thousands of people attend the funeral of hamas's deputy leader — killed in a drone strike in beirut. britain's prime minister says a general election is likely to take place in the second half of this year. and prince andrew and bill clinton are among those named in newly—released court documents relating to sex offenderjeffrey epstein. hello. welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. we begin in the middle east — and the aftermath of several acts of deadly violence in different countries. the funeral has been taking place in lebanon, just outside beirut, for saleh al—arouri, the deputy leader of hamas, who was one of several people killed in an explosion

in beirut on tuesday. hezbollah — a powerful paramilitary and political group in lebanon — has blamed that attack on what it says was "flagra nt israeli aggression." israel has not commented. both hamas and hezbollah — proscribed terrorists organisations in many countries — have close ties to iran — which itself is holding a day of mourning, after 84 people were killed by explosions near an event to mark the anniversary of the death of the iranian general qasem soleimani. alongside this — several nations have issued a warning to the houthi militants in yemen — who are also close to iran — to stop the attacks on shipping in the key lanes in the red sea. and of course — the fighting in israel and gaza which has played a role in sparking all this — there are reports of dozens more deaths from air strikes in southern gaza — as israel continues its military operation. live now to our middle east correspondent hugo bachega in beirut. explain who this man, the leader of

hamas was, the significance of his funeral —— the deputy leader of hamas was. he funeral -- the deputy leader of hamas wen-— funeral -- the deputy leader of hamas was. he was a significant hamas was. he was a significant hamas figure. — hamas was. he was a significant hamas figure, saleh _ hamas was. he was a significant hamas figure, saleh al-arouri, l hamas was. he was a significant i hamas figure, saleh al-arouri, the hamas figure, saleh al—arouri, the deputy leader, he was killed in the attack on tuesday, and we are seeing images today of crowds gathered for his funeral, waving the green flag of hamas, and also carrying posters with pictures of his face. we saw prayers and also heavy gunfire as the funeral took place in beirut. so a blow for hamas, an important figure being assassinated, but also it was an attack that hit hezbollah because this happened in a suburb of beirut that is a stronghold of hezbollah yesterday we heard from the influential leader of hezbollah, hassan nasrallah, who described the

assassination as a flagrant israeli aggression, a crime that cannot go unpunished, he said, so a lot of people here in lebanon are waiting to see what kind of action hezbollah are going to take to respond to this assassination that the lebanese authorities and also hezbollah leaders have been blaming on israel. explain to us the links between hamas and hezbollah because the deputy leader of hamas was in lebanon at the time of the assassination, so what are the fears between them? and also the that this could lead to a spreading the conflict? —— what are the links between them. conflict? -- what are the links between them.— conflict? -- what are the links between them. , ., ., ., , , between them. these are two groups who are suworted — between them. these are two groups who are supported by _ between them. these are two groups who are supported by iran _ between them. these are two groups who are supported by iran and - between them. these are two groups who are supported by iran and they i who are supported by iran and they are an alliance of forces in the middle east supported by iran and hezbollah is the main faction in

this alliance, and a very powerful lebanese group and it is not only powerful because of its military force but it is also extremely influential here, a massive political force, influential here, a massive politicalforce, and influential here, a massive political force, and a influential here, a massive politicalforce, and a huge influential here, a massive political force, and a huge social movement in lebanon, so obviously everything that hezbollah does has massive impact across the country and i think ever since the attacks in october and since the israel hamas war, hezbollah has been fighting israel on a daily basis but they have largely been consigned to they have largely been consigned to the border region between lebanon and israel and so the fear is this good lead to some sort of escalation which could increase tensions along the region, but yesterday we heard

