recovered after a tourist boat sank off egypt's red sea coast. ukraine says russia has launched a record number of drone strikes, damaging critical infrastructure across the country. vauxhall�*s van making factory in luton is to close, putting more than 1,000 jobs at risk. and the world's oldest man has died at the age of 112. john tinniswood was born in liverpool in 1912, the same year the titanic sank. hello. let's start in lebanon, where there's been a series of huge israeli air strikes that, despite all the attention and build up, about whether a ceasfire will be agreed in the coming hours. we'll have more on the diplomatic moves in a moment.

but let me show you the pictures from beirut, the skyline shrouded with multiple plumes of smoke. the israeli military gave evacuartion warnings shortly before the attacks. they've said, they attacked 20 "terror targets." lebanese government officials say, more than 3,500 people have died since the conflict began in the past few months. a million people have aso been displaced. yesterday, hezbollah fired rockets into northern israel, two people were injured. meanwhile, israel's security cabinet is meeting now to discuss backing a truce which has been brokered by international mediators, including the us and france. prime minister benjamin netanyahu is said to have, already agreed to it in principle. meanwhile, israel's security cabinet is meeting now to discuss backing a truce which has been brokered by international mediators, including the us and france. prime minister benjamin netanyahu is said to have, already agreed to it in principle. 0ur security correspondent, frank gardner, is injerusalem. he told me the cabinet would not simply be rubber—stamping a ceasefire

deal. there voices who are not in favour of it, most notably from the national security minister, who is a famously hard line ultra nationalist, that's itamar ben gvir. he took to social media yesterday saying that this was a bad deal. it wasn't too late to stop it, because he believes that hezbollah on the back foot militarily, that they are broken and that now is the time to, in his words, to sort of press home israel's advantage and finish them off. that is not the official government view here, because whereas israel has vowed, as its strategic war aims, to defeat and destroy hamas in gaza, they haven't vowed to do the same about hezbollah. so they seem to accept that hezbollah, as well as being a military force, is also a politicalforce in lebanon.

hezbollah are members of the parliament there. there are mps, and they are very much part of lebanon's national fabric. so what they're trying to do in this deal is to push them north, well north of the border, 30km north beyond the river litani, and have a framework in place that has a strong enough force policed by a number of countries in southern lebanon that stops hezbollah from coming back. so i think it's likely the deal is going to pass. it's clearly what mr netanyahu, the prime minister, benjamin netanyahu here, wants to happen. the lebanese government said that it's in favour of it. remember, this is a deal between lebanon and israel, not between israel and hezbollah. but it's only going to work if hezbollah find it acceptable. they already have been putting out messages that this is a victory, that they have held off the forces of israel because israeli ground forces haven't gone very far into lebanon. they've gone just a short distance from the border, blown up a lot of villages, they say, have been storing weapons for hezbollah, but they're not very far into it. it's not like the occupation that they had for 18 years in the last century. let's speak to dr hellyer, the senior associate fellow at the royal united services institute for defence and security studies.

welcome back to the programme. what is your analysis of what we are currently seeing, which is the tactics of bombing and meeting to discuss agreeing the ceasefire deal. in the i don't have much to add to what — i don't have much to add to what frank said except this. when — what frank said except this. when it_ what frank said except this. when it comes to the ceasefire deal_ when it comes to the ceasefire deal i — when it comes to the ceasefire deal i think we can expect in the hours _ deal i think we can expect in the hours leading up to this, the hours leading up to this, the israelis are going to pound the israelis are going to pound the south _ the israelis are going to pound the south of lebanon and parts of beirut — the south of lebanon and parts of beirut. they will target whatever targets they want to strike — whatever targets they want to strike and they will do it right— strike and they will do it right up— strike and they will do it right up until the wire as it were _ right up until the wire as it were. the deal is very likely to go— were. the deal is very likely to go through, if it is not today— to go through, if it is not today i_ to go through, if it is not today i suspect it will go through in a week or so. because _ through in a week or so.

