this is bbc news. the headlines: 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. police respond to a shooting at a high school in the us state of iowa. one reported dead so far. police say dozens others are injured. time for a look at the business news now with lukwesa burak. thank you very much indeed. starting here in the uk, and while many people struggle with the cost of living crisis, as of today, the bosses of britain's biggest companies will have made more money in 2024 so far than the typical worker makes all year. and that pay gap is growing. the average pay of the top ftse 100 chiefs amounts to £3.81 million per year,

including pensions — according to the think tank, the high pay centre. that's equivalent to — wait for it — £1,170 an hour — 109 times the average worker whose median annual salary isjust under £35,000. chris roebuck — is a global leadership expert who has worked in major organisations assessing senior leaders�* performance. i asked him if these huge payouts are justified. we will come back to that in a moment. but essentially he told me a little bit more about the talent poaching that the city had to be careful of unless they paid the ceos

competitive salaries. this is what he told me. well, i think you need to ask the question. lobbyists are saying, yes, they are justified because we need to attract the best ceos to the uk or to keep them here. but, actually, this is not consistent across the world. if you look at some of the data on that ratio. if you say, if we're at 200, the us is at 270, but funnily enough german is only at 136, so the ratio of germany ceo play to employee pay is 136, the rest of europe is under a 150 so i have not heard that major german companies are having a problem attracting ceos. so maybe it is not quite as important as the lobbyists are suggesting. so, there has been warning there, that if those top exec salaries went up we would lose

a talent, uk talent would go elsewhere. has that happened, is it happening? there is certainly a global market for the top talent but in ceos' heads there is much more than how they're getting paid, it's also about what they can create as a ceo, and their legacy. but, as with any human being, some people want to push it, and some people are happy with not only the money but also doing thejob. those also doing the job. those that push also doing thejob. those that push it, we have seen increasing shareholder revolts coming up, where people are seen —— saying enough is enough. it is questionable even for us as shareholders whether you deserve that money. to the us, and the biden administration is providing over $160 million to microchip technology to support the domestic production of computer chips. it's the second funding announcement

aimed at reviving the us semiconductor manufacturing, and would help the company triple its production and reduce its reliance on overseas factories. michelle fleury is in our new york bureau to tell us more. are you with us, michelle? i am indeed. are you with us, michelle? i am indeed- we _ are you with us, michelle? i am indeed. we have _ are you with us, michelle? i am indeed. we have some - are you with us, michelle? i am| indeed. we have some gremlins are you with us, michelle? i am i indeed. we have some gremlins in are you with us, michelle? i am - indeed. we have some gremlins in the s stem indeed. we have some gremlins in the system today. — indeed. we have some gremlins in the system today, thank _ indeed. we have some gremlins in the system today, thank you _ indeed. we have some gremlins in the system today, thank you for _ indeed. we have some gremlins in the system today, thank you for your - system today, thank you for your patience. let's start off with the microchips and the investment, why, why now? microchips and the investment, why, wh now? ,, microchips and the investment, why, wh now? why now? look, microchips are in everything. _ why now? look, microchips are in everything, including _ why now? look, microchips are in everything, including the - why now? look, microchips are in everything, including the phonesl why now? look, microchips are in i everything, including the phones we carry and everything. what emerged during the pandemic is that there were all these supply disruptions and it kind of made people wake up and it kind of made people wake up and particularly government officials wake up and realise the importance of certain supply chains. so since then we have seen an acceleration of the change in industrial policy from the white house to try and focus on creating

and ensuring certain industries decided to be key, kind of make sure that manufacturing capability exists at home. so this is the latest part of incentives designed to do that. they have $90 million to improve a plant in colorado springs, another 72 million to expand a factory in oregon. but again, the idea behind this is that these investments would invade —— enable microchip technology to triple its domestic production. that has been the goal here, to reduce dependence on foreign factories. find here, to reduce dependence on foreign factories.— here, to reduce dependence on foreign factories. and news coming out of xerox _ foreign factories. and news coming out of xerox as _ foreign factories. and news coming out of xerox as well, _ foreign factories. and news coming out of xerox as well, what - foreign factories. and news coming out of xerox as well, what can - foreign factories. and news coming out of xerox as well, what can you | out of xerox as well, what can you tell us about that?— out of xerox as well, what can you tell us about that? that again goes to how the way _ tell us about that? that again goes to how the way we _ tell us about that? that again goes to how the way we all _ tell us about that? that again goes to how the way we all work - tell us about that? that again goes to how the way we all work has - to how the way we all work has changed. xerox is famous for its photocopiers but now the company plans to cut 15% of its workforce because it is implementing a new kind of restructuring programme and changing the way it does its business. i think it is kind of emblematic again of how it is

