this is bbc news, the headlines. there has been no letup in the fighting in gaza, the israeli military says it is at more than 100 targets in the last day. health officials in gaza say 162 people have been killed disgraced former paralympian oscar pistorius is released on parole — almost 11 years after killing his girlfriend, reeva steenkamp. flooding continues to cause disruption in parts of england and wales — forcing hundreds to leave their homes. and a taste of music's next big thing. indie rock band the last dinner party are named the bbc�*s sound of 202a. just one line of breaking used to

bring you from reuters news agency related to those explosions earlier this week in iran. iranian security forces saying they have detained 11 people suspected of links to those attacks earlier this week. we reported here those bombings around 84 people. on wednesday's attacks in southern iran marking the anniversary of the death of a senior revolutionary guard commander, so that happened on wednesday, authorities telling us they have detained 11 people suspected of links to those attacks. that is coming in from reuters news agency and if we have any more detail we will bring you up—to—date. let's return to events in ukraine. russia's defence ministry said its forces have repelled a ukrainian attack over crimea, shooting down 36 drones over the peninsula annexed in 2014.

russian occupation authorities called it "the biggest attack on sevastopol" since the beginning of the russian invasion of ukraine. the ukrainian army has confirmed the attack. 0lga malchevska has been following developments. what can you tell us? a rare chris when both washington —— russian and ukrainian military confirmed there was an attack. according to what we have managed to verify so far, we saw in the telegram channels reports from russia and ukraine that there are blasts in this area. so on the south—west and parts of crimea there are blasts reported by

both russian and ukrainian telegram channels. what we have managed to see so far as well, there are attacks on sebastopol, something confirmed by both ukrainian and russian army. ukrainian army say they managed to destroy the russian military unit. russian army does not confirm it and we can't verify because we can't get inside because foreign journalists are not allowed into crimea right now but i managed to speak to someone who said that local people talk a lot about the casualties reported among the military staff in the russian black sea fleet. we can't verify it so far but what is interesting is that the russian army confirmed there are no civilian casualties detected so far in the area which also brings us to the report that those attacks didn't harm any civilian object. in terms

of what you can see on the map, locals reported that it is located in the densely populated civilian areas but despite that, as i said, just a moment before, there are no civilian casualties reported. thank you for running us through that, i know you are going to follow events and we will be back with you if there are any further developments. joining us from the newsroom. a soldier who mistakenly shot a child whilst on duty in afghanistan had been waiting five years for therapy when he took his own life. that's what his wife has told the bbc. george de preez developed post—traumatic stress disorder — or ptsd — after the incident in 2011. his wife katriona found him dead at their home in late 2019. he wasjust 37. george is a really sweet guy. he was pretty shy, very religious.

george jacobus du preez served in the parachute regiment. his widow, catriona dupuis, said he developed complex ptsd after an incident in afghanistan. george contacted me to ask me what my thoughts were on somebody that had killed a child, instantly thinking that he was talking about the taliban. it was radioed through shortly afterwards that the target that he had shot was that of a child. and that was the key triggerfor his his ptsd. george was medically discharged from the army in 2014 and the family moved to bridgend. caitriona says george did not receive the same level of treatment he'd experienced in england. she believes there were missed opportunities to provide him with veteran specific care. he never received any of the cognitive behavioural therapy or the emdr.

he was actually still on that waiting list when he died. a coroner ruled the actions of george's gp, mental health services and the probation service in the weeks before he took his own life did not contribute to his death. but caitriona believes more could have been done years before. dave singletary served in the parachute regiment. he's been helping veterans in wales for 40 years and says the support here remains limited within wales. they're playing at it. their endeavours are right. i think they want the same things. however, i don't think the facilities are available in wales yet. cwm taf morgannwg university health board says it provides a range of veteran services. the army says it takes service personnel health extremely seriously. the welsh government says all health boards have an armed forces champion. we can speak now to lieutenant colonel sulle alhaji.