because i do think the overall calculations of israel with regards _ calculations of israel with regards to the south of lebanon, especially given a trump _ lebanon, especially given a trump presidency, means that the war— trump presidency, means that the war in— trump presidency, means that the war in lebanon has to end. ithink— the war in lebanon has to end. lthihk by— the war in lebanon has to end. i think by the same token, completely the contrary exists when — completely the contrary exists when it — completely the contrary exists when it comes to gaza. we will not see — when it comes to gaza. we will not see a — when it comes to gaza. we will not see a ceasefire and we will not see a ceasefire and we will not cnn — not see a ceasefire and we will not cnn to the wall because... i witt— not cnn to the wall because... i will come _ not cnn to the wall because... i will come back to that division of tactics in a moment but in terms of the details you have heard about the ceasefire deal with the buffer zone and all of that, what do you make of those details? i all of that, what do you make of those details?— of those details? i think it's a modified _ of those details? i think it's a modified approach - of those details? i think it's a modified approach to - of those details? i think it's a modified approach to the | of those details? i think it's i a modified approach to the un resolution. it will be interesting to see what sort of differences applied, particularly when comes to uniform, the un force in lebanon. the strength of the lebanese forces, the actual

state forces which then apply to the south. and the deal as has been reported is about 60 days. we have to ask the question what if hezbollah or the israelis violate the deal during the 60 days? which is quite likely. i during the 60 days? which is quite likely-— quite likely. i do think it is still overriding _ quite likely. i do think it is still overriding the - quite likely. i do think it is l still overriding the situation that— still overriding the situation that calculations of the israelis, particularly given the — israelis, particularly given the fact— israelis, particularly given the fact the president of the white — the fact the president of the white house injanuary is to end — white house injanuary is to end this _ white house injanuary is to end this war to take the win. hezbollah has been described as a state within a state. we know that it a state within a state. we know thatitis a state within a state. we know that it is massively weakened and depleted after these months but has not been destroyed, has it? in terms of overall objectives from the israelis, what is your assessment? timer;r what is your assessment? they have significantly _ what is your assessment? they have significantly degraded hezbollah, that is very clear.

they— hezbollah, that is very clear. they have _ hezbollah, that is very clear. they have been very forceful in that regard. at a great cost of course — that regard. at a great cost of course to _ that regard. at a great cost of course to beirut and to the lebanese people. lebanon more generally. it has simply not been — generally. it has simply not been military installations or something, but much further beyond — something, but much further beyond that. at a great cost i think— beyond that. at a great cost i think to — beyond that. at a great cost i think to the people of lebanon. i do think to the people of lebanon. i do think— think to the people of lebanon. i do think hezbollah has been significantly degraded. i think it is not— significantly degraded. i think it is not going anywhere. the main — it is not going anywhere. the main challenge of the lebanese state _ main challenge of the lebanese state going forward will be incorporating all sectors of lebanese society into the state going _ lebanese society into the state going forward. to avoid the possibility of civil war. which could — possibility of civil war. which could arise. at some points one wonders — could arise. at some points one wonders if— could arise. at some points one wonders if it was part of the point — wonders if it was part of the point i_ wonders if it was part of the point. i think that the people

of lebanon have made it very clear— of lebanon have made it very clear that _ of lebanon have made it very clear that on this point they don't — clear that on this point they don't want to see a return to sectarian — don't want to see a return to sectarian strife that existed. briefly— sectarian strife that existed. briefly because you mention you thought the opposite would happen in terms of the approach to gaza. why do you come to that conclusion?— to gaza. why do you come to that conclusion? might i don't think the israelis _ that conclusion? might i don't think the israelis are - think the israelis are interested in a ceasefire deal interested in a ceasefire deal in gaza, _ interested in a ceasefire deal in gaza, pretty much from day one i— in gaza, pretty much from day one i don't— in gaza, pretty much from day one i don't think there is an impetus— one i don't think there is an impetus from the united states under— impetus from the united states under biden or from to really -et under biden or from to really get a — under biden or from to really get a ceasefire in gaza. i think— get a ceasefire in gaza. i think there will be negotiations possibly around hostages but not an end to the war _ hostages but not an end to the war the — hostages but not an end to the war. the ethnic cleansing in the — war. the ethnic cleansing in the north— war. the ethnic cleansing in the north of gaza, not an end to the — the north of gaza, not an end to the occupation anywhere in the occupied territories. i hope _ the occupied territories. i hope i_ the occupied territories. i hope i am wrong about that, but i hope i am wrong about that, but i don't _ hope i am wrong about that, but i don't see — hope i am wrong about that, but i don't see any implications. great — idon't see any implications. great to— i don't see any implications. great to talk to you. thank you for being with us.—

it has been an extraordinary last few hours were compounding from the israelis. give me a sense of what it is like there. it is total sense of panic here in beirut. almost they fielded bombing is right left and centre, more messages of warning are coming out from is really, israel defense forces of locations, even in an area where i live there was a site located not far from where i live there was a site located not farfrom me where i live there was a site located not far from me that probably you can hear the bombing any moment. when i am standing here the drones flying,... inaudible panic trying to rush for safety. as you know, it seems the feeling that there is a