shifting to a more services business model and away from the traditional hardware we associate it with, which is these xerox machines, we used to call it. so i think it reflects in part this broader kind of change in the workplace, how we work, the tools we use and obviously if you think at home, many people don't have giant photocopiers at home so there is less demand going forward and that is why you are seeing the company tried to pivot. these lay—offs will affect probably about 3000 employees. it will all be done over the next three months. ok. over the next three months. 0k, thank you _ over the next three months. 0k, thank you for— over the next three months. 0k, thank you for that. _ to lagos, nigeria now — one of the world's fastest growing cities — known for its large population, high concentraion of vehicles and industrial pollution. like many other major cities in africa, it is struggling to cope with that growth. traffic, gridlock

means a commute that should normally take 50 minutes actually takes more like three hours. and its taking a toll on workers' productivity and mental health. nkechi ogbonna reports. cockerel crows. the cock crows at dawn. the sun is yet to rise amidst the still humid air of this suburb of lagos, nigeria's commercial hub. youssef rises up to get ready in time for the 50—minute commute to his office. he works as a bbcjournalist. but like many commuters who live in africa's most populous city, this journey could take up to three hours. i have a slight headache at the moment. i had to wake early and it is another day where i did not get to see my son.

he was still asleep when i left. this makes me feel very uncomfortable. well, this is lagos. lagos isn't the only african city with a traffic issue. kampala and nairobi also have some of africa's longest commute times, owing to huge traffic gridlocks. in kampala, a 2022 report showed commuters lose the equivalent of one working day to trafficjams each week. here in lagos, home to over 21 million people, spending long hours in traffic like this is not only a problem for workers — lagos cab drivers say their productivity levels have reduced, owing to the number of hours spent commuting. sometimes now we decide to like sleep in the car, just to have a rest, because sometimes where you stay is about a four or five hourjourney. so you have to decide to find somewhere to rest your eyes so you can start working

the following day. the 2023 report says lagos commuters spend an average of 2.5 hours daily in transit. there are two dimensionsj in relation to productivity. one is psychosocial — _ mental health — and the second has to do with financial losses _ so the psychosocial - and the financial damage, when you put them together, they have significant - impacts on the economy. for commuters who can sit in traffic for up to four hours, using the new lagos blue rail or the ferries could be an alternative. but these two means of transportation come at a cost. now in the office, youssef gets ready to report the biggest west african stories of the day. but as he settles in, he is aware that getting home tonight will involve hours on the road.

he hopes to get back and bond with his son before bedtime. in other news... sainsbury�*s has announced pay rises for its staff from march. as supermarkets continue their battle to retain workers, it will increase minimum pay for employees outside of london to £12 an hour, with wages for staff in the capital increasing to £13.50 an hour. also in the uk... the retailer, next, has warned delays of supplies of its products are �*likely�* as early as this year, if disruption to shipping in the red sea continues. attacks by houthi rebels on vessels in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes has resulted in firms avoiding the area and taking longer routes. french retailer carrefour says it will no longer sell pepsico products like pepsi, lay's crisps and 7up because they have become too costly in the latest tug—of—war over prices between retailers and

globalfood giants. good news for home owners in the uk, where millions of people are facing soaring housing costs. lenders have started the new year by slashing the cost of mortgages — while financial markets wait to hear if and when the bank of england will begin cutting interest rates from their current 15—year high. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. sometimes a simple knock at the door and a friendly greeting mean more than we know. rodney and paulfirst met through the befriending scheme run by age uk in lockdown. that meant phone calls at first but now face—to—face meetings. they are firm friends, especially after ronnie lost his wife earlier this year. we

