this is bbc world news. i'm reged ahmad. our top stories: the fbi investigates as us financier jeffrey epstein is found dead in a prison cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. many are now questioning how he could have apparently taken his own life and why greater precautions weren't put in place after he was found semiconscious with neck injuries just two weeks ago. calls for an immediate ceasefire in yemen after separatists seize the presidential palace and military barracks in aden. a powerful typhoon hits south—eastern china, killing 22 people and forcing more than a million from their homes. hundreds of people are arrested in russia, as opposition groups march through moscow

calling for free elections. the actor richard gere urges the italian government to help migrants stranded in the mediterranean for more than a week. the disgraced american financierjeffrey epstein, who once counted donald trump and prince andrew among his friends, has been found dead in his cell while awaiting trial for child sex offences. it appears he managed to take his own life at a prison in new york, considered one of the most secure in the us — despite having made a previous suicide attempt there last month. with the latest from new york, here's nedda tawfik. the body ofjeffrey epstein is taken away from a new york hospital this evening. the multimillionaire sex offender was found dead in his prison cell as he awaited trial for sex trafficking. once, epstein‘s extravagant lifestyle had seen him party with donald trump. the president had called

him a terrific guy. he has since distanced himself from the convicted sex offender. originally a math teacher in manhattan, the financier mysteriously accumulated a fortune that gained him entrance into high society and royal circles. he was close friends with prince andrew. seen here as recently as 2015 in new york. but his social status and opulent parties, his accusers say, masked lured crimes at his many palatial estates. for more than a decade, epstein faced allegations he sexually assaulted dozens of young girls, recruited to give him and other wealthy men massages. one alleged victim, virginia roberts, said jeffrey epstein instructed her to have sex with at least half a dozen prominent men, beginning when she was 16 years old. she was photographed with prince andrew and in 2015, she alleged she was forced to have a sexual relationship with him. buckingham palace has said those allegations are categorically untrue. in 2008, epstein pleaded guilty to lesser prostitution charges.

that widely criticised plea deal is now under investigation by the department ofjustice. after 13 months in prison, he continued to live a life of luxury, but he was arrested again last month and charged with sex trafficking. epstein was found unresponsive on the floor of his prison cell, here in manhattan. many are now questioning how he could have apparently taken his own life and why greater precautions weren't put in place after he was found semiconscious with neck injuries just two weeks ago. his victims say they would have preferred he lived to face justice. neda tawfik, bbc news, new york. let's get some of the day's other news. police in norway say a young woman has been found dead at the home of the man suspected of carrying out

a shooting at a mosque in oslo, during which an elderly person was injured. the police believe the dead woman is a relative of the young man they've arrested in connection with the attack. the main warring parties in libya have agreed to a truce during the muslim eid al—adha holiday. the ceasefire had been proposed by the united nations mission in libya. the announcement comes amid reports that a car bomb killed two un staff in benghazi on saturday. the saudi—led coalition fighting houthi rebels in yemen has called for an immediate ceasefire. it follows separatists seizing control of key military positions and the presidential palace in aden, the seat of the internationally recognised government of yemen. john mcmanus reports.

since 2015, fighting between houthi rebels backed by iran and yemeni loyalists supported by a saudi arabian led—coalition has laid waste to much of yemen. now the region's fragile alliances have fractured once more. several days of fighting between southern separatists, who want to split from the north of yemen, and forces loyal to the internationally recognised government, have culminated in the southern forces taking control of the presidential palace and securing several military barracks in aden as night fell. translation: today we achieved a big victory in aden, and ten battalions were defeated. and at night we took control of the presidential palace. both sides are fighting the houthi rebels, but while the loyalist forces are supported by saudi arabia, those soldiers who want the south to be independent are backed by the united arab

emirates. there's been growing tension between the supposed allies. southern forces have accused the loyalists of allowing islamists to penetrate their ranks. in return, forces loyal to the internationally backed government are unhappy with the push for southern independence, led by this man, aidarus al—zoubaidi. fighting flared on wednesday at the funeral of several southern soldiers who'd been killed in a drone and missile attack, claimed by the houthis, but there were accusations that islamists loyal to the government forces were responsible, which led to clashes. the international crisis group has called for a solution, saying "today's circumstances require robust diplomatic intervention from the un, saudi arabia, and the united arab emirates to avoid the worst and help forge a durable solution". as the four—year war rumbles on, tens of thousands have been killed, and more than 3 million forced from their homes. the un says nearly all

of the population now need humanitarian aid. john mcmanus, bbc news. a powerful typhoon that struck the coast of china near shanghai is now known to have killed at least 22 people. more than a million have been forced from their homes, as lakema, the region's worst storm in five years, makes its way through the south—eastern province of zhejiang. freya cole reports. a young girl is hauled to safety as rapid floodwaters sweep through wenzhou city. she is just one of more than a million people forced to flee as strong currents inundate their homes. with huge force, typhoon lekima made landfall on saturday morning. it hit the east coast of china, tore through zhejiang province, and is headed towards shanghai. it's been downgraded to a tropical storm but not before causing widespread devastation.

one of the worst hit areas, wenzhou, where torrential rain caused a deadly landslide. entire homes have been pulled apart, leaving rescuers with piles of rubble to search for survivors. for those who managed to escape in time, sought safety at mass evacuation centres. in shanghai alone, more than 250,000 people were in need of shelter. translation: in this shelter we provided the essential items like bedding, and mosquito repellent so they can try to get through the typhoon in peace. authorities say the worst might be over but the danger is not. it will take several days for floodwaters to subside and many months for people to rebuild. freya cole, bbc news. dozens of russian opposition supporters have been detained at a rally which brought tens of thousands of people onto the streets of moscow. police and national guards seized people who tried to make their way

to president putin's offices. the protest was part of an ongoing campaign to demand free and fair local elections. our moscow correspondent, sarah rainsford, followed the day's developments. it was moscow's biggest protest in years. tens of thousands shouting their anger in the pouring rain. this wave of protest was sparked by a block on opposition candidates from local elections. but the chants now have a new focus. they are demanding the release of people like this student. facing eight years behind bars for rioting. though almost all the violence of these protests has come from the police.

today's rally was authorised by city officials. well—known musicians turned out along with their fans. many too young to know any president but putin but fed up with his take on democracy. i think people are speaking out and i am here for the first time ever.