see you in just a

moment. 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 averagejanuary 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 northwest 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. legacy of cloud and rain. showers as well across parts of aberdeenshire heading towards the northern isles. went lighter and temperatures lower.

—— winds. high—pressure starts to building on the weekend. established across the uk. as the jet streams deep southward drawing in a much colder feeling and a drop in temperature. feeling colder, turning dryer with some frost and fog through the mornings. bye—bye for now.

but they are not implicated in his crimes-—

live from london. this is bbc news. home loan relief for millions as major uk lenders slash mortgage rates. but many are still facing a big jump in repayments in the coming months brokers expect more bread because to come but they won't fall to the ultra low levels that we have benefited from for a decade or so. also coming up, getting a rocket over workers' rights. spacex is accused of unlawfully firing staff for criticizing billionaire owner elon musk. plus, gridlock! how africa's major cities are being paralysed by traffic jams — taking a toll on commuters' productivity and mental health.