very strong words from hassan nasrallah but we have not had any kind of open threat to attack israel orany kind of open threat to attack israel or any indication that hezbollah is planning to step up its attacks against israel, so hassan nasrallah knows he must be seen to be responding to the attack but at the same time any kind of response will have to be calibrated to avoid any massive israeli retaliation.- massive israeli retaliation. hugo, thanks maigret. _ massive israeli retaliation. hugo, thanks maigret. -- _ massive israeli retaliation. hugo, thanks maigret. -- thanks - massive israeli retaliation. hugo, thanks maigret. -- thanks for- thanks maigret. —— thanks for joining us. live now to our correspondent shaimaa khalil in the west bank town of ramallah. the west bank controlled by the palestinian authority, so what reaction has there been to the killing of the hamas deputy leader and his funeral in beirut today? the west bank and his funeral in beirut today? tue: west bank is and his funeral in beirut today? tte: west bank is controlled and his funeral in beirut today? "tte: west bank is controlled by and his funeral in beirut today? tte: west bank is controlled by the palestinian authority but the west bank is also where saleh al—arouri is originally from, his hometown is not farfrom is originally from, his hometown is not far from where i am here and

there has been a funeral service to coincide with the funeral and the burial of saleh al—arouri in lebanon. here we are at the heart of the city centre and it looks very different compared to yesterday, there was a call for a general strike after the killing of saleh al—arouri, the streets were empty, and i have been speaking to many protesters who came here holding palestinian flags and some were holding hamas flags and one woman said there is a deep sense of rage and fury and deep sadness at the killing of saleh al—arouri and she said he was notjust a regular person but a fighter as an intellectual and there is a great deal of respect for him. he may have been on top of the most wanted list of israel and the us and his death marks a significant loss to hamas but also a big win if you want, for israel, but which of course did not deny or confirm its involvement in the attack but for the people here

he is a significant figure of resistance and this new crisis that his death has created comes at a very volatile time for the region on many fronts, with the continuation of the bombardment in gaza with the increasing tensions in the west bank, we have over 300 palestinians killed, since the 7th of october, according to the un who is worried about the deterioration of human rights. we have the houthis attacks in the red sea and the active exchange of fire between hezbollah in israel on its northern border. there have been many concerns —— and israel. there is concern that there will be a spill—over in the west bank and across the region and the concern in the international community is whether the death of saleh al—arouri could be the trigger although we are not sure what the retaliation will look like. what although we are not sure what the retaliation will look like.— retaliation will look like. what is ha - eninu retaliation will look like. what is happening in _ retaliation will look like. what is happening in gaza? _

retaliation will look like. what is happening in gaza? the - retaliation will look like. what is happening in gaza? the military| happening in gaza? the military oeration happening in gaza? the military operation continues _ happening in gaza? the military operation continues in _ happening in gaza? the military operation continues in earnest l happening in gaza? the military i operation continues in earnest and the ground offensive in central and southern gaza also continues. we have had updates from the hamas run health ministry and the death toll is now approaching 22,500 people, and we also know khan younis was bombarded overnight, and what is significant, worth noting, is that the west of khan younis was bombarded killing 14 people, including nine children, and that area is an area which has been long touted by the israeli army and officials as a safe place for people to go in the south but the problem has always been it is very small, the size of heathrow airport, no infrastructure, but now it is being bombarded, so again the constant complaint from palestinians is that the areas, the safe areas for them to go to escape the bombing and to take theirfamilies is to go to escape the bombing and to take their families is growing to go to escape the bombing and to take theirfamilies is growing ever smaller. take their families is growing ever smaller. ., take their families is growing ever smaller. . ., ., ,

let's discuss this with liz sly in london. she is a journalist and was the former middle east correspondent for the washington post newspaper. thanks forjoining us. we have the us special envoy on the way to israel and we have the us secretary of state antony blinken and heading to the region for his fifth visit since the hamas attacks on the 7th of october so what is your assessment of the approach of the us right now and what they think is achievable in containing netanyahu and also how they may deal with potentially the spreading of this conflict? , ., , , ., ., ., conflict? obviously, to avert a wider regional _ conflict? obviously, to avert a wider regional war _ conflict? obviously, to avert a wider regional war and - conflict? obviously, to avert a i wider regional war and escalation from the point we are at right now is going to be very much on the agenda, and antony blinken will be looking to the israelis about not escalating further in lebanon and not taking further actions that could inflame the situation. they

