at the white house. the fighting across the lebanese—israeli border will end. will end. welcome to newsday, i'm steve lai. it's 6am in israel and lebanon where a ceasefire deal has in the last two hours, come into place to end the conflict with hezbollah. this is the scene live in southern beirut where air strikes were reported just a few minutes before the ceasefire started. for months, we have seen explosions across this skyline, with israel missiles flattening dozens of buildings in their bid to dismantle hezbollah. there will be hope amongst the people living in beirut and also here on both sides of the israel lebanon border — where strikes and fighting have been most intense — that this ceasefire will hold. nearly 4,000 people have been killed in lebanon since october 2023 according to the country's

health ministry. and there have been tens of thousands of rockets fired into northern israel, since last october, killing 45 civilians. the new ceasefire will be implemented over a 60—day period, but the desire seems to be from all sides to make it permanent. israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu vowed that israel would �*respond severely�* should hezbollah shows signs of re—arming. translation: so, why go into a ceasefire now? there are three main reasons. the first is to focus on the iranian threat, and i will not expand on that. the second reason is to give our forces a breather, and to replenish stocks. and i say it openly. it is no secret that there have been big delays in weapons and munitions deliveries. these delays will be resolved soon. we will receive supplies of advanced weaponry that will keep our soldiers safe, and give us more strike force to complete our missions. and the third reason for having this ceasefire is to separate the fronts and isolate hamas.

the past 24—hour soil beirut still being bombarded by extensive israeli airstrikes. if you go the kah has more. 0ur correspondent in beirut hugo bachega reports. loud boom. as lebanon waited for a ceasefire, the war didn't stop. the most intense israeli bombardment of beirut in this conflict. the israeli military said these were hezbollah facilities. here, they gave a warning before attacking. here, in central beirut, it didn't. this building collapsed. seven people were killed. in the evening we tried to visit the site, but we were caught up in another wave of israeli air strikes. so there has been an attack now. there has been... loud roar. we're now hearing several explosions after an evacuation warning was issued by the israeli military.

we've been trying to get to the site of one of the attacks, but we've been told that the site had been evacuated because of those warnings. israel is now unleashing a wave of attacks targeting beirutjust hours before this possible ceasefire. people tried to flee. there was chaos. horns beep. this war has been devastating for lebanon. hezbollah has been severely damaged, but it hasn't been destroyed. this deal may bring the conflict with israel to an end, but many here fear a new internal conflict could follow. hugo bachega, bbc news, beirut. amin saikal is an emeritus

professor of middle eastern, central asian and islamic studies, at the australian national university and adjunct seniorfellow at rsis. he told me what he thought was the biggest factor to get the ceasefire over the line. both sides have come to a point of exhaustion. i mean this war has been very costly for israel. because hezbollah has been able to target especially in the last week or so some of the populated areas of tel aviv and they have caused quite a bit of damage. in the meantime, israel has not really succeeded to the extent it wanted, in order to get hezbollah out of southern lebanon altogether beyond the litani river. i think as a result, the two sides really in some ways are back to where they were after the 2006 war. because that war lasted 3a days, and then at the end, israel had to accept the united nations security council resolution for ceasefire and this one has been less than two months and they have come ready to the point that probably it's going to be very costly for both sides.

the ceasefire cools the fighting, for now at least. but with thousands of civilians killed in lebanon and many more displaced, has israel inadvertently created more support for hezbollah? they have not been defeated. hezbollah is not fully defeated israel claims they have degraded hezbollah which satisfies benjamin netanyahu and the security council people. at the same time, hezbollah has been able to continue to fire rockets and target some of the important bases as well as civilian areas in israel. i mean, firing rockets until the last minute before the ceasefire has come into effect. and so therefore it is not a really total defeat for hezbollah, and hezbollah will claim and its international supporters will claim that israel has been defeated rather than hezbollah.

