Six O'Clock News

The US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, said America was winning the war "decisively, devastatingly, and without mercy". Also: The Iranian president has told neighbouring states his country had to defend itself from US and Israeli attacks. And the warship the UK is deploying to the region, HMS Dragon, is not expected to head to Cyprus until next week.

President Trump has again criticised Sir Keir Starmer for not initially allowing the US to use British military bases to attack Iran. Also: Thousands of people are trying to flee Tehran. And Britain is sending a Royal Navy warship to help protect UK military personnel in Cyprus.

As the US-Israeli war against Iran continues to widen, President Trump's defence secretary has declared the American military action the "most lethal, most complex and most precise aerial operation in history". Also: Iran launches fresh attacks on targets across the Gulf. And the Iranian Red Crescent says more than 550 people have been killed in Iran.

Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones at targets across the Middle East, after announcing that its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been killed in US-Israeli attacks. At least 200 people -- most of whom were at a girls' school in the country's south -- have been reported killed in Iran. Three US service personnel have been killed in Iran's response, as well as ten people in Israel. Donald Trump has suggested that Iran's new leadership wanted to talk. Meanwhile, UK government officials are understood to be working on plans to potentially evacuate British nationals from the Middle East.

Iran has launched a wave of retaliatory strikes against Israel, and American allies across the Middle East - following this morning's joint attack by Israel and the US. President Trump has urged Iranians to use the attacks as an opportunity to rise up against their country's regime.Air raid sirens have been heard across Israel, after the launch of Iranian missiles towards the country. And: The Labour MP, Josh Simons, has resigned as a Cabinet Office Minister, saying he had become a distraction from the government's work. He's been under scrutiny because of claims the think tank he previously ran -- called Labour Together -- commissioned a report looking into the background of journalists.

Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to keep fighting, after Labour finished behind the Green Party and Reform UK in the Gorton and Denton by-election. Also: The former US President, Bill Clinton, gives evidence under oath to a congressional committee, about his past links with the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. And over fishing means mackerel stocks are running low in the seas and on the shelves.

Instagram is to start notifying parents if their teenage children search repeatedly for content related to self-harm or suicide. Also: Jersey has voted to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill people. And the number of people sleeping rough in England reaches a record high.

The Metropolitan Police has apologised for inadvertently revealing that Sir Lindsay Hoyle told its officers Lord Mandelson was considering leaving the country. Also: The government insists it's going ahead with its deal to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, despite a minister telling Parliament it was on hold. And satellite images of penguin moulting sites highlight the dangers to the birds of climate change.

The government has said it's committed to releasing all documents, related to the appointment, 25 years ago, of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as a UK trade envoy. Also: Leaders of the G7 group of nations have reiterated their support for Ukraine on the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion. And the government has announced that from April, GPs in England will have to guarantee same-day appointments for all patients with urgent needs.

The former cabinet minister and ambassador to the US, Lord Mandelson, has been arrested at his home in London, on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Peter Mandelson has not publicly commented since, but the BBC understands his position has consistently been that he has not acted criminally, and that he was not motivated by financial gain. Also: The government has set out major changes to the system for children with special educational needs and disabilities in England. And Hull beats Hollywood in one of the biggest Bafta shocks of all time.

The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, says the government will be spending more money, not less, on support for children with special educational needs and disabilities under plans to be unveiled tomorrow. The changes to what's known as SEND are part of a package of reforms for schools in England. Ms Phillipson moved to reassure parents that 'effective support' would not be withdrawn but the Conservatives say they have big concerns.

President Trump has announced he is increasing his global tariff rate to 15%, in response to the ruling by the US Supreme Court that struck down his original import duties on global partners. The court decided yesterday that he had exceeded his powers by using emergency laws to implement his original tariffs last year. His response was to call some of the justices 'fools' and confirm a ten per cent tax on all imported goods. Democrat governors have called for refunds on levies already paid.

President Trump has announced he is increasing his global tariff rate to 15%, in response to the ruling by the US Supreme Court that struck down his original import duties on global partners. The court decided yesterday that he had exceeded his powers by using emergency laws to implement his original tariffs last year. His response was to call some of the justices 'fools' and confirm a ten per cent tax on all imported goods. Democrat governors have called for refunds on levies already paid.

The Supreme Court has ruled that President Trump exceeded his authority when he imposed tariffs on dozens of countries using a law meant for national emergencies. Also: The government is considering legislating to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the line of succession to the throne. And Nasa says it's aiming for early March to launch its Artemis II moon mission.

The King's brother is suspected of misconduct in public office. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has previously denied wrongdoing. Also: Dame Antonia Romeo has been appointed as Sir Keir Starmer's new Cabinet Secretary. And police in Thailand have gone undercover to arrest a man suspected of stealing thousands of pounds worth of Buddhist artefacts.

