hello, i'm carl nasman. this ceasefire agreement between israel and hezbollah appears to be holding. the deal came into effect early wednesday. it comes after the united states and france brokered the 60—day agreement to end 13 months of conflict. president biden says it was designed to be permanent. thousands of lebanese civilians are returning to their destroyed homes. lebanese authorities say they are focusing on recovery and reconstruction efforts after being pummelled by israeli strikes. the lebanese army and unifil, the un peacekeeping mission that operates on the border between the two countries, say it will monitor violations and support the implementation of the deal. the idf says its withdrawal in southern lebanon will be gradual. a spokesman added that any violation of the ceasefire

terms would be answered with fire. however, in its first statement since the agreement, hezbollah proclaimed victory over israel. the group added it will continue resistance and stand along palestinian fighters. it is unclear what this means for the agreement. un secretary—general antonio guterres welcomed the agreement, saying it was "the first ray of hope" in the region since the conflict began. translation: | received - an auspicious sign yesterday, i would say the first ray of hope i received regarding the piece admits the darkness of the last few months. i received it in portugal and it was the agreement to cease fire in relation to lebanon and a moment of great importance, especially for civilians. our correspondent hugo bachega has been travelling from beirut to tyre in southern lebanon. he sent this report alongside those making their way home. early in the morning,

they grabbed what they could and headed south. forced to flee because of the war, they didn't wait to see if the ceasefire would hold. they were already driving back home. this was a moment of celebration. there were hezbollah flags, and posters remembering the group's late leader, hassan nasrallah. this is the main road between beirut and the south of the country. and for hours, thousands of people have been trying to go back to their homes. they say they haven't been defeated in this war and that this is a sign of victory. translation: what i happened is very good. this is a victory for the resistance. the resistance is our honour and pride. without its existence, there would be no homeland, no south, nothing. translation: it doesn't matter

if the house is still— standing or not. the important thing is that we're returning, thanks to the blood of our martyr nasrallah. five hours later, we arrived in tyre — a journey that usually takes only one hour. this is the city centre of tyre, the largest city in the south of the country, and i remember being here before this conflict. it was a vibrant place. now there's widespread destruction and it's completely empty. this family was visiting their flat for the first time. an israeli air strike destroyed a building nearby. the attack was so powerful, it damaged almost everything here. i am so sad. i am so sad here because my building is so damaged. i don't like this.

recovery for this country will be long and difficult. for lebanon, it means that this crisis isn't over. hugo bachega, bbc news, southern lebanon. us special envoy amos hochstein helped secure the truce, he told me about what it took to get the deal done. thank you forjoining us. take a sense either negotiations? the us has obviously been working on a dealfor some time. what was a breakthrough moment of why now?— moment of why now? firstly, i think that _ moment of why now? firstly, i think that over _ moment of why now? firstly, i think that over the _ moment of why now? firstly, i think that over the last - moment of why now? firstly, i think that over the last many l think that over the last many months changes on the ground have occurred. as hezbollah was degraded and the capabilities degraded, the leadership removed through the battlefield, at some point there comes a time when you have to translate the battlefield gains into political gains, into an actual deal. that is what guarantees

the security, and so several weeks ago, five or six weeks ago, president biden and i discussed that this is the right moment to put the pressure to see if we can see if the parties can reach an agreement. i think both parties understood this was the right moment, and in fact it was the last moment, it was either now or we would have to wait for several more months. why is that? as some point you get a new administration administration coming in, they will take time to learn the file and come in, on a 20 january, so either now or in february, march or something like that. , ., , , february, march or something likethat. , ., ., like that. obviously you are intimately _ like that. obviously you are intimately involved - like that. obviously you are intimately involved in - like that. obviously you are intimately involved in the i intimately involved in the negotiations, what makes you confident that there is a ceasefire deal will hold, it will be durable? i ceasefire deal will hold, it will be durable?— ceasefire deal will hold, it will be durable? i don't know wh i will be durable? i don't know why i will— will be durable? i don't know why i will say _ will be durable? i don't know why i will say i _ will be durable? i don't know why i will say i am _ will be durable? i don't knowi why i will say i am confident, i am hopeful. we tried to learn from the lessons, to learn the right lessons from the failure of the previous deal that was donein of the previous deal that was