are both in _ lost his wife earlier this year. - are both in the same situation. it is very good to talk together about different stuff. i is very good to talk together about different stuff.— different stuff. i don't think we have ever _ different stuff. i don't think we have ever had _ different stuff. i don't think we have ever had a _ different stuff. i don't think we have ever had a cross - different stuff. i don't think we have ever had a cross word. i l have ever had a cross word. i genuinely— have ever had a cross word. i genuinely look forward to seeing ronnie _ genuinely look forward to seeing ronnie and there is... there is no i am a _ ronnie and there is... there is no i am a volunteer... someone is feeling am a volunteer... someone is feeling a bit vulnerable, that has gone now. our relationship, with ronnie, is on an equal— our relationship, with ronnie, is on an equal standing. you're live with bbc news. a woman in her 80s has been pulled from the rubble of her collapsed house injapan, 72 hours after the new year's day earthquake. it's understood she was rescued in wajima — the area near the epicentre of the quake. at least 78 people have now

been confirmed dead. more than a dozen communities remain cut off by landslides and blocked roads in centraljapan. our correspondentjean mackenzie sent us this update from one of the worst affected areas, the noto peninsula. it has now been 72 hours since the earthquake and this is the critical window because after this time the chance of finding people alive severely reduces. but many people are still missing and it's thought they are trapped under their collapsed homes. most of the affected people are in the town to the north of the peninsula. we managed to enter it yesterday and we saw huge destruction, lots of the old, traditional wooden homes have been brought completely to the ground. these homes were built before new regulations were introduced to protect houses from earthquakes and the issue is that many other people living here are elderly so they hadn't done the work to update their homes. another of the issues has been how long it

has taken rescue workers to reach people. the roads here have been so badly damaged and the area is so remote that there are limited routes to access some of these towns so they were completely cut off. the access has been re—established of the past few days but search and rescue dogs only entered yesterday, so that has really slowed the process down. there are also up to 1,000 people who are still entirely cut off, people living in very remote coastal towns are mountain villages and they haven't been able to get any supplies at all, there are having to survive by themselves and so it may well be that the government decides now to direct more of its rescue efforts towards these people. fixing the crisis of the jobless in china could be one of the biggest crisis is facing the government. lucy becker —— laura bicker reports.

j°y lucy becker —— laura bicker reports. joy is the first person in her family to get a university degree. only around a third of her class have found full—time jobs. she has taken a job in sales, not a dream career, but she is determined to make the most of every opportunity. do you think it is more difficult now than when your parents were growing up to get a job? translation: growing up to get a “ob? tuna/momfi growing up to get a “ob? translation: . , translation: yes, the fact is, there are lots ofjobs- _ translation: yes, the fact is, there are lots of jobs. the _ translation: yes, the fact is, there are lots of jobs. the problem - translation: yes, the fact is, there are lots of jobs. the problem is - are lots ofjobs. the problem is whether you are willing to lower your expectations. these jobs don't have good prospects for your future. they offer low salaries and you are easily replaceable. that is why most people would rather stay at home than choose one of these jobs. some than choose one of these “obs. some dish erunon — than choose one of these “obs. some dish elution graduates _ than choose one of these jobs. some dish elution graduates posted photos on social media, suggesting their degrees were worthless. others lay on the ground, lying flat, it's called, a term used by young people opting out of the competition of modern life. as the number of young,

unemployed people continued to rise, the chinese leader came up with an idea. for decades, young people have left rural areas such as this and gone to big cities to study and find a job. gone to big cities to study and find ajob. he gone to big cities to study and find a job. he wants them to come back, get employment here and revitalise rural economies. the problem is, young people are finding it is not that are easy. manyjobs in the country are lower paid and require fewer skills. country are lower paid and require fewerskills. even country are lower paid and require fewer skills. even in the city, at thisjob fair in beijing, there is a skills gap. most of the openings don't need a masters degree. mr xi wants the next generation to eat bitterness, in other words, just to suck it up. but after enduring years of strict covid lockdown is, many young people don't want a hard life. this lady has a marketing degree.

