this is bbc news. john prescott — the former deputy prime minister and a towering labourfigure, has died at the age of 86. we had our disagreements from time to time but he was loyal, committed, an enormous help to me. the biden administration announces almost $300 million of military aid for ukraine. the uk's former health secretary matt hancock is to give evidence at the official covid—19 inquiry. a fourth tourist has died in a suspected mass poisoning in laos, with a dozen others, including british and american nationals, hospitalised in bangkok. in a world first — australia introduces legislation to ban those under 16 from accessing social media, with a hefty fine for companies that fail to police it. and live from iceland, where lava

spews from this volcano near the capital for the tenth time in three years. hello, i'm lewis vaughanjones. here in the uk, the prime minister is leading tributes to the former deputy prime minister and labour party veteranjohn prescott, who's died at the age of 86. sir keir starmer says he's deeply saddened to learn of his death, adding he was a true giant of the labour movement. mr prescott played a major role in securing the landmark 1997 kyoto agreement on climate change, as well as playing a crucial role in the labour governments led by tony blair. his family said he had a stroke in 2019 and had been living with alzheimer's disease. our political correspondent ben wright looks back at his life. applause. still campaigning long

after leaving office... this is hull's finest export! ..john prescott was labour to his fingertips. has she done another u—turn, jeremy? apparently, yes. apparently. 0h, blimey. you can't trust this woman. she does u—turns. .. in the 2017 election, the plain—speaking prescott was on the stump forjeremy corbyn, taking aim at theresa may. and you can't trust her. # things can only get better.# but it was new labour 20 years earlier that putjohn prescott on the political centre stage. after labour's landslide election win, john prescott became deputy prime minister and a key player in the blair government. # can only get better.# quite a journey for a man who began life in prestatyn in north wales, leaving school at 15 before working as a steward in the merchant navy. studying as an adult at ruskin college in oxford gavejohn prescott confidence and he became an mp in 1970, rising through the party ranks and playing a vital role

in the former labour leader john smith's campaign in 1993 to end the union block vote. there's no doubt this man, our leader, put his head on the block by saying, basically, "i fervently believe" because that's what he believes of a relationship and a strong one with the trade unions and the labour party. he's put his head there. now�*s our time to vote. give us a bit of trust and let's have this vote supported. applause. john prescott spent a decade as tony blair's number two — often mediating the stormy relationship between the prime minister and the chancellor, gordon brown. he was secretary of state for the environment and then local government — an old labour link to the party's past. ever ready to mock new labour pretensions, here, the claws out for his colleague, peter mandelson. you know what his name is? he's called peter. he was never the slickest politician. those five pledges are essential. you can see, i can't find them. i knew this would happen.

you know me. i can't use the boards. i'm old labour. i've got to still look to my old ways. john prescott�*s most notorious moment came during the 2001 election, when his short fuse ignited and he punched an egg—throwing protester. tony blair's response when told was "john will bejohn." tribal, rumbustious, a straight—talking bruiser. we're on a roll, aren't we? for five decades, john prescott moved with the currents of the party he loved. former prime minister sir tony blair has also paid tribute tojohn prescott, saying he played a vital part in "keeping the whole show together."

i mean, people often used to see him as traditional labour as opposed to new labour and that was true to a degree. i mean, he obviously came from a completely different background from me. he reached parts of the labour party and parts of the electorate that probably i couldn't reach. but he was actually an innovator. he was highly intelligent. that was sometimes masked by, you know, people used to make fun of his speeches and his use of the english language. but he was an incredibly direct communicator. even if the syntax never quite made sense, the sentiment was very powerful and made complete sense. and ifound him, you know, we had our disagreements from time to time but he was loyal, committed and an enormous help to me. he had a fantastic gut instinct about politics. the biden administration has announced almost $300 million of new military assistance for ukraine, as it seeks to bolster support in its last few

weeks in office. the package includes ammunition, missiles, drones and anti—personnel landmines. the latest package from the us comes after reports that ukraine has now fired long—range missiles provided by the uk at targets inside russia. earlier this week, ukraine also used us—provided long—range missiles on targets in russia. thomas magill reports. explosion. this is thought to be the impact of a british storm shadow missile. explosion. fired by ukraine, aimed at inside russia. what we know suggests it hit the kursk region, close to the border, and well within the range of the storm shadow�*s capability. the bbc has also been able to verify video showing damage from the same area alongside debris, with one bit having the word "storm shadow" engraved on it. despite this, there has been no formal confirmation from the british government.