sort of revenge taking place and several attacks taking place before a ceasefire enters into effect. we place before a ceasefire enters into effect-— into effect. we had real difficulty _ into effect. we had real difficulty with _ into effect. we had real difficulty with your - into effect. we had real difficulty with your line. into effect. we had reall difficulty with your line. i into effect. we had real- difficulty with your line. i am going to ask you one more question, i hope it holds. what are you keeping about the details of what this ceasefire, how it will work? the details of what this ceasefire, how it will work?— how it will work? the priority for the ceasefire _ how it will work? the priority for the ceasefire is _ how it will work? the priority for the ceasefire is putting i for the ceasefire is putting hezbollah away to the northern litani river. disarm them and have a lebanese army be in charge of that south. the israelis want full disarmament and that is going to be a challenge because the lebanese army is going to be in place to implement that. the... inaudible inaudible iam inaudible i am going to die then, i hope

the line would sustain but it clearly has not. i want to show you the live pictures from tel aviv. the protest gathered, these are people from the north of israel who were displaced a few months ago and after hezbollah fired rockets into northern eyes of thousands of people had to leave their homes. these are some of those displaced people holding protests in tel aviv. we will keep an eye on that give you more as it comes in. hopefully we restore our line to beirut and bring you the latest there. you can follow the story live. live. and you can watch and follow the story live on the bbc news website and app, with updates, analysis and context on our live page which is online now.

five people have now been found alive in the rescue operation for the tourist boat that sank in the red sea yesterday. those rescued are two belgian nationals, one swiss national, one egyptian national and one finnish national. but egyptian authorities say they have also recovered four dead bodies. that means that seven people who were on board the ship are still unaccounted for, including two britons. the boat had set off on a five—day diving tour from port herlib in egypt. there were 44 people on board, 31 tourists and 13 egyptian crew members. sally nabil from bbc arabic is in hurghada in egypt. she outlined what the authorities have been saying. the authorities didn't reveal much information so far about the dead bodies recovered. they didn't say what their nationalities are, but they pointed out that all that have been found, whether alive or dead, have been pulled out from the sea

by the rescue teams. and as far as we know, five have been found alive. a finnish, a swiss, two belgians and one egyptian, and four have been found dead. and the number of the missing keeps going down. now we have around seven people missing. we don't know if the rescue teams will be able to find them in the coming few hours, but we understand that the search operations are still under way, led by the egyptian navy. and this is the second batch of survivors to be found today, because yesterday they found 28 people. and we understand that all of them are in good health condition and they are receiving due medical attention. but there are a lot of unanswered questions regarding this incident. what caused the boat to sink? we know it's a new boat. it's in good shape. the governor of the red sea said there were no technical errors in the boat at all. so what exactly happened? that what we don't know so far. bad weather might have been a factor. survivors have been quoted as saying that the boat was hit by a big wave. but is it just about the weather or is there something

else that we don't know yet? the investigations are taking place, but these inquiries in egypt, they usually take a long time. the people here are worried about their livelihoods because such a tragic incident might have an impact on the tourism industry here, which is a lifeline to the people in the red sea. sally nabil from bbc arabic is in hurghada in egypt. the car giant stellantis, which owns vauxhall, has announced plans to close its van—making plant at luton putting more than a thousand jobs at risk. the company, which also owns the peugeot, citroen, chrysler and fiat brands, said it would consolidate its electric van production at its other uk factory in ellesmere port in cheshire, which will benefit from a £50 million investment. stellantis says it plans to produce an all—electric vehicle hub in ellesmere port.

we will have more on that story on every business news in about ten minutes. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

russian forces have carried out their largest ever drone attack on ukraine, damaging buildings and critical infrastrucutre in several regions. a record 188 drones were launched overnight, according to the ukrainian air force. meanwhile russian media have said moscow has expelled a british diplomat on grounds of espionage and acts of sabotage. the diplomat replaced one of six other uk diplomats who were expelled in august, also for alleged spying. 0ur russia editor steve rosenberg explained why moscow has chosen to take this course of action. from the statement that the fsb — russia's domestic security service — put out today, they claim that a british diplomat — the second secretary of the political department of the british embassy in moscow —