after a few months of searching, she has taken a job in customer service, for now. both she and her boyfriend want to work but the pandemic also changed their outlook on life. translation: mr; changed their outlook on life. translation:— changed their outlook on life. translation: g , ., , , translation: my parents are less educated. translation: my parents are less educated- they— translation: my parents are less educated. they have _ translation: my parents are less educated. they have never - translation: my parents are less educated. they have never left - translation: my parents are less| educated. they have never left their home province. theyjust want a stable life. but we want to see more things, see the outside world and think about what we really dream of. studying hard no longer guarantees a glittering career in china. the post covid generation is adjusting its expectations in finding its own way through enabling job market. leaders will hope to get a grip on this crisis in the next year, in case it festers into a more troublesome generational discontent. laura bicker, bbc news. from a young age,

will was described as a genius with a troubled mind. he was a riding social media star who documented his mental health struggles online. at the age of 19, he died alone in supported accommodation for some three years on, his inquest has finally taken place and his family say they only got the answers they needed because of a trail of evidence that he had left for them. ruth clegg has the story and just a warning, you may find parts of her report upsetting. warning, you may find parts of her report unsetting-— warning, you may find parts of her report upsetting-— warning, you may find parts of her report upsetting. hello, my name is will, i am 18 — report upsetting. hello, my name is will, i am 18 and _ report upsetting. hello, my name is will, i am 18 and had _ report upsetting. hello, my name is will, i am 18 and had severe - report upsetting. hello, my name is will, i am 18 and had severe mentalj will, i am 18 and had severe mental health problems. he will, i am 18 and had severe mental health problems.— will, i am 18 and had severe mental health problems. he was passionate about so many _ health problems. he was passionate about so many things. _ health problems. he was passionate about so many things. he _ health problems. he was passionate about so many things. he was - about so many things. he was intelligent. he was so loving. he had been — intelligent. he was so loving. he had been troubled his whole life. go away. had been troubled his whole life. away. stop had been troubled his whole life. (er? away. stop harassing me! had been troubled his whole life. go away. stop harassing me! will- had been troubled his whole life. go

away. stop harassing me! will was l had been troubled his whole life. go | away. stop harassing me! will was 19 when he died- _ away. stop harassing me! will was 19 when he died. his— away. stop harassing me! will was 19 when he died. his family _ away. stop harassing me! will was 19 when he died. his family and - away. stop harassing me! will was 19 when he died. his family and will - when he died. his family and will himself say he was let down by the services which should have supported him. share services which should have supported him. �* , .. services which should have supported him. �* , ., .. services which should have supported him. �* , ., ., .. services which should have supported him. �* y., ., ., 4' services which should have supported him. �* i. ., ., ~ .. him. are you going to kill me, throw me down the — him. are you going to kill me, throw me down the stairs? _ him. are you going to kill me, throw me down the stairs? is _ him. are you going to kill me, throw me down the stairs? is the - him. are you going to kill me, throw me down the stairs? is the need - him. are you going to kill me, throw me down the stairs? is the need gotj me down the stairs? is the need got stronger, _ me down the stairs? is the need got stronger, they— me down the stairs? is the need got stronger, they helped _ me down the stairs? is the need got stronger, they helped him _ me down the stairs? is the need got stronger, they helped him to - me down the stairs? is the need got stronger, they helped him to fall- stronger, they helped him to fall away— stronger, they helped him to fall away even — stronger, they helped him to fall away even off— stronger, they helped him to fall away even off is _ stronger, they helped him to fall away even off is that _ stronger, they helped him to fall away even off is that no - stronger, they helped him to fall away even off is that no one - stronger, they helped him to fall. away even off is that no one should wait until— away even off is that no one should wait until they _ away even off is that no one should wait until they are _ away even off is that no one should wait until they are in _ away even off is that no one should wait until they are in crisis - away even off is that no one should wait until they are in crisis to - away even off is that no one should wait until they are in crisis to be . wait until they are in crisis to be treated~ — wait until they are in crisis to be treated~ it— wait until they are in crisis to be treated. . , ., , wait until they are in crisis to be treated. ., , , . , treated. it has now been three years since we lost — treated. it has now been three years since we lost will _ treated. it has now been three years since we lost will and _ treated. it has now been three years since we lost will and we _ treated. it has now been three years since we lost will and we have - treated. it has now been three years since we lost will and we have the l since we lost will and we have the inquest _ since we lost will and we have the inquest this morning.— inquest this morning. three years auo, inquest this morning. three years aao, little inquest this morning. three years ago. little did _ inquest this morning. three years ago, little did they _ inquest this morning. three years ago, little did they realise - inquest this morning. three years ago, little did they realise they i ago, little did they realise they would have to be the ones who would have to investigate his death. we have to investigate his death. we have worked out how will died. have to investigate his death. we i have worked out how will died. with a lack of support _ have worked out how will died. tn a lack of support for his mental health, will began to self medicate with illegal drugs. that health, will began to self medicate with illegal drugs.— with illegal drugs. that was one of the bi est with illegal drugs. that was one of the biggest mistakes _ with illegal drugs. that was one of the biggest mistakes of _ with illegal drugs. that was one of the biggest mistakes of my - with illegal drugs. that was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. i with illegal drugs. that was one of. the biggest mistakes of my life. his life began to spiral out of control. i went for a risk assessment and they— i went for a risk assessment and they said — i went for a risk assessment and they said to me, something has to change _ they said to me, something has to change you — they said to me, something has to change. you can't live in the same house _ change. you can't live in the same house with — change. you can't live in the same house with your son. that isjust...