we did report a few hours ago that israel ordered evacuations of two areas in beirut and airstrike reported into areas of beirut the ceasefire took place. we know the us has been very keen to pursue a ceasefire or get israel to pull back from the fighting. for the backer of hezbollah, iran, what role have they played? iran has also come to the conclusion it is about time this fighting should stop. there may be two thinkings behind the iranians position. one is that iran does not want to be humiliated any further because if hezbollah is wiped out, and i think that would be a major setback for iran because hezbollah forms a very critical element in iran's regional security complex and it wants to maintain

hezbollah as a political and military force in lebanon. secondly, the iranians have been trying to prepare for a response to previous israeli attacks on iran, and the iranian supreme leader, has said we are going to give israel a teeth breaking response and hence he has ordered the islamic revolutionary guard to make preparations for that. i am wondering at this point of iran will execute that response or perhaps would be really satisfied with a ceasefire which may come or has come into effect between israel and hezbollah. it does give them an opportunity to de—escalate the situation if they want to go in that direction? that's true, i don't think either side iranians and israelis can afford a war because israel is also suffering in terms of its economy, industry, public services and so on, there is

been a lot of destruction, and iran also faces similar domestic challenges and foreign—policy complications. what does this mean for gaza and hamas? this frees up israeli forces to perhaps focus more on gaza, but they have been fighting hamas for the last 13 months and not been very successful in that respect because hamas has proved to be quite resilient, at the same time where are the hostages why israel has not been able locate those hostages and comed throughout gaza and yet have not found more than 100 hostages that are supposed to be there. do you focus will turn the international eye, us concerns of hamas on gaza will be more the focus point as well? gaza will be more the focus point and the biden administration will work very hard to see if they can

secure a ceasefire, that would be good a gift for the outgoing president, and donald trump has said he would like to really see peace prevailing on all sides before he comes or takes office. but, the israelis are very much determined to do whatever they can in order to wipe out hamas in gaza, and also really clear the strip for the rebuilding of israeli settlements because that is what is netanyahu's response to some of the very hardliners in his cabinet. it is hoped that the will mean tens of thousands of civilians on both sides of the border between israel and lebanon on can return home. —— the ceasefire. lucy williamson has been

to northern israel, to speak to some of those who fled. sirens wail. in northern israel, sirens warned of rockets, as residents warned of surrender. israel's pounding of lebanon continued, hours before the ceasefire was announced. rona and on left their home in kfar giladi on the 8th of october last year. the lebanese villages they lived alongside clearly visible through the border fence. i hope for a day where we could, you know, be at peace with each other. and i think that trust was broken when our army found the tunnels and the ammunition and all of these preparations to effectively come and, you know, massacre us. their house and community — empty for more than a year. i'm sorry about the mess. it'sjust, we put everything inside. a ceasefire deal is meant to get them permanently back home, but it could mean their lebanese neighbours

returning too. apart from completely erasing these villages and having no people here, there is no real physical thing that can make me feel safe. it's just, you know... hope. israel's leader has achieved many of his war goals in lebanon. these lebanese border villages now empty, controlled by israeli forces. but there are also compelling domestic reasons for ending this war, like getting residents on this side of the border back home. israel's forces are tired and its economy is suffering. but hezbollah, damaged but intact, is still fighting. and some ask why their prime minister, fighting a much weaker enemy in gaza, is signing a ceasefire in the north. lucy williamson, bbc news, northern israel.

let's take a closer look at the terms of the deal. it has been in place just over an hour now. hezbollah will withdraw its forces from southern lebanon, moving some 25 kilometres back from the israeli border, north of the litani river. in turn, the israeli troops will gradually withdraw from southern lebanon, with the regular lebanese army deploying in their place, alongside an existing un force that is already there, known as unifil. the deal was brokered by the us and its allies. and in confirming the details in a speech at the white house, presidentjoe biden said it shows peace is possible, in what he called the "deadliest conflict in decades." lasting security for the people of israel and lebanon cannot be achieved only on the battlefield. that's why i directed my team to work with the governments of israel and lebanon to forge a ceasefire, to bring a conflict between israel and hezbollah to a close. under the deal reached today, effective at 4am tomorrow, localtime, the fighting across the lebanese—israeli border will end. will end.

