prince andrew and bill clinton are among those named in newly released court documents relating to sex offenderjeffrey epstein. a day of mourning in iran after two explosions in the south—east of the country kill nearly 100 people. the funeral will take place in lebanon of the deputy leader of hamas — killed in a drone strike in beirut. and — the dream is over — for this year at least. 16—year—old luke littler is beaten in the final of the world darts championship. hello and welcome. i'm luxmy gopal.

prince andrew and former president bill clinton have been named in newly released court documents relating to sex offender jeffrey epstein. they include associates, friends and alleged victims of the disgraced billionaire, who died in jail five years ago. the papers relate to a case that was brought against epstein�*s associate, ghislaine maxwell. she is currently serving a 20—yearjail sentence for child sex trafficking. our correspondent in los angeles peter bowes told us more about what's in the documents. there are 915 pages in all transcripts of interviews, depositions, all part of a civil lawsuit brought by one ofjeffrey epstein�*s accusers against ghislaine maxwell, his long—time friend and associate, who is now serving 20 years in prison for crimes that she committed with him. and yes, these documents have references to several of the very high—profile people that we know were associates ofjeffrey epstein over the years. there are more than 60 references to prince andrew. there's the repeating of at least one allegation

against him that in the past, buckingham palace has described as categorically untrue. former president bill clinton is also mentioned, as expected. he was known sometimes to use jeffrey epstein�*s planes to fly on humanitarian trips to africa. but again, there is no suggestion in these documents that he did anything illegal. there are also some references to donald trump. and again, no suggestion that he was involved in any wrongdoing. and also references on the names of many other people who are not famous. in fact, it's notable that the judge who authorised the release of these documents said that many of those people had not objected to the release of these documents, which suggests that for those people, this could be, in a sense, a clearing of the air that, yes, they may well have crossed paths with epstein at some point in some way in the past, but for them, there is certainly no suggestion that they are implicated

in his crimes. there is still more to come on this. there are some more documents that are due to be released in the coming days. our correspondent in los angeles peter bowes. live now to lucia osborne—crowley, a legal affairs reporter with legal news service, law 360 and author of a forthcoming book on the ghislaine maxwell trial: the lasting harm. thank you forjoining us. this is a long awaited and long anticipated list. i have the names been released now? ~ ~ , , ., ., now? well i think this is one of the most important — now? well i think this is one of the most important things _ now? well i think this is one of the most important things to _ now? well i think this is one of the most important things to talk - now? well i think this is one of the | most important things to talk about today because it was filed in 2015. a lot of it is almost ten years old and these names have been protected byjudges again and again over those nine years. it is really significant that thejudge has made

nine years. it is really significant that the judge has made this decision to make these documents public because i think it shows that there has been a shift, both in the legal system and in the culture in terms of intake and these kind of sexual offences more seriously. this is a defamation lawsuit against ghislaine maxwell brought by virginia giuffre who has been fighting for fighting forjustice fighting for fighting for justice for fighting for fighting forjustice for herself and other survivors of jeffrey epstein for a long time. in the time since this lawsuit was filed, of course, is peterjust mentioned, ghislaine maxwell has been convicted in a federal trial. so the fact a decision has been made to stop protecting the names of these people just shows us that the legal landscape is changing, that judges are more willing to be transparent and more willing to

stand up to wealth and power when it comes to the impunity that they have operated with for a very long time. what is the legal implication for the names on the list? 50. what is the legal implication for the names on the list?- what is the legal implication for the names on the list? so, as we have 'ust the names on the list? so, as we have just heard, _ the names on the list? so, as we have just heard, for _ the names on the list? so, as we have just heard, for a _ the names on the list? so, as we have just heard, for a number- the names on the list? so, as we have just heard, for a number of| the names on the list? so, as we i have just heard, for a number of the havejust heard, for a number of the names there is no allegation of any illegal conduct, so any involvement in the sex trafficking or sexual abuse itself. there is a repetition of an allegation we have heard before but this is in sworn testimony. this is another victim who alleges prince andrew groped her in one ofjeffrey epstein's homes. the fact that that allegation has been repeated in a deposition is significant. i think he will have to answer questions about that. as we know the palace and he himself have vehemently denied all allegations.