the most _ house with your son. that isjust... the most painful thing, because that feels like~~ — the most painful thing, because that feels like... that feels you are throwing — feels like... that feels you are throwing out your sick child. his room was _ throwing out your sick child. his room was at _ throwing out your sick child. his room was at the back of the house. this is— room was at the back of the house. this is where — room was at the back of the house. this is where will— room was at the back of the house. this is where will died, _ room was at the back of the house. this is where will died, in- room was at the back of the house. this is where will died, in assistedl this is where will died, in assisted accommodation, where he should have been checked on every day. he accommodation, where he should have been checked on every day.— been checked on every day. he had been checked on every day. he had been i in: been checked on every day. he had been lying dead _ been checked on every day. he had been lying dead in _ been checked on every day. he had been lying dead in that _ been checked on every day. he had been lying dead in that room i been checked on every day. he had been lying dead in that room for i been lying dead in that room for almost — been lying dead in that room for almost three days.— been lying dead in that room for almost three days. there were some tablets near— almost three days. there were some tablets near enough _ almost three days. there were some tablets near enough above _ almost three days. there were some tablets near enough above him i almost three days. there were some tablets near enough above him from| tablets near enough above him from where he was found, so we asked the coroner that we analyse them because one of the things we knew is that will had self medicated by ordering various tablets on the dark web. 50 various tablets on the dark web. so this is a document that he made, there _ this is a document that he made, there is— this is a document that he made, there is a — this is a document that he made, there is a column, _ this is a document that he made, there is a column, drugs - this is a document that he made, there is a column, drugs taken, i there is a column, drugs taken, those _ there is a column, drugs taken, those were _ there is a column, drugs taken, those were the _ there is a column, drugs taken, those were the tablets - there is a column, drugs taken, those were the tablets that i there is a column, drugs taken, l those were the tablets that were missing — those were the tablets that were missing from _ those were the tablets that were missing from the _ those were the tablets that were missing from the bag _ those were the tablets that were missing from the bag of- those were the tablets that were missing from the bag of tablets. those were the tablets that were i missing from the bag of tablets on his desk _ missing from the bag of tablets on his desk inte— missing from the bag of tablets on his desk. ~ .. missing from the bag of tablets on his desk. ~ ., . , . ~ his desk. we thought he was taking it to help his _ his desk. we thought he was taking