has been expelled, claiming that he provided false information for his entry to russia and claiming that he was involved in espionage. the british ambassador has been summoned to the russian foreign ministry. now, this in itself is no huge surprise. i mean, relations between russia and the west have been going from bad to worse to even worse over the last few years, certainly over the last few months, and expulsions have happened. i remember earlier this year, i think it was in august that six russian. ..six british diplomats were expelled from moscow. so it's one more sign of the poor relationship, putting it lightly, between moscow and london. and expulsions have happened. i remember earlier this year, i think it was in august that six russian. august that six russian, six british diplomats were expelled from moscow. so it's one more sign of the poor relationship, putting it lightly, between moscow and london. all of that, as nato members are meeting in brussels to dicuss the heightend threat from russia. sir tony brenton — the former uk ambassador to russia —

said relations between moscow and london are not good right now. relations are lousy at the moment. both sides. we and the russians are watching the other's diplomats with acute suspicion. given that we're effectively fighting a proxy war in ukraine. the russians have reached the judgment. or maybe they simply want to be awkward. anyway, this poor guy they've picked out and have now thrown out. this is a part of a continuing sequence which goes back months. i had a couple of them while i was ambassador there, and as steve also says, this is likely to continue for as long as relations remain as bad as they are. let's take a step back in terms of what we've seen in an extraordinary last seven days or so, given your experience. is this how vladimir putin you would expect him to behave?

you've got new missiles being used, new threats against western countries. how dangerous would you say this point is? well, we've undoubtedly seen a quite significant escalation with the ukrainians using western missiles, firing them into the depths of russia, with them bringing in north korean troops um, and with, with us, um, supplying, you know, giving ukraine the permission to do what they're doing. we've seen an escalation. and there is some reason to be worried because we've seen steady escalations over the period of the war. and we're dancing on the edge of the volcano, really. if something goes badly wrong, then we're facing a really nasty confrontation. the reassuring point is that neither side really wants to lurch into real military confrontation. we obviously don't want to get into war with a nuclear—armed russia. they don't want to get into war with us, both because they would lose it, but also and the same is true of us, that with the upcoming arrival of president trump, who is talking about getting the ukrainians and the russians together and looking for some sort of peace, everybody has every incentive at the moment.

there's escalation, as we've seen. we've seen this vast drone attack and all that people position taking and signalling. but there's no real wish to kick the applecart over just as a process may start to bring the war to a close. details of what could be president—elect trump's first executive order when he re—enters the white house are starting to emerge. mr trump said he would impose a 25% tariff on goods coming into the us from canada and mexico, and an additional 10% on all chinese imports — all on the first day of his presidency. let's speak to our north america correspondent rowan bridge. he talked about this a lot on the campaign trail but he is pressing ahead and those are sizeable hikes in tariffs, aren't they?— sizeable hikes in tariffs, aren't they? sizeable hikes in tariffs, aren't the ? , ., , aren't they? yes, donald trump to talk about _ aren't they? yes, donald trump to talk about this _ aren't they? yes, donald trump to talk about this on _ aren't they? yes, donald trump to talk about this on the - to talk about this on the

campaign trail but it's difficult to tell whether what he says on the campaign trail will translate into action. he posted on his to social media site and he said he will post 25% talent on canada and mexico. an additional 10% on china, there are already tariffs on some chinese goods. worth understanding what a tariff is. it's an additional fee onto any imports into the country. which means any goods coming in from canada effectively will cost 25% more. some of that might be in absorbed by the importer but some of it might be passed on to the consumer and ultimately the fear is that wouldn't mean higher prices for consumers in the shops. it’s higher prices for consumers in the shone— the shops. it's interesting because _ the shops. it's interesting because we _ the shops. it's interesting because we you _ the shops. it's interesting because we you read - the shops. it's interesting because we you read the l the shops. it's interesting - because we you read the details of this you'd assume it is to do with trade protectionism but donald trump talking openly says this is about drugs and migration. says this is about drugs and migration-— migration. yes and it's interesting _ migration. yes and it's interesting if - migration. yes and it's interesting if you -

migration. yes and it's interesting if you look | migration. yes and it's i interesting if you look at migration. yes and it's - interesting if you look at the way donald trump talked about tabs in his first term it was on economic grounds, about defending the us economy and he talked about about the on the campaign trail but if you look at how he is talking about it now it's very much more about other issues. it's about what he sees as the problem of immigration, illegal immigrants come from canada and mexico and theissue come from canada and mexico and the issue of fentanyl which he is a synthetic opioid causing major problems in the community in the united states are cheap links partly on train and partly on mexico as a funnel into the united states. and it is worth seeing the chinese and mexicans said it would not tackle the problems donald trump is talking about and risks a sort of trade war, a tit—for—tat with both sides imposing tariffs on the other, the risk is that would seize up international trade and ultimately be bad forjobs in