correct me if i'm wrong, you served 41 years including in the falklands war. you had to retire from services because you had ptsd, primarily from the falklands war. talk to me a little bit about how that manifests, how do you know you have something that needs treatment and something that needs treatment and something that needs treatment and something that needs to be dealt with and where you might go for that help? it was quite bizarre because i started getting ailments, tight chest, coughing, dry mouth and lack of sleep. i kept waking up around about 40 m every morning which was unusual, i was absolutely tired all the time and didn't know what was wrong with me so i went to the doctor, a military doctor, and explain to him and he suggested i perhaps go and see a therapist. i thought, i don't think i need that, and then i came back from a job i had been on talking to youths and

they used to tell me all of their problems and when i got into the house after a trip from derby everything came out, i completely changed. my wife said, you are not the same and she said, i think you have ptsd. it hit me hard because in the forces back in the day you don't go sick. you can't go sick in a war, unless you are injured properly. basically, you man up. i unless you are injured properly. basically, you man up.- basically, you man up. i think that's really — basically, you man up. i think that's really interesting - basically, you man up. i think that's really interesting and l basically, you man up. i think. that's really interesting and sorry to interrupt but use the injured properly, and is not an assessment that were not very good at assessing mental problems? if you are caught up mental problems? if you are caught up and the water and something happens to you we can see that and treat that but that is the problem, isn't it? mental health isn't really considered and is not very obvious sometimes? hat

considered and is not very obvious sometimes?— considered and is not very obvious sometimes? not very obvious but i was referring _ sometimes? not very obvious but i was referring to _ sometimes? not very obvious but i was referring to being _ sometimes? not very obvious but i was referring to being injured - sometimes? not very obvious but i was referring to being injured in . was referring to being injured in war. i must admit, they are getting better at recognising and it is not the stigma it used to be. i had to tell my staff who i was very close with and it was emotional and me having to admit it because having to admit to myself that i was injured, i had a broken brain, basically, and that was really hard, because you don't go sick and you are taught to man up and to admit that you are injured is really difficult and the hardest thing. i felt i was a failure. i couldn't do anything, i was absolutely useless, even the thought of signing my name on a piece of paperfreaked thought of signing my name on a piece of paper freaked me out. it was only because my wife was pushing me and she got me the help that i needed, i went with a certain therapy organisation. it was a guy, a very good therapist, but in the

forces, to talk to a man about your deepest inner fears is very difficult, because we are not built like that. �* ., like that. and so admitting the roblem i like that. and so admitting the problem i guess _ like that. and so admitting the problem i guess was _ like that. and so admitting the problem i guess was the - like that. and so admitting the problem i guess was the first | like that. and so admitting the - problem i guess was the first stage and then to get the help, so your wife was able to help you. we heard also in the case of du preez a little earlier, even though george had his wife with him, they help wasn't available because they were put to the back of the queue. what have you found access is like, is there enough access for people who need help? it is there enough access for people who need hel? , , . there enough access for people who need hel-? , m , , need help? it is difficult because there is a fantastic _ need help? it is difficult because there is a fantastic therapy - there is a fantastic therapy organisation called up the courage and when i went to them they were absolutely brilliant. there are some doctors who just don't know about it so we need to publicise it more

because once a mentally sick person goes into the doctors and says what about 0p courage or i am a veteran and i need help, that should set off alarm bells, but in this case it seems it wasn't the case. it is so aood to seems it wasn't the case. it is so good to talk _ seems it wasn't the case. it is so good to talk to — seems it wasn't the case. it is so good to talk to you _ seems it wasn't the case. it is so good to talk to you because - seems it wasn't the case. it is so good to talk to you because i - seems it wasn't the case. it is so i good to talk to you because i know how important it is to be able to discuss things like this and for people to get the help they need. always grateful for your time, thank you. always grateful for your time, thank ou. ., ~' always grateful for your time, thank ou. ., ~ , ., around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

you're live with bbc news.