it to help his anxieties _ his desk. we thought he was taking it to help his anxieties and - it to help his anxieties and unfortunately, the drug that was supplied wasn't and was a really nasty drug. supplied wasn't and was a really nasty drug-— supplied wasn't and was a really nas dru~. .. ., ., nasty drug. those were, as we now know, different _ nasty drug. those were, as we now know, different drugs, _ nasty drug. those were, as we now know, different drugs, and - nasty drug. those were, as we now know, different drugs, and we i nasty drug. those were, as we now know, different drugs, and we are. know, different drugs, and we are absolutely — know, different drugs, and we are absolutely sure _ know, different drugs, and we are absolutely sure that _ know, different drugs, and we are absolutely sure that is _ know, different drugs, and we are absolutely sure that is how- know, different drugs, and we are absolutely sure that is how he i know, different drugs, and we are i absolutely sure that is how he died. we have _ absolutely sure that is how he died. we have just — absolutely sure that is how he died. we have just come _ absolutely sure that is how he died. we have just come out _ absolutely sure that is how he died. we have just come out of _ absolutely sure that is how he died. we have just come out of the - absolutely sure that is how he died. i we have just come out of the inquest now _ we have just come out of the inquest now it _ we have just come out of the inquest now it was _ we have just come out of the inquest now it was a — we have just come out of the inquest now. it was a relief _ we have just come out of the inquest now. it was a relief that _ we have just come out of the inquest now. it was a relief that the - now. it was a relief that the coroner— now. it was a relief that the coroner came _ now. it was a relief that the coroner came to _ now. it was a relief that the coroner came to the - now. it was a relief that the i coroner came to the conclusion now. it was a relief that the - coroner came to the conclusion that will's _ coroner came to the conclusion that will's cause — coroner came to the conclusion that will's cause of— coroner came to the conclusion that will's cause of death _ coroner came to the conclusion that will's cause of death was _ coroner came to the conclusion that will's cause of death was toxicity. . will's cause of death was toxicity. we know — will's cause of death was toxicity. we know that _ will's cause of death was toxicity. we know that from _ will's cause of death was toxicity. we know that from everything i will's cause of death was toxicity. we know that from everything we j will's cause of death was toxicity. i we know that from everything we have seen and _ we know that from everything we have seen and everything _ we know that from everything we have seen and everything we _ we know that from everything we have seen and everything we have _ we know that from everything we have seen and everything we have worked . seen and everything we have worked towards. _ seen and everything we have worked towards. like — seen and everything we have worked towards, like making _ seen and everything we have worked towards, like making sure _ seen and everything we have worked towards, like making sure those i towards, like making sure those tablets— towards, like making sure those tablets were _ towards, like making sure those tablets were tested. _ towards, like making sure those tablets were tested. despite i towards, like making sure those tablets were tested. despite all| towards, like making sure those i tablets were tested. despite all the things— tablets were tested. despite all the things that — tablets were tested. despite all the things that were _ tablets were tested. despite all the things that were going _ tablets were tested. despite all the things that were going against i tablets were tested. despite all the things that were going against us, i things that were going against us, that is— things that were going against us, that is something _ things that were going against us, that is something that _ things that were going against us, that is something that we - things that were going against us, that is something that we can i things that were going against us, j that is something that we can take from _ that is something that we can take from this — that is something that we can take from this. , , . from this. everything is a fight. everything _ from this. everything is a fight. everything all _ from this. everything is a fight. everything all the _ from this. everything is a fight. everything all the way - from this. everything is a fight. everything all the way along i from this. everything is a fight. | everything all the way along has been _ everything all the way along has been a — everything all the way along has been a fight. everything all the way along has been a fight-— everything all the way along has beenafiaht. , , , been a fight. luckily my parents did that for me. — been a fight. luckily my parents did that for me, but _ been a fight. luckily my parents did that for me, but imagine _ been a fight. luckily my parents did that for me, but imagine if- been a fight. luckily my parents did that for me, but imagine if you i that for me, but imagine if you can't do that, if you don't have parents. the words of will melbourne,

recorded shortly before his death and did not report by ruth clegg. if you want to know more about that story, the documentary of his life is available on bbc iplayer now. here in the uk, millions of us were glued to our screens last night to see if a british teenager would succeed in his bid to win the darts world championships. 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. unbelievable, it is crazy to think that the runner—up is bigger than the winner. obviously luke is now number one and a world champion, so all respect to him. going into the game, win or lose situation, i was away is going to come out happy. it was a bit gutting standing there on my own watching luke lift the trophy but he deserved it, he was a better man on one night. i was happy with winning one game as everyone knows,