but the repetition of this allegation by a second victim, apart from virginia giuffre who sued him personally, is significant. and the legal implications also, the fact they are now in the public domain, might make it easierfor they are now in the public domain, might make it easier for victims to come forward and file their own lawsuits because this is a whole trove of new evidence that was kept secret by the court system for a very long time, for a not particularly good legal reason. and so now there's more to come. as we know this is only the first 950 or so pages. and i know there is many, many more names to come. and so this will give victims the legal permission to go forward and seek legal action if that's what they want to do. legal action if that's what they want to tie-— legal action if that's what they want to do. ~ , . ., , ., want to do. why have the name is not all been released _ want to do. why have the name is not all been released in _ want to do. why have the name is not all been released in one _ want to do. why have the name is not all been released in one go? - all been released in one go? because, in a way, delaying the

release of the means more speculation which we have seen on social media, which obviously we will not repeat here. but why not do it all in one go? it’s will not repeat here. but why not do it all in one go?— it all in one go? it's a very good auestion it all in one go? it's a very good question and — it all in one go? it's a very good question and the _ it all in one go? it's a very good question and the answer- it all in one go? it's a very good question and the answer is - it all in one go? it's a very good question and the answer is that| it all in one go? it's a very good i question and the answer is that it mainly comes down to the fact that it's a very hard task for the judicial system to unseal all of these documents. these documents are still partially redacted to protect the identities of some of the victims who are named who don't wish to have their identities revealed. it is a long process of going through all the documents, rejecting certain names, and then uploading them to the court docket. it could just be that this is all they are bloated in one day. we might have exactly the same number of pages tomorrow. it's a very boring answer, i think, about the clerical nature of the justice system, and we often see this with huge tranches of

documents. see this with huge tranches of documenta— see this with huge tranches of documents. . . .,~ , , , documents. that all makes sense. borinu but documents. that all makes sense. lztoring but very — documents. that all makes sense. boring but very effective _ documents. that all makes sense. boring but very effective and - boring but very effective and helpful answer, thank you for giving us a thorough overview of that, legal affairs reporter lucia 0sborne—crowley. iran 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 tensions 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 warn the zionist regime, do not have doubts, - you will pay the price for this crime and all the crimes you've committed, which will be very regrettable. that was iran's president ebrahim raisi. 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, butjust to be clear, you don't think, did they support or assist in some other way? i'm not going to speak for another nation. i willjust tell you that we have no indication that israel was in any way involved in this. that wasjohn that was john kirby. professor sahar razavi is director of the iranian and middle eastern studies center at california state university. she told us that today will be a very difficult day. i think that we can expect a response from iran. of course, it's not surprising

that the president and the supreme leader have blamed israel and the united states, not just because of the situation in gaza at the moment, but also because of everything that has led here and the ongoing tensions between israel and iran. so i expect a response, certainly. i think that the days to come could inch us closer to a regional conflict that could go much wider than it is now. and certainly i'm very concerned about what's going to happen next. i think it is a given that we will see a response. after soleimani himself was killed, iran vowed a response and the response came. but it came at a time that there were no service members at the base in iraq and people were not killed. so it was a more symbolic act than it was an act of warfare. we don't know at this point who is responsible. i think it's far too early for us to be able to come to any kind of responsible conclusions. but i think it's quite possible that there will be more of an escalation.

it is also possible that there will be a strategic or symbolic act that is meant to send a message without engulfing the entire region in a wider war. professor ebrahim raisi speaking to us earlier. —— professor sa har razavi —— professor sahar razavi speaking to us earlier. japan's prime minister has announced that more troops are being deployed to help the victims of the devastating new year's day earthquake. fumio kishida says the number of defence force personnel in the worst—affected area would more than double to 4,600. at least 78 people have now been confirmed dead. more than a dozen communities remain cut off by landslides and blocked roads in centraljapan. let's hear some of what mr kishida had to say at a press conference. translation: the situation in the affected area - is very challenging. but from the perspective of saving lives, we are making all efforts to rescue and provide life—saving aid to as many people as possible before the crucial 72—hour period following the disaster elapses this evening.

prime minister fumio kishida there. the quake — with a magnitude of 7.6 — hit the province of noto in centraljapan. jean mackenzie reports from there. wajima is burnt and broken. it's taken us two days to reach this city, closest to the epicentre. these are the remnants of the town's market, which was filled with small wooden stalls. but when the earthquake hit, a fire broke out and spread instantly, wiping out this entire site, and firefighters are still having to comb through this smoldering rubble to check that the flames are fully extinguished. the town is devoid of people. the sound of alarms, crushed and activated in the quake, adds to the eeriness.