derek draper, the former labour party adviser, has died at the age of 56. he'd been living with extreme complications from covid, since contracting the virus at the start of the pandemic in march 2020. his wife, the itv presenter kate garraway, announced his death online, saying that she was with her �*darling husband' when he passed. 0ur political correspondent helen catt looks back at his life. in march 2020, the former political adviser derek draper caught covid. he spent ten weeks in a coma, coming home after 374 days in hospital. derek's brain and body have been so impacted by covid that he has difficulty speaking, he can't move without help and has been left doubly incontinent.

his wife, the tv presenter kate garraway, made this film about their experience. today on instagram she said he had passed away from complications from cardiac arrest because of the damage caused by covid. she said she was lucky to have him in her life. born in lancashire he worked behind the scenes to create new labour in the 1990s. he didn't follow his boss peter mandelson into government after the election victory. instead he became a lobbyist. don't quote me directly on this but you could say it summed up his problem. flamboyant and well—connected he was caught boasting about his contacts with ministers and making a fortune. if a company hires my company and they get me for an hour, how much they have to pay. 15. 250. dolly as he was nicknamed at westminster was fired

by his company and cash for access became a scandal. minimum wage, devolution, gchq regulation. he remained a fervent supporter of new labour but left politics to retrain as a psychotherapist. a decade later he returned but was caught setting up a website to peddle false rumours about conservative mps. his career at westminster was over. when covid struck, derek was fit, healthy and barely 50. the couple shared their story on film to show how their family and others coped with a life changing event. keeping hope alive, doing their best and enjoying what time they had. derek draper who has

died at the age of 56. his struggle with covid under lines the plight of those who have still not recovered from the disease. lets get more on this with professor danny altmann. he is an immunologist and researcher at imperial college london. thank you for being with us. what is it about this case because it has been well publicised and yet still it seems we have many questions about why some people were so badly affected by covid. are we any closer to getting answers? let affected by covid. are we any closer to getting answers?— to getting answers? let me say, it is obviously _ to getting answers? let me say, it is obviously such _ to getting answers? let me say, it is obviously such a _ to getting answers? let me say, it is obviously such a tragedy - to getting answers? let me say, it is obviously such a tragedy for - to getting answers? let me say, it is obviously such a tragedy for the | is obviously such a tragedy for the family but i think it is educational to think about a case like mr draper because when people hear that 1.9 million people in britain have long covid, they think it is kind of a soft diagnosis and maybe they are a bit breathless or have a bit of

trouble with finding words or brain fog but actually a quarter of people that have long covid finds it limits their life a lot, many are bedbound and have given upjobs, and mr draper was at the extreme end of that spectrum. people who often were severe cases in the first wave, usually hospitalised, usually multi—organ damage, and i think the in your video was life changing. find in your video was life changing. and the thing that many people will be astonished by is just how long he thought, and as they said in that documentary, we saw that he improved a little and then deteriorated. what is it about this case that meant it lasted so long when he was tackling this virus for so long. the lasted so long when he was tackling this virus for so long.— this virus for so long. the term lona this virus for so long. the term long covid _ this virus for so long. the term long covid covers _ this virus for so long. the term long covid covers a _ this virus for so long. the term long covid covers a spectrum i this virus for so long. the term | long covid covers a spectrum of severity but when i say that in one

of the most famous studies of this typer of the most famous studies of this type, nearly two thirds of all people hospitalised with covid had multi—organ damage. you will appreciate the kind of damage his body had suffered including cardiac damage which lead to cardiac arrest which i guess led to his ultimate death. for people at the more extreme end of the 1.9 million we are really talking about very severe damage done by the virus, which is life changing, which puts people out of work and out of their homes, puts people out of the economy. it is devastating _ people out of the economy. it is devastating. is _ people out of the economy. it is devastating. is it _ people out of the economy. it is devastating. is it possible that people could have long covid mac for the rest of their lives to a different extent, different severity?— different extent, different severi ? , ., . ., , severity? some people are clearly caettin severity? some people are clearly getting better _ severity? some people are clearly getting better bit _ severity? some people are clearly getting better bit by _ severity? some people are clearly getting better bit by bit. - getting better bit by bit. everybody... if i say to you that the best kind of crystal ball we haveis the best kind of crystal ball we have is that people who suffered