this is designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities. what is left of hezbollah and other terrorist organizations will not be allowed, i emphasize, will not be allowed to threaten the security of israel again. over the next 60 days, the lebanese army and state security forces will deployed and take control of their own territory once again, hezbollah terrorist infrastructure in southern lebanon will not be allowed to be rebuilt. i'm joined by peter bowes. tell us more about the role of the us getting the ceasefire done. it is an intricate deal as you spelt out, the us central to that, brokering the deal over a period

of months, intense discussions have been going on involving the pentagon, the us state department, the white house and officials from lebanon and israel. this seems to have come to a head at a meeting just last week and the middle east with the us special envoy there, when the final details were agreed leading up to this announcement wejust agreed leading up to this announcement we just heard joe biden announcing this 60 day window for the ceasefire to take place. interestingly a 60 day period that will go beyond joe biden �*s time in the white house. joe biden 's time in the white house. . ., house. that will lead right into president _ house. that will lead right into president trump - house. that will lead right into president trump 's i house. that will lead right l into president trump 's time house. that will lead right - into president trump 's time in into president trump �*s time in office, i understand he has been taking some credit for this ceasefire? he been taking some credit for this ceasefire?— been taking some credit for this ceasefire? he seems to some extent _ this ceasefire? he seems to some extent to _ this ceasefire? he seems to some extent to be - this ceasefire? he seems to some extent to be taking i this ceasefire? he seems to . some extent to be taking credit of this, suggesting that his election when earlier this month, was to some extent the reason why the middle east appears to be moving towards peace. of course, during this campaign, donald trump on many

occasions talking about how he would bring not only peace to the middle east but peace around the world. and he will be the president on 20th of january, and it will be up to him to continue this process afterjoe biden leaves office. what is not clear is exactly what his tactics will be although we heard from his transition team, that they agree with and are in support of the deal of the ceasefire agreement that has just been announced. agreement that has 'ust been announcedh agreement that has 'ust been announced. �* ., , ., announced. before he comes into office still plenty _ announced. before he comes into office still plenty of _ announced. before he comes into office still plenty of time - office still plenty of time before that to see how the ceasefire holds. how does the us plan to keep it intact? the us plan to keep it intact? the us worldpay _ us plan to keep it intact? the us worldpay lay _ us plan to keep it intact? the us worldpay lay a _ us plan to keep it intact? tue: us worldpay lay a pivotal us plan to keep it intact? tte: us worldpay lay a pivotal role there will be a 5—nation oversight committee led by the us, at the moment we only know of france of the other nations that will be part of that but this committee will be responsible for watching the

process of the retreat of different forces from southern lebanon on, over the next 60 days. they will be responsible for looking at and verifying any complaints, let's say from israel who may well be using drones and some on to see what is happening on the ground. intricate details i will be following with states at the centre, the detail of what unfolds over the coming weeks to see if they go along with the details of this deal. it will be a delicate process but everyone hoping on about 60 days time, this overall ceasefire process will be completed and then perhaps the various parties can begin to talk about perhaps what happens nextin talk about perhaps what happens next in gaza.— next in gaza. thank you, peter bowes our— next in gaza. thank you, peter bowes our north _ next in gaza. thank you, peter bowes our north american - bowes our north american correspondence. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

turning to pakistan we security forces launched a midnight raid on supporters of the jailed former prime minister imran khan. they later stormed as mama bed despite an official lockdown demanding his release. there are reports of casualties on both sides. caroline davies is an as mama bad and send this update. is an as mama bad and send this u date. ., is an as mama bad and send this udate. ., .,, is an as mama bad and send this udate. ., , update. tear gas still linger on the street _ update. tear gas still linger on the street earlier - on the street earlier protesters reached a central point near the parliamentary buildings but then they were pushed back so by the time it got to nightfall many of those thousands of people within the city itself, a kilometre or so back away from this area. we have spoken to two sources at a

nearby hospital to that area the polyclinic hospital who told us they have seen four civilian dead bodies all with bullet wounds brought in during the course of today. we have heard from information minister in pakistan who has said on a conference at de choc, the government had resisted firing on protesters he also urged international media not to cover this protest suggesting protesters were peaceful. we have seen protesters use slingshots and stones during the course of this protest over the course of this protest over the last few days. as i say this evening protesters are still in the city and it looks like they will spend another evening here. it marks the end of a six—year legal battle which started when