all of those countries. we have to leave it _ all of those countries. we have to leave it there _ all of those countries. we have to leave it there but _ all of those countries. we have to leave it there but thank - all of those countries. we have to leave it there but thank you | to leave it there but thank you for the latest there live from washington. the world's oldest man, john alfred tinniswood, has died at the age of 112. born the same year the titanic sank and having lived through both world wars, he said the secret to his longevity was down to "pure luck," as karin giannone reports. born in the same year the titanic sank, john tinniswood from liverpool was the world's oldest man at 112 years old. today, guinness world records announced the death of the lifelong liverpool fc fan, born just 20 years after the club was founded. liverpool is my home, really. i was born in liverpool and lived all my life until i was 27, i was 27 before i first left liverpool.

in a statement, his family said his last day was surrounded by music and love. they said, "john always liked to say thank you, so on his behalf, thanks to all those who cared for him over the years, including his carers at the hollies care home, his gp�*s district nurses, occupational therapists and other nhs staff." in april this year, aged 111, john tinniswood became the world's oldest living man after the death of 114—year—old juan vicente perez from venezuela. when asked about his secret to longevity in 2023, mr tinniswood put it down to more than just luck. if you don't eat too much and so long as you exercise both the brain and the body, you should keep them young. if you don't, they will wither. it's as simple as that.

the very latest live pictures from beirut, we continue to watch because that scene of intensive israeli bombardment as the israeli security cabinet meets to discuss the possible ceasefire deal with hezbollah and the pictures lie from tel aviv where the protests, people who have had to evacuate from northern israel protesting in tel aviv. we will bring you the latest year on the programme in the next few minutes. next it is time for the latest business news. stay with us. hello. the weather's been behaving itself today, at least for most of us. quite pleasant out there with clear weather. just a few showers here and there. but on the satellite picture, another lump of cloud is heading our way.

this is a developing area of low pressure and it will be responsible for a period of heavy rain tonight across southern parts of the uk and the winds could become quite gusty in one or two areas as well. but this is what the rush hour looks like. largely clear, with just a few showers across the bulk of the uk, but that weather front rearing its head there in the southwest, initially quite heavy in southwestern england, southern parts of wales too. and then that rain will spread further towards the east through the course of the night and the showers becoming very heavy along that southern coast. so a relatively mild night here with the rain and the increasing winds. to the north, a touch of frost around northern ireland, the lake district and also scotland. so, here's that area of low pressure over us tomorrow, with the cloud and the rain curling into the centre of the low. so it's actually coming back again into parts of lincolnshire, the midlands, the peak district, could even be a little bit of wintriness across the hills, but around coastal areas as that low pressure pulls away, winds up to near gale force for norfolk, suffolk and also around the essex and kent coast. so i think the risk of very strong winds, which was there yesterday, has actually diminished. for most of us on wednesday the weather's looking pretty decent but chilly. look at that.

clear skies for belfast and five degrees about that for newcastle and also liverpool. now, on thursday we've got an area of high pressure over us early in the morning. this is what's cold a transient high, so it doesn't stick around for very long. it's between two areas of low pressure. and when we have this area of high pressure over us, this transient high, we get light winds, a frost in the morning, a bit of fog here and there. so i think a calm start to the day for many of us on thursday with some sunshine if you haven't got the fog but out towards the west, weather fronts are looming, making only very slow progress across ireland during the course of the day on thursday. and for many of us, it's actually quite a chilly day on thursday, only around four, maybe five degrees. now, the outlook suggests cloud with some rain at times the further north you are, whereas further south i think high pressure will generally be the main influence with dry weather.

powering down — vauxhall owner stellantis is to close its luton plan, with hundreds ofjobs at risk, as car—makers argue that ev demand isn't strong enough

to hit sales targets. trump's tax threat — the president—elect ramps up the pressure on america's three biggest trading partners, with tariffs on china, mexico and canada. plus — is this how the world will look in a century? we take a glimpse into the future thanks to augmented reality. welcome to business today, i'm mark lobell. let's start in the uk where the car giant stellantis — owner of vauxhall — has announced plans to close its van—making plant at luton, putting hundreds ofjobs at risk. it says it will consolidate its electric van production at its other uk plant in ellesmere port. the announcement comes amid growing concerns among car manufacturers that current rules designed to speed up the transition to electric vehicles are too onerous. they stipulate that

manufacturers must sell a minimum quota of electric cars and vans each year.