The billionaire US businessman, Les Wexner, says his "heart goes out " to survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse, after telling US politicians he himself was "duped" by a "master manipulator". Also: The NHS is facing a much bigger bill for damages in medical negligence cases involving children after a landmark ruling by the UK's highest court. And Mark Zuckerberg gives evidence in a lawsuit that's put social media on trial.

One of the most influential voices of the American civil rights movement, Jesse Jackson, has died at the age of 84. Also: Nigel Farage has named the former Conservative Cabinet minister, Robert Jenrick, as Reform UK's choice to become Chancellor if the party wins power at the next general election. And heavy snow disrupts the Winter Olympics.

The government has abandoned plans to postpone local elections across 30 councils in England this May. Also: 36 universities may face paying compensation to students whose teaching was affected by Covid. And one of the greatest US actors of his generation, Robert Duvall, has died.

The former leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Vince Cable, has described the alleged actions of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor while he was a trade envoy as being "totally unacceptable". Sir Vince -- who was business secretary for some of that time -- has called on the police and the government to look into claims the former prince shared confidential information with the sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied wrongdoing. Iran's deputy foreign minister has told the BBC that Tehran is ready to consider compromises to reach a nuclear deal with the US -- if the Americans are willing to discuss lifting sanctions. Team GB have won their first ever gold medal on snow at the Winter Olympics.

The UK and allies say tests have shown the Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, was killed by an extremely rare poision found in the skin of Ecuadorean dart frogs. The Russian government has denied any involvement. The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has told the Munich Security Conference that Europe must show it shares Washington's values as part of a revitalised transatlantic relationship. Gisele Pelicot, who was drugged and raped by her husband and dozens of other men, has told the BBC she wants to visit him in prison to get answers.

A decision to ban Palestine Action as a terror group last year has been ruled as unlawful by the High Court. Also: Two men, who planned what police said could have been Britain's deadliest terror attack, have been jailed for life. And as Wales prepare to face France in the Six Nations on Sunday, thousands of tickets for the match in Cardiff remain unsold.

The government has published its first guidance for schools in England on supporting children who are questioning their gender. Also: Number Ten confirms the ousting of Sir Chris Wormald as cabinet secretary, the third senior official to go in a matter of days. And after three long weeks, Aberdeen has finally seen some sunshine.

The former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for police to interview Andrew Mountbatten Windsor over his links to the sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. The former Prince has strongly denied any wrongdoing. Also: Sir Keir Starmer has said his former communications chief, Lord Doyle, didn't give a full account of his actions when he was awarded a peerage, despite his links to a paedophile. And a Ukrainian Olympic skeleton racer has worn a helmet, which features images of people killed during Russia's invasion of his country, despite it being banned.

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he will "never walk away" from his mandate to change the country after coming under intense pressure to resign in the wake of the scandal surrounding Lord Mandelson. Also: A teenager has been jailed for at least 13 years for what police say was the random, unprovoked murder of a 12-year-old boy as he walked home from school. And a village in the Lake District says it is "dismayed" no doctors want to work there after an advert for a new GP failed to attract a single applicant.

Sir Keir Starmer's entire cabinet has come out in a coordinated show of support for the Prime Minister after the leader of the Scottish Labour Party, Anas Sarwar, publicly called for him to step down. Also: a statement on behalf of the King has said he stands ready to support the police if needed as they investigate his brother's relationship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. And one of Scotland's last surviving D-Day veterans, Albert Lamond, has died at the age of 100.

Morgan McSweeney has resigned as Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff and said he takes "full responsibilty" for having advised the Prime Minister to appoint Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the US last year. In a statement, Mr McSweeney said the decision had been "wrong". Also: The BBC's seen evidence that suggests Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor knowingly shared confidential information with Jeffrey Epstein when he was working as UK trade envoy. And: Hundreds of flood warnings and alerts are in place across Britain, following days of non-stop rain in some areas

Gordon Brown says Sir Keir Starmer is in a "serious" situation as he battles to keep his job - but insisted the Prime Minister was the right man to "clean up the system". Sir Keir is facing scrutiny about his appointment of Lord Mandelson as the UK's ambassador to the US - after files released by the US Department of Justice suggested the peer had close links with the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Also: President Zelensky says Russia has used more than 400 drones and around 40 missiles in its latest attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. And: At the Winter Olympics in Italy, the first gold medal has been won by the Swiss skier, Franjo von Allmen, who was crowned champion of the men's downhill in Bormio.

Police say they are searching two properties linked to Lord Mandelson, as they investigate allegations of misconduct in a public office, related to his communication with Jeffrey Epstein. The BBC understands Lord Mandelson doesn't believe he's acted in any way criminally. Also: The serial killer, Steve Wright, has been sentenced to a minimum of 40 years for murdering 17-year-old Victoria Hall in 1999, seven years before he killed five more women. And rugby fans have criticised ITV for showing adverts while last night's Six Nations match between Ireland and France was in play.