ukraine's action on the battlefield speaks for itself. we, as a nation and as a government, are doubling down on our support for ukraine and are determined to do more. storm shadow is an advanced missile system fired by aircraft, and it's something ukraine has been urging the british government for permission to use inside russia for months. but it needed the americans to help with targeting and, until now, that wasn't forthcoming. but in recent days, that's changed. earlier this week, the us lifted restrictions on the use of their atacm missiles inside russia, and immediately ukraine began to deploy them. allowing the use of atacm missiles and now storm shadow systems signals both america's and the uk's continued support for ukraine

at this difficult time. but with a new administration in the states due to take over in the coming months, president zelensky knows he may not be able to rely on it continuing, and how president putin responds to this latest development also remains uncertain. thomas magill, bbc news. with me is kira rudik. kira is a ukrainian mp. she's the leader of the opposition golos party. thank you forjoining us. thank thank you for “oining us. thank ou for thank you forjoining us. thank you for having _ thank you forjoining us. thank you for having me. _ thank you forjoining us. thank you for having me. can - thank you forjoining us. thank you for having me. can i - thank you forjoining us. thank you for having me. can i start i you for having me. can i start by asking _ you for having me. can i start by asking you _ you for having me. can i start by asking you about - you for having me. can i start by asking you about this - you for having me. can i start| by asking you about this latest effort from the us, $300 million worth of assistance to ukraine. the analysis is that this is a surge of support for ukraine before donald trump arrives and all the uncertainty that that brings. is that an analysis that you agree with? indeed. we understand that in his campaign, donald trump made

statements that he will end the war in 2a hours, which is... it isa war in 2a hours, which is... it is a worrying statement for the ukrainian people, right? we know that there is only one proper way of ending the war in 24 proper way of ending the war in 2a hours, is pressuring putin into pulling back his troops. it is something that is unlikely to happen as we see it to now. so that is why we are working with the current administration to speed up the support for ukraine. according to president zelensky, a month ago, we had only received 10% of what was voted by congress this year and this is obviously upsetting and not enough because you can't expect people on the battlefield to fight 100% with 10% on the battlefield to fight 100% with10% of the on the battlefield to fight 100% with 10% of the weapons that they require. this is why it's not only comes to the political promises but also to the ability of quickly executing them through the bureaucracy and logistics so our people will not be facing the enemy empty—handed. if our people will not be facing the enemy empty-handed. if that kind of statistic _

the enemy empty-handed. if that kind of statistic is _ the enemy empty-handed. if that kind of statistic is true, _ the enemy empty-handed. if that kind of statistic is true, and - kind of statistic is true, and thatis kind of statistic is true, and that is with the current administration, with a change in administration in the us, is it yourfear that things in administration in the us, is it your fear that things could get even worse? it it your fear that things could get even worse?— it your fear that things could get even worse? it can be. so we don't — get even worse? it can be. so we don't know— get even worse? it can be. so we don't know and _ get even worse? it can be. so we don't know and we - get even worse? it can be. so we don't know and we are - we don't know and we are willing to work with the new administration as well. we really appreciate the bipartisan support by both the parties in the us but we also understand that indeed, with donald trump, things are unpredictable, and we need to get what we were promised, like, beforehand, and have it in our stockpiles. russia is attacking us every single night and we have to have something to fight back with. if and we have to have something to fight back with.— to fight back with. if there is a ush to fight back with. if there is a push for — to fight back with. if there is a push for talks _ to fight back with. if there is a push for talks between - to fight back with. if there is i a push for talks between russia and ukraine next year, is ukraine in any position of strength as things stand? right now, i strength as things stand? right now. i am _ strength as things stand? right now, i am afraid _ strength as things stand? right now, i am afraid we _ strength as things stand? right now, i am afraid we are - strength as things stand? right now, i am afraid we are in - strength as things stand? right now, i am afraid we are in a - now, i am afraid we are in a very dire situation. the majority of our energy infrastructure has been destroyed. we are facing a very tough winter. we are facing issues with, as i said,

delivery of the weapons. we hope that it will be sped up. but the main question is not about the talks, because we have been in talks with russia since 2014, when they annexed crimea. but the question is, who or what will make sure that russia keeps their part of the bargain if there are any agreements. as of right now, we don't see anyone or any mechanisms of doing so because we know that you can't trust russia, and they will break their part of the deal.- their part of the deal. now that we have, _ their part of the deal. now that we have, we - their part of the deal. now i that we have, we understand, their part of the deal. now that we have, we understand, uk and us long—range missiles being used on targets inside russia, how much does that change the equation with yellow every new piece of equipment that we receive, first of all, allows us to defend ourselves. every single step that is being taken, it is always to defend us. so to destroy some targets inside russian territory that will stop them from terrorising us every single night. so we

really appreciate all the help and support that is coming in but we also need to stress that this is not enough. russia does not have any limitation on how they are attacking us. however, we had to wait up to six months until we got permission to sit down —— shoot down targets inside russian territory. finally, the landmines that are now heading into ukraine or will be, do you have any reservations about using landmines, especially on ukrainian territory, given all the risks, and so many countries have banned them? 50. countries have banned them? so, we have to _ countries have banned them? srr, we have to defer countries have banned them? so, we have to defer to countries have banned them? s513, we have to defer to the military here because they have been extremely effective and efficient with the limited resources that they were provided. i am sure that they will be able to use what is in their hands right now to the best possible way, again, to defend our people from the enemy that is attacking us. thank you forjoining us.