are also going to be pushing israel to do something they have been trying to get it to do for a few weeks now, to tone down the bombing in gaza to avoid these horrible civilian casualties that we are seeing in these mass air strikes that are killing so many civilians, and to move to more targeted operations, but israel can point to the killing of saleh al—arouri in beirut as a targeted operation, which is what the americans have been asking for.— which is what the americans have been asking for. given that, and we talk about the _ been asking for. given that, and we talk about the operation _ been asking for. given that, and we talk about the operation which - talk about the operation which israel neither confirmed or denied being behind and given the houthis attacks on shipping in the red sea and given the cross—border fire between hezbollah and israeli forces in northern israel, what is your assessment of the potential dangers for the widening of this conflict? do you think the us can manage to rein in israel and may other

parties? rein in israel and may other arties? , ,. ., , rein in israel and may other arties? , , . ., , parties? this is certainly the most recarious parties? this is certainly the most precarious moment _ parties? this is certainly the most precarious moment we _ parties? this is certainly the most precarious moment we have - parties? this is certainly the most precarious moment we have seen | parties? this is certainly the most - precarious moment we have seen since the 7th of october for the region as a whole, the assassination in beirut but also the attacks on the shipping in the red sea and the warning yesterday from the us and i2 in the red sea and the warning yesterday from the us and 12 it's yesterday from the us and 12 its allies that they will be significant once —— i2 allies that they will be significant once —— 12 of its allies that they will be significant consequences if this continues, and you might think this continues, and you might think this might be attacking yemen, and there was a deputy commander of an iraqi militia, one of those who has been attacking us bases in iraq, he was assassinated in baghdad today in the heart of the city in a drone strike. the us is upping its own actions as well so we have got all these four active fronts and it feels like the potential for things to spin out of control is there.

what is your assessment of the leadership of netanyahu and where he stands and what he wants and how much he is willing to listen to the us president?— much he is willing to listen to the us resident? . , ., , , ., us president? that is a big question that is very difficult _ us president? that is a big question that is very difficult to _ us president? that is a big question that is very difficult to answer - us president? that is a big question that is very difficult to answer and l that is very difficult to answer and we know that netanyahu has historically been cautious about dragging israel into a war, in all the years he has been prime minister, he has never done that, but the situation on the northern front with hezbollah is alarming for israel and it does have a second front going already there and they might feel that this is the time to take out hezbollah as well as hamas and go for broke. we are in uncharted territory so it is quite hard to tell what the israeli motives are right now and they have not shown a lot of inclinations to listen very closely to the us because as we have heard from your report, the air strikes are continuing in gaza and more civilian

—— civilians were killed today. who -- civilians were killed today. who is talkin: -- civilians were killed today. who is talking to _ -- civilians were killed today. who is talking to hamas? _ —— civilians were killed today. who is talking to hamas? the deputy leader saleh al—arouri now taken out so how much of a roll did he play in the hamas operations and the potential release of the 130 hostages still being held by hamas? there are rumours that there were quite a lot of rivalries between him and the hamas leader in gaza who was the mastermind of the 7th of october operation and it is possible that saleh al—arouri did not know about the operation in advance, but on the other hand he is a significant leader and has been instrumental in linking hamas, hezbollah and iran in an alliance and relationship. the countries are talking to hamas but another alarming thing about this

operation is that it really puts in jeopardy any further prospect of talks for the release of hostages. interesting to get your analysis. thanks forjoining us. we mentioned earlier the attacks on container ships by iran—backed houthi rebels in the red sea. the uk is one of a number of countries to have joined a us—led coalition of warships, named operation prosperity guardian. the foreign secretary lord cameron has called for an "immediate end" to the attacks. he was speaking on a visit to kosovo earlier. we have joined we havejoined operation prosperity guardian in the red sea because we support the freedom of navigation and this is notjust a british interest by the global interest and it really matters that ships are able to carry their cargoes without being attacked through the red sea and the suez canal and elsewhere in the world, which is why we have said ships to help the prosperity guardian and we will use the ships to stop missile attacks but the