it's not known if people are trapped inside these splintered homes. rescue teams have struggled to get here. these search dogs only arrived here this morning. there has been a huge delay in searching for survivors, and the teams are now going one by one to each of these collapsed wooden houses to search for them. but they don't know if anyone is inside here. their searches aren't based on any information, they've told us. this resident has come to tell the rescuers she thinks her husband's aunt is inside. translation: she's 95 and can't move much. l we've looked in all the evacuation centres but can't find her. but the dog can't get far enough in. the team must move on. time is too critical. here, some certainty — there is a woman inside, but alive? they don't know. the window to find

people is closing. jean mackenzie, bbc news, and wajima injapan. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. a row about emergency cover has broken out between nhs chiefs and union leaders, as a six—day strike by england's junior doctors enters its second day. the doctors' union has accused health leaders of misusing the system for calling doctors back to work when patient safety is at risk. but nhs england insists they were genuine requests for help. more than a0 people who applied to a troubles victims pension scheme have died before any decision was made, figures obtained by bbc ni reveal. the scheme, which opened in 2021, offers payments to those who suffered physical or psychological injuries in the troubles in northern ireland. despite recieving more than 6,200 applications, decisions have been made on 955.

bosses of britain's biggest companies listed on the london stock exchange will have made more money in 2024 by lunchtime on thursday than the typical worker will all year. research from the high pay centre think tank, suggests the uk has now reached "obscene" levels of pay inequality. you're live with bbc news. 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. live now to our middle east correspondent hugo bachega in beirut. what is the concern around what this response might be? i what is the concern around what this response might be?— response might be? i think there is the clear concern _ response might be? i think there is the clear concern that _ response might be? i think there is the clear concern that this - response might be? i think there is the clear concern that this could . the clear concern that this could trigger a retaliation from hezbollah because this attack happened in an area of beirut that is considered a hezbollah stronghold. so this assassination of saleh al—arouri was not only a blow for hamas but also very symbolic for hezbollah because it happened in an area controlled by the group. so yesterday we heard from hassan nasrallah, the influential leader of hezbollah who described the attack as flagrant israeli aggression and said this was a crime that would not go unpunished. but i think what we are seeing here is that again hassan nasrallah needs to be seen as being

strong and that something like this will not go unpunished. and since the israel — hamas war started hezbollah has been attacking israeli positions on a daily basis in northern israel. but so far this violence has been largely contained to those areas along the lebanon—israel border. and hezbollah has been really calibrating it sanctions to try to avoid a full—scale confrontation with israel. i think this is what the americans are saying as well. a senior us official has said that there hasn't been any kind of indication that hezbollah is prepared to escalate the conflict, and obviously lots of people here in lebanon still remember the devastation caused by the 2006 war between hezbollah and israel. it seems that even though we are seeing those very strong words from hezbollah, from hassan nasrallah,

there hasn't been any kind of clear threat of direct action against israel in response to this attack. hugo, thank you. i'll correspond in hugo, thank you. i'll correspond in hugo bachega in beirut. let's cross live to jerusalem hugo bachega in beirut. let's cross live tojerusalem to my colleague yolande knell injerusalem. israel has so far not confirmed or denied involvement in it. what more have they said? they have stuck very much of that position but when it comes to the israeli military we know it has increased its air defences in the north of the country. we had the military say yesterday that it was now at the peak of readiness for any potential retaliatory attacks. but otherwise, really trying to shift attention away from lebanon. we have had them saying that their focus remains on hamas, dismantling hamas. 0f saying that their focus remains on hamas, dismantling hamas. of course gazais hamas, dismantling hamas. of course gaza is its stronghold. and hamas, dismantling hamas. of course gaza is its stronghold.— gaza is its stronghold. and in terms of what the — gaza is its stronghold. and in terms of what the preparation _ gaza is its stronghold. and in terms of what the preparation might - gaza is its stronghold. and in terms of what the preparation might be i gaza is its stronghold. and in terms of what the preparation might be in| of what the preparation might be in terms of any anticipated reaction

and response from hezbollah, how much preparation is going on at the moment? i’m much preparation is going on at the moment? �* , , , ., ., moment? i'm sure they will be aware that close to — moment? i'm sure they will be aware that close to the _ moment? i'm sure they will be aware that close to the time _ moment? i'm sure they will be aware that close to the time of— moment? i'm sure they will be aware that close to the time of the - that close to the time of the funeral which is at three o'clock local time, that that could be a moment where there could be a possible retaliation either coming from the gaza strip or from lebanon. also there has been a lot of anger in the past couple of days in the occupied west bank. saleh al—arouri was somebody who came from a village just outside ramallah originally. there have been demonstrations that have taken place, general strike that was called following his death. he remained high on israel's hit list, we know, because he was the director of west bank operations for hamas in addition to some of his other roles. hamas in addition to some of his other roles-_ other roles. how big a concern is there among _ other roles. how big a concern is there among israel's _ other roles. how big a concern is there among israel's allies - other roles. how big a concern is there among israel's allies that l there among israel's allies that this could lead to an escalation? i