thank you for “oining us. thank ou, and thank you forjoining us. thank you. and glory _ thank you forjoining us. thank you. and glory to _ thank you forjoining us. thank you, and glory to ukraine. - a bit more now on the main story this hour, their death in the uk of the former deputy prime ministerjohn prescott. let's speak to our chief political correspondent. what has a reaction been there to the news in westminster? tribute is absolutely flooding in forjohn prescott. as you would expect, given his huge role in the labour party's history over 40 years as a member of a house of commons and then another 14 years in the house of lords. but also because of particularly his decade as deputy prime minister to tony blair. the longest serving ever deputy prime minister. tony blair is one of those who has paid tribute today, said that he is devastated byjohn prescott�*s devastated by john prescott�*s passing. devastated byjohn prescott�*s passing. "he was one of the most talented people i ever encountered in politics, a great man, a great servant of country and party". but the tributes spanned the generations. we have also heard from keir starmer who came into

politics long afterjohn prescott had left it and he says, "john was a true giant of the labour movement, a staunch defender of working people, a proud trader a unionist. he was one of the key architects of the labour government that transformed the lives of millions of people across the nation. " . , millions of people across the nation. " ., , ., millions of people across the nation- "— nation. " and 'ust for people watching — nation. " and just for people watching around _ nation. " and just for people watching around the - nation. " and just for people watching around the world l nation. " and just for people | watching around the world as well as in the uk, of course, he was a huge figure in domestic politics but a big impact internationally, too, especially with regards to climate change agreements. that's right, as well as the ceremonial duties of being tony blair's deputy prime minister, john prescott was a cabinet minister responsible for a sprawling portfolio, and demand that come in the early years of the new labour government, so we are talking the late 1990s, was the climate. he was briton's lead negotiator at the kyoto climate protocol talks in 1997, a few months after labour had taken office after 18 years

in opposition. he was seen by many as a pivotal figure in those talks because of his unique, shall we say, approach, a very direct talker, a very direct negotiator. actually, one of the most interesting things this morning has been that within less than an hour of the news breaking, a statement came from al gore, the former us vice president to bill clinton who was the us lead negotiator and he kyoto talks, paying tribute tojohn prescott and saying he had never met any politician quite like him on either side of the atlantic. , ., ~ , ., like him on either side of the atlantic. , ., ~' , ., ., atlantic. henry, thank you for that. i know— atlantic. henry, thank you for that. i know you _ atlantic. henry, thank you for that. i know you will - atlantic. henry, thank you for that. i know you will be - that. i know you will be speaking to people in westminster and getting plenty more reaction. at home, i want to point you to the bbc live page where we are getting plenty of reaction and people sharing their thoughts and memories ofjohn prescott, who has died at the age of 86. around the world

and across the uk. this is bbc news.

a us special envoy, amos hochstein, has arived in israel, where he'll hold talks with the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu, as washington tries to secure a ceasefire between israel and hezbollah in lebanon. this comes as hospital officials in northern gaza say many people have been killed in the latest israeli airstrikes. at least five buildings in beit lahiya and gaza city were hit early this morning. the israeli military made no immediate comment. it's intensified its offensive in northern gaza in recent weeks, it says to prevent hamas from regrouping. let's cross live to jerusalem and speak to our middle east correspondent yolande knell. can we start with the diplomatic effort, where are we on any potential agreement between israel and hezbollah?

the us special envoy amos hochstein arrived last night and met a top israeli official and met a top israeli official and he is expected now to meet the israeli defence minister and the prime minister as well. while he was in beirut, he was meeting lebanese officials, getting a response via them from hezbollah, to the latest us draft proposal on a ceasefire. he has been reporting that progress has been made on that. there do seem to be these outstanding sticking points that he is working on in particular, one of them is to have a supervisory mechanism and exactly what format that should take, to satisfy the different sides, for supervising the ceasefire. there's also this demand that israel has made that it have freedom of action when it comes to any violations that it seized by hezbollah to the ceasefire agreement. it wants