done in 2006. where no implementation mechanism was created beyond the un which is not really work for this case, and the community, the international community left the scene at the last minute. sorry, as soon as the agreement was reached. we are determined to change that, and you have a mechanism established where we can make sure that we are watching everything happening on the ground, and that is a big difference here between last time and this time, not about unifil, it is like getting the lebanese military to deploy, the other security services to deploy, and an authorisation by the government was just past government earlier today, as part of the agreement, authorising the lebanese army to do it. there is another element that is different, the end of the battle in a 2006, hezbollah was at peak strength, it is not there now. i think this is a

moment where lebanon has an opportunity and a chance to redefine itself, re—establish itself, and the first thing it starts with its sovereignty over his country.- starts with its sovereignty over his country. you mention the trump _ over his country. you mention the trump administration, - the trump administration, obviously they will be in the white house behind you in january. how much of you been in contact with them and what extent have you co—ordinated with that administration? the? with that administration? they are not involved _ with that administration? they are not involved in _ with that administration? they are not involved in the - are not involved in the negotiations but after the elections when i thought that the process was getting close, i did have conversations with senior advisers to the trump team, and to make sure they knew where the deal was, give them a heads up, and also to, i think it is only fair if we make commitments after an election that the incoming administration should know what those are and express their support, which they have. usually the next administration, it is a deal they will support? i administration, it is a deal they will support?- administration, it is a deal they will support? i don't see any reason — they will support? i don't see any reason why _ they will support? i don't see any reason why not. - they will support? i don't see any reason why not. it - they will support? i don't see any reason why not. it is - they will support? i don't see any reason why not. it is in l any reason why not. it is in everyone's best interest, and

therefore in the us national security interests.— therefore in the us national security interests. how much attention _ security interests. how much attention will _ security interests. how much attention will turn _ security interests. how much attention will turn to - security interests. how much attention will turn to gaza . security interests. how much | attention will turn to gaza and the conflict there, to what extent do you think this ceasefire deal could pave the way for a truce in gaza with hamas? i way for a truce in gaza with hamas? ~ way for a truce in gaza with hamas?— way for a truce in gaza with hamas? ~' , ., u, , hamas? i think everyone can be, i think hamas? i think everyone can be, i think there _ hamas? i think everyone can be, i think there is _ hamas? i think everyone can be, i think there is a _ hamas? i think everyone can be, i think there is a moment - hamas? i think everyone can be, i think there is a moment in - i think there is a moment in time where we have changed something, the dynamic has changed, the linkage between lebanon and gaza has been broken, and hamas has to wake up broken, and hamas has to wake up this morning at 4am when the ceasefire went to affect and understand they are alone, the rest of the region is abandoning them. it is time for them, asjoe biden said yesterday from the white house, they have not come to the negotiating table in good faith for several months. if they are willing to release the hostages which will help bring about an end of the conflict, that is within our grasp, we can do everything we can lead by president biden to bring the hostages home and bring this coffin to a close. i think the ceasefire with lebanon can be a

spark or a key to unlocking them. spark or a key to unlocking them, ., spark or a key to unlocking them. ., , ., , ., them. some other updates from washington. _ them. some other updates from washington, several— them. some other updates from washington, several of - them. some other updates from washington, several of the - washington, several of the donald trump nominees have received bomb threats and what appears to be a hoax. the fbi says it is aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming nominees and appointees. donald trump himself was not a target, according to us media. sika caparra has more.— according to us media. sika caparra has more. given the number of— caparra has more. given the number of names _ caparra has more. given the number of names that - caparra has more. given the number of names that are l number of names that are emerging, this appears to have been widespread, so among them elisa stephani, the peak to be the us ambassador to the united nations, also have a look at me, his choice will, secretary, and liz l, who has been picked ahead of the environmental protection agency. he has said that a pipe bomb threat was sent to his home with a pro—palestinian themed message there are several other names are emerging, we do not do a

final tally, what the fbi is saying is that numerous officials were targeted with a bomb threats or swatting incidents. swatting is where a hoax call called law enforcement, ledgers may be a violent incident of some kind, in order to try to get a heavily armed team or swat team to an address, us lawmakers, public officials have been targeted in this way before and it can be incredibly dangerous. we know the presidentjoe biden has been briefed according to a white house spokesperson, mr biden condemned threats of political violence and donald trump's team see the dangerous acts of intimidation will not deter them.— acts of intimidation will not deter them. ., , deter them. donald trump said on wednesday _ deter them. donald trump said on wednesday that _ deter them. donald trump said on wednesday that mexico's i on wednesday that mexico's president had agreed to stop aggression, in his words, effectively closing the border between the countries, this