clear message here and over ten countries have signed the statement, saying to the houthis, these attacks are not acceptable, they are illegal and they have got to stop and if they don't stop, action will be taken. ~ ., they don't stop, action will be taken. . ., they don't stop, action will be taken-_ i'm - they don't stop, action will be taken._ i'm not l they don't stop, action will be - taken._ i'm not going to taken. what action? i'm not going to sell that taken. what action? i'm not going to spell that out — taken. what action? i'm not going to spell that out but _ taken. what action? i'm not going to spell that out but it _ taken. what action? i'm not going to spell that out but it is _ taken. what action? i'm not going to spell that out but it is quite - taken. what action? i'm not going to spell that out but it is quite clear - spell that out but it is quite clear to me that this is unacceptable, illegal, and it is not to do with gaza or israel, this is about the freedom of navigation and the ability of ships to carry their cargo in the world economy, every economy, will suffer if ships keep coming under attack in this illegal and unacceptable way. these attacks need to stop or action will be taken. 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. a 49—year—old man has been arrested after reports shots were fired at a cinema in liverpool on wednesday evening. merseyside police locked down the showcase cinema in croxteth when a man threatened staff in the foyer before shooting at the outside of the building. officers responded to three separate incidents involving shots being fired but no—one was injured. rising river levels on the river trent means that an emergency has been called — trent means that an emergency has been called by nottinghamshire county council. water levels could rise as high as they have been since

2000. these are the pictures in nottinghamshire. a major incident has been declared by nottinghamshire county council and you can see the rising floodwaters covering some of these buildings, rising against the outside of the building, and it looks like it might be taken out with those gates in the waters pushing on through and the council says this is because of rising river levels on the river trent and the flooding and possible future flooding and possible future flooding in the area caused by storm henk which has travelled around the country in the last day or so, causing extensive damage in some areas. water levels on the river trent could reach as high as they have been since 2000 and they are expected to peak this evening. the wider helicopter shot showing a much

wider helicopter shot showing a much wider area with those water levels really on the rise, covering large parts of the land. this is the river trent which has overflowed in some parts of nottinghamshire. we will bring you more on that as it comes into us. rishi sunak has been accused of "squatting" in downing street by his political opponents — after he downplayed holding a general election in the spring. speaking in mansfield, mr sunak said his working assumption is that a poll will be held in the second half of 202a. labour say he's delaying a vote because the tories are unpopular. here's mr sunak earlier. my working assumption is we will have a general election in the second half of this year, and in the meantime i have got lots that i want to get on with. this saturday, we will be introducing a significant tax cut for millions of people in work, worth on average £450 for an average worker, because we have halved inflation and we want to keep managing the economy well and cutting people's taxes.

and i also want to keep tackling illegal migration. we cut the number of arrivals last year by over a third, but we have got more to do and we plan to get the rwanda scheme through parliament and up and running. so i have got plenty to get on with and that is what i am focusing on doing, delivering for the british people and it is great to be talking to people here in the east midlands about our progress today. our political correspondent, pete saull is in westminster. what have you made of this? careful ofthe what have you made of this? careful of the language _ what have you made of this? careful of the language from _ what have you made of this? careful of the language from rishi _ what have you made of this? careful of the language from rishi sunak- of the language from rishi sunak because he says it is working assumption that it will be in the first half of the year —— that it will not be in the first half of the year, and there is a prospect he catches everyone by surprise and still calls an election in the spring but it is more probable that it will happen in the autumn and he made the point that he still has lots of things that he wants to do, a tax cut due to start at the weekend and it was the bringing

forward of the tax cut, they normally happen at the start of the financial year in april, that led to the feverish speculation that he was going to be happening in the spring, and other people pointing to the date of the budget which is happening in the first week of march as evidence they would announce measures up, potentially some giveaways, and then head into a general election campaign, but this is politically motivated because the opposition parties have been piling the pressure on rishi sunak to call an election in may and the lib dems are going to try and bring a vote in the house of commons next week on it, aware that rishi sunak will not allow the vote to go through, because the conservatives have a large majority in the house of commons. labouralso large majority in the house of commons. labour also say he has been clinging onto power, so this is the response from sir keir starmer.