one man took the government to court over policy excluding him and his partnerfrom public and/or housing on the grounds they were not an ordinary family. from rhonda simon joined by a co—founder of hong kong marriage equality and ngo that wants to eliminate discrimination against same—sex couples. thanks forjoining me today let me know your thoughts first, this ruling we have seen. , ., ., seen. first of all we welcome the court _ seen. first of all we welcome the court of _ seen. first of all we welcome the court of appeals - seen. first of all we welcome the court of appeals rulings l the court of appeals rulings these rulings sending a clear message that discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation violates human dignity and equality. they have no place in our society.- no place in our society. hong kona no place in our society. hong kong doesn't _ no place in our society. hong kong doesn't formally - no place in our society. hong i kong doesn't formally recognise same—sex marriage what does this court ruling do with regards to lgb do rights in hong kong? regards to lgb dq rights in hong kong?— regards to lgb dq rights in hon: konu? , ., ., hong kong? first of all the top court in last — hong kong? first of all the top court in last september- hong kong? first of all the top court in last september 2023 l court in last september 2023 handed down a landmark ruling saying the government has a

positive duty to recognise same—sex relationships by an alternative framework. the court has given the government two years to do the job, september it is late october 2025 which means the government has just one year to do the job. the latest rulings we believe that there will be a sense of urgency that the government really needs to come up government really needs to come up with a framework so they can tell us what this framework will look like. as far as we're concerned we are seeing the has to be comprehensive in the best solution of marriage equality and same—sex marriage. hour solution of marriage equality and same-sex marriage. how much rouress and same-sex marriage. how much progress do — and same-sex marriage. how much progress do you _ and same-sex marriage. how much progress do you think _ and same-sex marriage. how much progress do you think hong - and same-sex marriage. how much progress do you think hong kong i progress do you think hong kong has made terms of rights protections for same—sex couples, other regions like thailand and taiwan looking at them? ~ ., ., thailand and taiwan looking at them? ., ., ., ., . them? we are not advanced as thailand or— them? we are not advanced as thailand or taiwan _ them? we are not advanced as thailand or taiwan we - them? we are not advanced as thailand or taiwan we are i them? we are not advanced as thailand or taiwan we are not. thailand or taiwan we are not doing that, i always say in terms of across asia, hong kong is middle of the pack, there

are areas we are doing better than others, areas we need to do better. hopefully with these rulings on the fact that has to up rulings on the fact that has to up with a framework that would help hong kong to make some significant progress in the not so different future. fine significant progress in the not so different future.— so different future. one last question. — so different future. one last question, support _ so different future. one last question, support for i so different future. one last i question, support for same-sex question, support for same—sex marriage in hong kong has grown over 60% last year how would you square that with the government �*s more conservative stance on the issue? government 's more conservative stance on the issue?— stance on the issue? that's not a big surprise _ stance on the issue? that's not a big surprise reflecting - stance on the issue? that's not a big surprise reflecting on i a big surprise reflecting on how other countries around the world reached the final goal of achieving marriage equality. quite often we saw in many places even although you have a pretty good support in society, the government for whatever reason they prefer to tiptoe, prefer to wait, and that is not unusual from that perspective. in hong kong what we can say here that is a very vocal opposition these people are mainly conservative christians,

certainly their voices are very loud, at the same time they don't represent the views of the majority. 60% is a very solid number, and look at many other research findings, the research is pretty good in society. in hong kong we have a robust support from the public, and now that we have clear court decisions, it's for the government to do its job. jerome thank you for speaking today and appreciate your thoughts on this. co—founder of hong kong marriage equality. google is assisting with brothers who plunged into a river when they were given

incorrect details on google maps. they have offered condolences to the affected families. the financial times is reporting that china has put its defence minister under investigation. citing current and former us officials familiar with the situation, the paper reports that admiral dong jun is being investigated as part of a larger probe into graft in the chinese army. it would make him the third serving or former defence minister to be investigated for alleged corruption. the egyptian armed forces recovered three bodies from a