The Prime Minister apologises to victims of Jeffrey Epstein for appointing Lord Mandelson as ambassador to Washington, but some Labour MPs say he must go. Also: The governor of the Bank of England says interest rates should continue to fall, but not to the levels seen at the start of the pandemic. And passengers complain of long queues at passport control in some European airports as a new biometric system is rolled out further.

The Prime Minister has told the Commons that Lord Mandelson lied repeatedly about the depth of his relationship with the sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein while being vetted for the role of US ambassador. Also: Six Palestine Action protesters are cleared of aggravated burglary at a UK subsidiary of an Israeli defence firm. And a long-term plan for cancer care in England has been published by the government.

The BBC understands that the Metropolitan Police is to launch a criminal investigation into claims that Lord Mandelson passed market-sensitive information to the paedophile financier, Jeffrey Epstein. Also: President Zelensky says Russia has used a record number of ballistic missiles to target Ukraine's energy sector. And rescue teams in Australia have described a teenager who saved his family after they were swept out to sea as "superhuman".

Documents released by the US authorities from their investigation into Jeffrey Epstein have shed new light on the extent of Lord Mandelson's dealings with the convicted sex offender. Also: The serial killer, Steve Wright, has pleaded guilty to the murder of a 17-year-old girl, Victoria Hall, in Suffolk in 1999. And British artists saw a wave of success at last night's Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

Documents released in the US suggest that Jeffrey Epstein made three payments totalling $75,000 to accounts associated with Peter Mandelson. Lord Mandelson said he had no recollection of receiving the money and has questioned the authenticity of the documents. Elsewhere: Officials in Ukraine say at least twelve people were killed when a Russian drone hit a bus carrying mine workers; and Israel has partially reopened the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt.

Photos in the Epstein files appear to show a barefoot Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor crouching on all fours over a female. Elon Musk and Sir Richard Branson also feature in the latest release of documents. Elsewhere: The Hamas-run civil defence agency in Gaza says at least 30 Palestinians, inluding several children, have been killed by a wave of Israeli strikes; and Sir Keir Starmer has said the relationship between the UK and Japan is the "strongest" it has been "in decades".

The US Department of Justice has released more than three million new documents relating to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Also: President Trump has nominated a conservative Wall Street veteran to be the next chairman of the Federal Reserve. And in tennis, Novak Djokovic has become the oldest men's finalist at the Australian Open in the professional era.

A review has found that 94 children were harmed as a result of botched operations and treatment carried out by a limb reconstruction surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. Also: Sir Keir Starmer says he's secured "concrete outcomes" that will benefit the UK after holding talks with President Xi as part of his trip to China. And scientists say polar bears living in the Norwegian Arctic are getting fatter, despite warnings that the decline in sea ice has made it harder for them to hunt for food.

President Trump warns Iran that time is running out to make a deal over its nuclear ambitions as a "massive Armada" arrives in the region. Also: Sir Keir Starmer lands in Beijing for a three day visit – he's joined by a sixty-strong trade delegation, but some criticise his plan to reset relations with China. And a film premiere will be held at Windsor Castle for a documentary on King Charles.

Pubs and music venues in England are to receive a 15% discount on their business rates bills from April, after a campaign which saw some premises ban their local Labour MPs. Also: Storm Chandra has brought heavy rain and strong winds to parts of the UK, causing flooding, travel disruption and hundreds of school closures. And Leonardo DiCaprio's politically charged thriller, One Battle After Another, leads the field at this year's Bafta Film Awards.

The former Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, has become the latest senior Conservative to leave the party and join Reform UK. Also: Israel has received the body of the last hostage in Gaza, paving the way for the next phase of President Trump's peace plan to begin. And an inquest finds that heading a football was a factor in the death of the former Scotland defender, Gordon McQueen.

The Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has been blocked by the party's ruling body, the NEC, from standing as a candidate in the upcoming parliamentary by-election for Gorton and Denton. He says he's "disappointed" and "concerned". In other news: The parents of a nurse who was shot dead by federal border agents in Minneapolis have accused the Trump administration of telling "sickening lies" about what happened; and two people have died of hypothermia in the US state of Louisiana, as the country is gripped by a severe winter storm described by President Trump as "historic".

In the news: The mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has announced that he is seeking permission to stand in the upcoming Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election; President Trump has appeared to try to make amends for his remarks about NATO troops in Afghanistan -- which provoked outrage among the families of soldiers who died there; and a man has died in the US city of Minneapolis after being shot by federal agents -- known as ICE -- who've been deployed by the Trump administration to detain and deport illegal immigrants in Minnesota.

Sir Keir Starmer says President Trump's comments that NATO troops stayed 'a little off' the front lines in Afghanistan are 'insulting, and frankly appalling'. The US President told Fox News last night that he wasn't sure if NATO would be there for his country if required, and that America had 'never needed' its help. Also: Russia, Ukraine and the United States are holding their first tri-lateral talks, since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago. And, the pop star Robbie Williams has surpassed The Beatles to become the artist with the most number one albums in UK chart history.