we are ready for the general election— we are ready for the general election and we can turn our back on the decline _ election and we can turn our back on the decline and get ready for the hope _ the decline and get ready for the hope and — the decline and get ready for the hope and prosperity that the labour party can _ hope and prosperity that the labour party can begin. the prime minister is hinting _ party can begin. the prime minister is hinting it— party can begin. the prime minister is hinting it may be later in the year. _ is hinting it may be later in the year. but — is hinting it may be later in the year, but what is he hiding? why can't _ year, but what is he hiding? why can't he — year, but what is he hiding? why can't he set _ year, but what is he hiding? why can't he set a date? this squatting in downing — can't he set a date? this squatting in downing street for months on there. _ in downing street for months on there, dithering and delaying, in there, dithering and delaying, in the country wants change, what is he hiding? _ keirstarmer keir starmer not mincing his words, and the other— keir starmer not mincing his words, and the other thing _ keir starmer not mincing his words, and the other thing about _ keir starmer not mincing his words, and the other thing about this - keir starmer not mincing his words, and the other thing about this is - keir starmer not mincing his words, and the other thing about this is it l and the other thing about this is it is dampening the parade on keir starmer because he was giving a big speech today, saying the issue is the opportunity to bring about change after ia years of conservative government, but the headlines have been snatched away by the current prime minister today. yes, i guess. you might be seeing more of this in the coming months.

thanks forjoining us. associates, friends and alleged victims of the convicted sex offenderjeffrey epstein have been made public, after previously private court documents were released overnight. the 900 pages relating to epstein, who killed himself injailfive years ago, contain dozens of references to prince andrew — who was accused by one woman of having sex with her when she was 17. they also include testimony from another woman who claimed that he had groped her. the prince, who has denied all the allegations against him, stepped down from public duties in 2019. live now to new york, and our correspondent nada tawfik. what more have we learned from the release of these documents? these documents were _ release of these documents? these documents were leaked _ release of these documents? these documents were leaked to - release of these documents? these documents were leaked to a - documents were leaked to a settlement between ghislaine maxwell, an associate ofjeffrey epstein, and virginia giuffre, one of the victims who had accused prince andrew of abusing her,

something he denied. these documents, the media fought for them to be unsealed and the judge ultimately said that given a lot of these allegations have been out in these allegations have been out in the public domain and that there is no legaljustification the public domain and that there is no legal justification for the public domain and that there is no legaljustification for keeping these names secret any longer, so many resurfaced allegations came out and we saw the names of also bill clinton and donald trump name to these documents, although no wrongdoing was alleged by either one of them, but itjust wrongdoing was alleged by either one of them, but it just talked wrongdoing was alleged by either one of them, but itjust talked about them as being injeffrey epstein's circle and one woman spoke about how donald trump, howard jeffrey epstein called him to visit one of his casinos —— howjeffrey epstein. and then the more bizarre elements of then the more bizarre elements of the documents and one e—mail from jeffrey epstein to ghislaine maxwell, for example, talks about offering a reward to any of virginia giuffre's family or friends if they

can prove that she gave false information relating to bill clinton or a story about stephen hawking, having an orgy onjeffrey epstein's island and it also mentions names like the magician david copperfield, the singer michaeljackson, not alleging they did anything wrong but talking about how they stayed at his ireland or his palm beach home. a lot of scrutiny on these documents and it underscores the intense public interest still in jeffrey epstein but as i said, public interest still injeffrey epstein but as i said, much of public interest still in jeffrey epstein but as i said, much of what has been revealed so far is mainly resurfaced allegations.— resurfaced allegations. when we think about _ resurfaced allegations. when we think about what _ resurfaced allegations. when we think about what possibly - resurfaced allegations. when we think about what possibly could l think about what possibly could happen next as a result of these, are there any possible repercussions? jeffrey epstein is dead and ghislaine maxwell is in prison. dead and ghislaine maxwell is in rison. . , dead and ghislaine maxwell is in rison. ., , ., , ,