comes from a social media press where he said the mexican president had agreed to stop migration through mexico and into the us, effectively closing our southern border. you can see that there. the mexican president had earlier posted... 0n on monday donald trump that he impose you tariffs on mexico's exports until it stops the flow of drugs and undocumented immigrants. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's ta ke let's take a look at other stories making headlines. the former boss of the hospital where the serial killer lucy letby worked has told an inquiry that he and his fellow board members "simply didn't see" what was behind the rising death rate amongst babies on the neonatal unit. tony chambers, who was the chief executive at the countess of chester

hospital, apologised for the pain to families that may have been prolonged by his actions. conservative leader kemi badenoch has said her party "got it wrong" on immigration. speaking at the think—tank, the centre for policy studies she called for a new approach, saying the tories would impose a "strict" cap on the number of migrants, with visas issued only to those who would "make a clear contribution". five more people were found alive thursday, two days after a tourist yacht capsized off the red sea coast. a total of 33 people have been rescued so far, but seven are still missing — including two britons. the yacht was on a multi—day diving trip when it was hit by a large wave near in southeastern egypt. you're live with bbc news. three americans detained in china were released in a prisoner swap. their names are kai li, john leung, and mark swidan. swidan was behind bars since 2012 — the longest of the three.

a businessman from texas, he was facing the death penalty for a narcotics conviction. 0n the other side, the new york times reports the us released a chinese national who was facing 20 years after being convicted of espionage. the prisoner swap was the result of years of diplomacy. most recently, president biden raised the issue of americans detained in china directly with president xijinping at the apec summit in peru. john kamm is the executive director of the dui hui foundation, a human rights group that pushes for the release of those detained in china. i have been speaking to him earlier. as we heard there, this was really in exchange, wasn't it, that was in the works for many months. what's your reaction to this deal? three americans freed in exchange for one chinese citizen. this is good news, coming as it does on the eve of thanksgiving. the families are naturally delighted. i do not know about the chinese citizen who was released,

i've seen reports but those reports suggest that that citizen was a spy in the united states and the chinese have never raised that with me. i have not raised it with them. but as far as these americans are concerned, yes, i have raised their names on many occasions in many meetings and on many lists. what more can you tell us, then, having worked potentially alongside or with the families, the reaction that their loved ones might have of this news? i'm sure they are happy. you know, for mark swidan, he has been in prison since 2012, he went into prison the same month as barack 0bama was reelected president and the same month as xi jinping became the leader of the chinese communist party.

that gives you an idea of how long he's been in prison. and he has been through hell, absolute hell. does the timing of this deal stand up to you at all? of course, we are just a few weeks away from donald trump stepping back into the white house. i think it's a message. first of all, it's thanks and farewell tojoe biden. but it's also a message to donald trump. and the message is that, ok, if you play your cards right, we can make some compromise, make some concessions in an area where we can do so. china is holding thousands of political prisoners of course notjust americans, but many. and, you know, i hope that this is the start of many more

releases and not just of americans, by the way, there are many including europeans, japanese, hong kong people, and so on. uyghurs, tibetans, the list goes on. the wall streetjournal is reporting that a chinese ship's crew deliberately dragged an anchor for more than 100 miles to deliberately cut critical data cables in the baltic sea. the investigators are questioning whether the crew of the chinese—owned ship was induced by russian intelligence to carry out the sabotage. russia denies involvement in the incident, the latest in a series of attacks on europe's critical infrastructure. bojan pancevski, the wsj chief european political correspondent, explained the investigation's findings. can you walk us through why investigators think that this was an act of sabotage, not simply an accident on the seas? this is over a week old now and run from the first and second

day or even the second day after it happened, investigators starting suspecting it was sabotage, for whatever reasons they had. firstly we have to understand that investigators throughout the baltic sea have various means of electronic and other surveillance at their disposal, which is not open to the public, such as radar, ceramic, satellite imaging and so on. the way the cables were cut suggest they were cut on purpose and the cables cables were cut most likely by the anchor of that ship that we mentioned in the story and then when we looked at the circumstances under which this had happened, and basically the cables were cut in consecutive order, within six hours of each other, during the same journey, they figured it would be very unlikely for the ship to have dropped anchor midway, powered

on, cutting the cables and god knows what else, and then just continued without noticing they were dragging the anchor. 0ne were dragging the anchor. one big reason for that is the speed of the vessel actually reduces drastically when the anchor was dropped for the simple reason that it was basically dragging on the seabed. so it is very — i spoke to a couple of investigators and people briefed on the investigation, and they said the investigation, and they said th