long sars after the similar outbreak 20 years ago. many of those people 20 years ago. many of those people 20 years ago. many of those people 20 years later are not better, haven't gone back to their old jobs, haven't gone back to their old jobs, haven't got their old lives back, you will realise that for some people this is forever. find you will realise that for some people this is forever. and what is it about derek— people this is forever. and what is it about derek draper's _ people this is forever. and what is it about derek draper's case - people this is forever. and what is it about derek draper's case that i it about derek draper's case that has allowed the medical world to study and examine and learn more about it? it has raised the profile once more of people living particularly with long covid mac. many of us would like to draw a line under the worst of the pandemic and move on and choose to forget it and this is a timely reminder that so many people as you have said are still living with it. as it provided any insight into the medical profession that has allowed you to learn more about it? the profession that has allowed you to learn more about it?— learn more about it? the first thing to sa is learn more about it? the first thing to say is that _ learn more about it? the first thing to say is that this _ learn more about it? the first thing to say is that this is _ learn more about it? the first thing to say is that this is a _ learn more about it? the first thing to say is that this is a very - to say is that this is a very diverse condition and people like mr draper who have severe multi—organ damage are the kind of examples we can relate learn a lot from because it is not something we have a guest

of the coronavirus would do. it is a strange thing to have to learn about. it is a kind of awakening to those of us who wish the pandemic would go away and be forgotten and want to move on with our lives that for millions of people around the world, it is still with them, still with us and their families and sadly in this country at least, we have kind of take our foot off the gas and don't have any research on it and don't have any research on it and have very little medical care for it. . , and have very little medical care forit. ., ., for it. really good to have you with us for shedding _ for it. really good to have you with us for shedding a _ for it. really good to have you with us for shedding a bit _ for it. really good to have you with us for shedding a bit more - for it. really good to have you with us for shedding a bit more light - for it. really good to have you with us for shedding a bit more light on| us for shedding a bit more light on what has been a tragically sad today but one that also perhaps will give us some more answers to some of the big questions many of us have about covid and its implications. professor, we are grateful for you being with us. a reminder of course there is much more on that story and many other stories on the bbc news website. derek draper passing away at the age of 56 after a long battle with long covid mac. you're watching bbc news.

natwest group chairman sir howard davies has apologised after he suggested it was not "that difficult" to get on the property ladder. speaking on radio 4's today programme, he also said that prospective buyers have to save, and that "is the way it always used to be." let's have a listen. when do you think it's going to be easier for people to get on the property ladder in this country? well, i don't think it's that difficult at the moment. to buy a house in this country?! are we living in the same country or are you reporting from overseas?! you have to save, and that is the way it always used to be. yes, but the multiple of... sorry to interrupt. the multiple of average earnings you require to get a house, i am just thinking of our listeners under the age of 40, would say, "have you tried buying a house in a major city in this country?" yes, undoubtedly, but what we saw in the financial crisis was the risk of having people being able to borrow 100% in order to get onto the property ladder, and then suffering severe falls in the equity value of their houses.

and having to leave and having a bad credit record, etc. so there were dangers in very, very easy access to mortgage credit. so i totally recognise that there are people who are finding it very difficult to start the process, they will have to save more, but that is, i think, inherent in the change in the financial system as the result of the mistakes that were made in the last global financial crisis. and we have to accept that we are still living with that. sir howard davies has since said he "did not intend to underplay the serious challenges" people face buying homes. and that he fully realises it did not come across in that way for listeners. he said the comments were meant to reflect that recent rate cuts were making access to mortgages easier. the actor david soul, best known for his role in the television series starsky and hutch, has died at the age of 80.