think it has been building now for weeks because we have had this repeatedly from the us, israel's closest ally, from other international players. they are worried about the regional spill—over of the war. hezbollah has been an ongoing concern but they have also been talking a lot about the houthis, another iran backed group based in yemen and we also understand in recent weeks it has carried out some 20 attacks using missiles and drones on ships passing through the gulf of aden and the red sea. last night there were discussions about this at the un security council. there have been warnings put out that these attacks must stop, that they are illegal, that they threaten regional security and the freedom of international navigation, as well as potentially global food supplies.— navigation, as well as potentially global food supplies. yolande knell, our correspondent _ global food supplies. yolande knell, our correspondent there _ global food supplies. yolande knell, our correspondent there for - global food supplies. yolande knell,

our correspondent there for us. - 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 6th capitol riots. as a result, it said he shouldn't be eligible for inclusion on the ballot. mr trump has also challenged a similar exclusion from the state ballot in maine. here in the uk, millions were glued to their screens last night to see if a british teenager who succeed in his bid to win the darts world championship final. luke littler, who is known as luke the nuke isjust 16 years old and 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. it really was. we're nowjoined by the voice of darts — and now retired pdc referee after last night's

match — russ bray. welcome, thank you forjoining us. thank you for having me on the show. what an amazing match for you to referee and what a note to go out on. ., ., ., referee and what a note to go out on. ., ., , , , on. not half, two youngsters up there battling _ on. not half, two youngsters up there battling it _ on. not half, two youngsters up there battling it out, _ on. not half, two youngsters up there battling it out, absolutely| there battling it out, absolutely brilliant, and the standard was sensational. certainly up there with one of the very best we have had. it isjust incredible he isjust16 isjust incredible he isjust 16 years old and to have got this far, he has a bright future ahead of him, i'm sure most people will agree. goodness me, absolutely. the talent that the lad has got, i use this in the nicest possible way, you have a freak of nature, a freak in the sport, tiger woods was a freak in the sport of golf, jack —— jack

nicklaus, mike tyson in boxing, he is sensational, breath of fresh air, on the development tools and challenge tours as well, and basically if you are good enough, come and have a go because you will win, you will do well. how come and have a go because you will win, you will do well.— win, you will do well. how has it felt seeing _ win, you will do well. how has it felt seeing the _ win, you will do well. how has it felt seeing the response - win, you will do well. how has it felt seeing the response from i felt seeing the response from people? because lots of people have followed his story and been drawn to the sport who would never have considered it before. the the sport who would never have considered it before.— the sport who would never have considered it before. the hype in the media has— considered it before. the hype in the media has been _ considered it before. the hype in the media has been absolutely . the media has been absolutely amazing. it has been incredible, it has been in every paper, broadsheets and also the red ones at the top there. radio, tv, it's been everywhere, darts, just a young lad doing what he loves doing. the beauty of that, like you just said there, those that were not involved

in darts, they think i will get a dartboard and a set of darts, it is not an expensive sport to do. the basics of it are very simple. it is a great pastime as well. it is great fun to have at home to have a muck about with your mates or your family. about with your mates or your famil . �* ~ , ., about with your mates or your famil . �* ~ , . ., ., family. and luke started it and to very young _ family. and luke started it and to very young age — family. and luke started it and to very young age because - family. and luke started it and to very young age because he's - family. and luke started it and to very young age because he's 16 l family. and luke started it and to i very young age because he's 16 now but we just saw luke littler when he was even littler. luke humphries isn't that old either. he was even littler. luke humphries isn't that old either.— was even littler. luke humphries isn't that old either. he is a young kid. it isn't that old either. he is a young kid- it has — isn't that old either. he is a young kid. it has become _ isn't that old either. he is a young kid. it has become a _ isn't that old either. he is a young kid. it has become a young - isn't that old either. he is a young kid. it has become a young man's| kid. it has become a young man's sport. the four lads in the semifinals, i think the oldest was rob cross at about 3k semifinals, i think the oldest was rob cross at about 3a which is no age at all. itjust goes to show there are lots of academies going around the country as well, dart academies where the youngsters can