prison. that is absolutely right. a . ain, prison. that is absolutely right. again. these — prison. that is absolutely right. again, these are _ prison. that is absolutely right. again, these are allegations . prison. that is absolutely right. l again, these are allegations that have been out in the public domain and certainly to have these very powerful figures see their names resurfaced again and again is quite embarrassing. whether we get any additional names of associates released in the coming days and weeks when more documents are released, that remains to be seen, but certainly we could see additional scrutiny here but as i say these are allegations that have largely been out there for a number of years in other court cases and in other media investigations. thanks for “oininu other media investigations. thanks forjoining us- _ other media investigations. thanks forjoining us. some _ other media investigations. thanks forjoining us. some breaking - other media investigations. thanksj forjoining us. some breaking news from cbs news, the sheriff office says there has been a shooting at perry high school, and we are not sure if there has been any injuries but they will be a news conference in just over half an hour according to the sheriff's office in that area

in iowa. hello. weather across the uk has certainly been testing our patience in recent weeks, but there are indications of something a little quieter as we head towards the weekend. but until then, most of the countryside looking like this, fairly waterlogged, a lot of flooding out there. at the moment, there are hundreds of flood warnings in effect across the country. and in fact, we may well add to those across southern england overnight tonight as there's yet more rain to come. it's this base swirl of cloud that's moving in from the southwest. it will bring a brief spell of heavy rain once again and strengthening winds. ahead of it, spilling in quite a lot of cloud across much of wales and the midlands. the best of any brighter skies through northern england, northern ireland and western scotland. still pretty windy across the northern isles with a trail of showers through northeast scotland. temperatures generally around single figures between seven and nine degrees.

but let's zoom in and look at this rain in a little more detail. once it arrives, gusts of winds are likely to reach 50 to 60 miles an hour in exposed coasts through the channel. perhaps there'll be a spell of wet weather. we're going to see another inch or two of rain falling on already saturated ground in areas where we've got flooding. so this is just going to exacerbate the issue. it will move through at quite a pace, lingering across lincolnshire perhaps, and there will be a scattering of showers through the night across the east coast of england and scotland. but elsewhere, temperatures perhaps into low single figures for many — two or three degrees first thing. so we've got that weather front continuing to bring some windier and slightly showery conditions across north east scotland. our weather front through the night has eased away. and so that means first thing on friday morning, it will be a cloudy story with a little bit of mist and fog around. but on the whole, quite quiet. the best of the sunshine on friday out to the west, a few scattered showers through wales and again, those temperatures generally at around 6 to 9 degrees. now, as we move out of friday,

it looks likely that we could see areas of high pressure building. so friday into the start of the weekend, here's that high quietening things down, but the blue tones taking over means temperatures will be just that below par for the time of year. and that could be a bit of a shock to the system. we will be chasing cloud amounts around, but certainly it's going to be a drier story and a slightly cooler story with a brisk northeasterly wind at times. take care.

this is bbc news. the headlines: the funeral of the hamas deputy leader — killed in a drone strike — has been taking place in beirut. britain's prime minister says a general election is likely to take place in the second half of this year. rescuers injapan race against time in their search for survivors 72 hours after the new year's day earthquake. sport and time for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre. here's tanya. thank you, samantha. we start with tennis and there were mixed fortunes for rafael nadal and emma raducanu as both step up their comebacks ahead of the australian open. nadal cruised to a straight sets victory overjason kubler, whilst elina svitolina came from a set down to beat raducanu — our tennis correspondent russell fuller spoke to us earlier about both matches. he is playing, very, very well and this is rafael nadal