his wife, helen snell said he died on thursday "after a valiant battle for life in the loving company of family. she said �*he shared many extraordinary gifts in the world as actor, singer, storyteller, creative artist and dear friend. his smile, laughter and passion for life will be remembered by the many whose lives he has touched.�* 0ur arts correspondent david sillito looks back at his life. # don't give up on us, baby... david soul, 1977 was the year for david soul. the blonde, blue—eyed son of a lutheran pastorfrom south da kota. two number ones and the star of one of the biggest shows on tv. his uk tour was pandemonium. my abiding memories of my first trip to the uk with this record was terror. the reaction was just extraordinary.

he had made his name in starsky and hutch as hutch. cops who relied on frequent car chases and the all knowing huggy bear to fight crime. and every now and again he'd find a reason to sing. he had long wanted to be known for his voice rather than his looks. which is why his music career began with this. as a masked singer. but he had more success acting, appearing here is a malevolent policeman with clint eastwood in magnum force. you heroes have killed a dozen people this week, what are you going to do next week? kill a dozen more. by the end of the 70s

he was keen to escape from hutch and the attendant fame. he ended up moving to the uk. appearing in holby city. i had to take this on because i wanted to know if i could still do what i used to. jerry springer the opera. and little britain. along the way, five marriages and a drink problem and even a short spell injail, but for a certain generation david soul would always be the blonde singing superstar of his 70s heyday. david soul who has died at the age of 80.

hello. it has been a very wet start to 2024. some places have seen all of their expected january rainfall in the first few days of the month. still lots of flood warnings in force and the weather is going to continue to cause some disruption. what is actually falling out of the sky is much, much drier over the next few days. there will be a lag between the rain falling and the flood water receding. high pressure is building and that will squeeze away most of the showers. low pressure clearing towards the east. still low pressure close to the north of scotland. one or two showers for the rest of the day, quite heavy around the north—east of scotland. cloudy skies in central and eastern england. through this evening and overnight, clearer skies. fairly light winds. the drop in temperature and a cold night, we will see some frost and mist and fog patches forming around parts of scotland, northern ireland. central and eastern england just about frost free where you've got more of that low cloud. but it could be quite a murky start to saturday one way or another with the low

cloud in the east and the pockets of fog elsewhere. they should clear away relatively quickly on saturday. just the odd shower coming around part of these irish sea coast and the odd spot of rain to england as well. much, much drier than it has been of late. temperatures cool in the east, seven, perhaps eight or nine further west with more sunshine. heading into the second half of the weekend, high pressure still with us. not many isobars on the map so relatively light winds. fog on sunday could be quite slow to clear. down towards the south—east, a bit more of a breeze just one or two showers towards east anglia and the far south—east. certainly nothing heavy like we have seen of late. a colder day across the board, only about three to seven celsius on sunday. it will feel different heading through the week and into next week courtesy of this area of high pressure. it is a large area of high pressure moving in, monday and tuesday then, we will see a change in air mass, the cold air moving in.

as that wind rotates, high pressure coming in from an easterly direction. very cold in scandinavia recently. we are tapping into something a bit colder than we have seen. a lot of dry weather thankfully. things looking a bit milder from mid week onwards but expecting to see some mist and fog at times. goodbye.

live from london, this is bbc news. hezbollah warns of a fierce

response to the killing of a hamas leader in beirut. hassan nasrallah says all of lebanon would be exposed if his group doesn't react. israel's defense minister outlines proposals for the future of gaza once the war against hamas is over. but there's no let—up in the fighting. the israeli military says it's hit more than 100 targets in the last 24 hours. flooding continues to cause disruption and parts of england and will some a forcing many to leave their homes. disgraced former paralympian 0scar pistorius is released on parole almost 11 years after killing his girlfriend, reeva steenkamp. voters go to the polls in bangladesh this weekend, where the incumbent prime minister is expected to win a fourth term. the opposition party accuses the government of cracking down on anyone who speaks out against them.

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