but getting to the final was a bigger achievement. earlier i spoke to lorraine winstanley who is a aemi—professional dart player and head of youth development for target darts. i asked her what she made of luke littler�*s performance at just 16—years—old. he was amazing, wasn't he? for me, it's not a surprise. his talent and the way he has performed. the biggest surprise for me is how he has taken the media in his stride and he has just kept his cool. edge of the seat stuff for the last three weeks, so very, very exciting times for him but i'm so, so proud of him. i think it was a surprise to him every if it wasn't to you! i think he was hoping to just win one match and be home by christmas. but as you say, he did take it in his stride. do you think that was because there were no expectations of him? i think so. but he really has got his feet on the ground. he's very level—headed and he loves playing darts. so his expectation was to win one

game and he did that and he was enjoying himself. i think it comes so easily when you are enjoying yourself. we're looking at pictures of him now when he was a toddler throwing darts. he looks as happy there as he has done the last few weeks, playing at the darts championship. is it down to talent or is it down to sheer hard work and the fact he has been doing this since he was old enough to walk, literally? obviously, you have to have a level of natural talent but luke has just proved what hard work and dedication can achieve. can ijust say, massive, massive kudos to his parents because the sacrifices that they have made to be able to get luke to every competition he is wanting to play in, they've got him there. he has got to be there, you have to be in it to win it. so they have put in as much hard work and dedication as luke has and to have that major support

network around him has been brilliant for him. it is often down to the parents, rarely seen but they provide all that support in the background, don't they? he certainly has got people talking about the game, watching it, lots of people who have never watched a darts match before. what kind of a boost can he give to the game, do you think? he has catapulted youth darts to the forefront of every corner of the earth. for me, he has done for youth darts what fallon did for the women darts. so for me, he has captivated a whole new audience. people, like you say, who have never picked up a set of darts, never even entertained watching a game of darts, he has got the whole planet talking about it. so what a way to make your entrance into the professional game. what next for him, do you think? he has a busy 12 months coming up! i don't think his feet are going to touch the ground. i can imagine he will get so many

endorsements as well. he is going to have quite a few more pounds on his bank account, you think? absolutely, but he has a great management team around him, so they will guide him with the best things to do with that. again, it is all about keeping his feet on the ground. time for a check on the weather now with louise leah. as we head towards the first weekend of january, the weather story on the change, drier conditions expected by the weekend. but before that, this area of cloud bringing some persistent rain across channel facing coasts. arrived in the south—west, some a bit heavy at times, accompanied by gale force gusts of wind. that will continue to drift its way steadily eastwards. it means there will be some difficult driving conditions if you are out and about on the roads over the next few hours. this was the isle of wightjust before darkness arrived.

you can see there are certainly some localised flooding in the area. that rain will continue to drift its way south and east. it may linger for a time in east midlands, lincolnshire and east anglia. some scattered showers and strong winds in eastern scotland and some coastal showers out of the west but sandwiched between the two, some clearer skies and we could have some patchy mist and we could have some patchy mist and fog forming by morning thrust of the low pressure still sitting up into the far north will give stiff winds and showers into the northern isles and into eastern scotland but a ridge of high pressure is slowly building on. so there will be some showers out to the east, a legacy of cloud east to the pennines. further west, some bright and sunny spells with a few scattered showers driven in by that north—westerly wind. temperatures are likely to peak into single figures for many into the afternoon, so we are looking at 4—9

degrees, pretty much where they should be for this time of year. but as we move out of friday into the start of the weekend, the high pressure is continuing to build in. the isobars open up, the winds falling light and some patchy fog could be an issue first thing saturday morning. we still keep a risk of some showers and a nuisance strong wind across the northern isles but a chilly start to saturday. low single figures in towns and city centres, a touch of frost likely away from the breeze. high pressure is set to establish itself or the start of the weekend and as the wind direction swings in and as the wind direction swings in a clockwise direction around that high, we will either have an easterly or north—easterly, which at times or drag in quite a lot of cloud from the north sea. so we will be chasing cloud amounts of ram but look at this. it will be dry, settled, with some sunshine at times but we will need to look out for overnight frost and fog.

live from london, this is bbc news. thousands of people attend the funeral of hamas's deputy leader, killed in a drone strike in beirut. a shooting at a high school in the us state of iowa — police say there are multiple gunshot victims. prince andrew and bill clinton are among those named in newly—released court documents relating to sex offenderjeffrey epstein. hello, i'm samantha simmonds. 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 taken 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.