learn their trade and come through. it is certainly for the youngsters, that's for sure.— it is certainly for the youngsters, that's for sure. how emotional was it for you? — that's for sure. how emotional was it for you? vary- — that's for sure. how emotional was it for you? vary. it _ that's for sure. how emotional was it for you? vary. it is _ that's for sure. how emotional was it for you? vary. it is the _ that's for sure. how emotional was it for you? vary. it is the last - it for you? vary. it is the last world championship - it for you? vary. it is the last world championship that - it for you? vary. it is the last world championship that i i it for you? vary. it is the last | world championship that i will it for you? vary. it is the last - world championship that i will call in, orthe world championship that i will call in, or the last of the majors, let me put it that way, i won't be doing any more major tournaments, i will be an ambassador and i will do some bits and pieces, and aunts on the tv but very little now. my main job bits and pieces, and aunts on the tv but very little now. my mainjob now will be background stuff. hopefully we can find some more luke littlers around the world. titer? we can find some more luke littlers around the world.— around the world. very briefly, i can't let you _ around the world. very briefly, i can't let you go _ around the world. very briefly, i can't let you go without - around the world. very briefly, i can't let you go without doing i around the world. very briefly, i i can't let you go without doing your trade mark i can't let you go without doing your trade mar < ., ., ., can't let you go without doing your trade mar ., ., ., . , trade mark i will have a go. excuse me... i trade mark i will have a go. excuse me- -- i will — trade mark i will have a go. excuse me... i will have _ trade mark i will have a go. excuse me... i will have a _ trade mark i will have a go. excuse me... i will have a go. _ trade mark i will have a go. excuse me... i will have a go. are - trade mark i will have a go. excuse me... i will have a go. are you - me... i will have a go. are you ready? 180!— me... i will have a go. are you read ? 180! ., ., ., ready? 180! you were so loud that it cut out the sound! _

ready? 180! you were so loud that it cut out the sound! thank— ready? 180! you were so loud that it cut out the sound! thank you - ready? 180! you were so loud that it cut out the sound! thank you very i cut out the sound! thank you very much, lovely to talk to you. stay with us on bbc news. hello, after the seemingly relentless rain some of us have seen over recent weeks things are looking a little bit drier eventually into the weekend. but for the here and now, we have still got a lot of flooding around. this was the picture in tunbridge taken on wednesday and still lots of flood warnings in force for thursday. we could see them increasing though towards the south because we've got yet more heavy rain on the way. low pressure moving its way in from the southwest. that's going to bring some heavy rain late morning into parts of dorset, devon and cornwall, then spreading eastwards towards london and kent as we head into the afternoon. but further north we have got some drier weather through parts of the midlands into wales and scattered showers to the north of that — yhey�*re going to be quite blustery conditions. top temperatures, perhaps a little bit cooler than we've seen over recent days, perhaps seven or eight degrees for many of us. but let's just focus in on that heavy rain as we head

through into the afternoon. there could be between 20 to 50 millimetres of rain in the south here falling on really saturated ground. so flooding again could be exacerbated and that rain only slowly edging away towards the east as we head through this evening and tonight. there are more showers coming in tonight across the north west of the uk. northeast scotland staying pretty windy and wet through the night too, but it will be a little bit colder than recent nights. temperatures getting down to between about two to four degrees for many of us to start your friday morning. now, friday, then the area of low pressure bringing today's rain will clear away towards the east. we've still got this low pressure across the north of scotland and a trailing front will bring more rain across eastern scotland in particular through the day tomorrow. westerly breeze as well, perhaps western scotland, wales. towards the east it's going to stay fairly cloudy, but that rain will eventually clear and temperatures a touch cooler than we've seen really over recent days. and then it's going to be all change as we head through into the weekend because eventually higher pressure will build in and this will be pretty welcome. so it's going to squeeze away most of the showers, not all of them, but certainly will bring a drier

and less windy spell of weather and with a bit of a change in wind direction, it's going to turn cooler, too. so the winds starting to rotate around that high pressure coming in from the east. a return to the blue colours and things starting to build perhaps a little bit more wintry. so thankfully a drier outlook from the weekend onwards, but colder and we could see a return to misty and perhaps frosty conditions through the nights, too. bye— bye.

this is bbc news — the headlines. prince andrew and bill clinton are among those named in newly—released court documents relating to sex offender, jeffrey epstein. sirens. a day of mourning in iran after two explosions in the southeast of the country kill nearly 100 people. as what's likely to be an election year begins, labour leader, sir keir starmer, sets out his agenda. in1941, in 1941, they started rounding people up. past and present — the new film contrasting modern—day amsterdam with life during the occupation of the second world war. the labour leader sir keir starmer is about to make his first speech of the new year. 2024 is expected to be a general election year in the uk.

sir keir will be at a technology centre in the city of bristol