let's ta ke let's take you live to the house of commons where a vote on a controversial phased ban on smoking is expected shortly. also coming up on the world today... we will look at the devastation caused by a fire at copenhagen's historic stock exchange. welcome to the world today — an hour of international news from the bbc. we begin in the middle east, where israel says it's killed a local hezbollah commander in an air strike in southern lebanon. the israel defense forces have released these images of the strike. it said ismail yusaf baz had been involved in rocket and missile launches against israel from lebanon's coastal area. the idf described him as a senior official who had served

in several positions of hezbollah�*s military wing. all this comes as the israeli government says it's launched a diplomatic offensive against iran, as it considers a military response to the missile and drone attack against it. the foreign minister, israel katz, has written to more than 30 countries calling for sanctions against iran's missile programme. he also wants them to designate the revolutionary guard corps as a terrorist organisation. israel has been showing journalists one of the missiles it said iran fired on saturday. let's hearfrom israeli defence forces spokesperson daniel hagari. this coalition is directing a message to iran, we will not allow this aggression in the region. this coalition is an opportunity for the middle east, a strategic opportunity for the middle east, for countries who share the same threat from iran. firing 110 ballistic

missiles directly to israel will not get scot—free. we will respond in our time, in our place, in the way that we will choose. we have heard in the last half an hour or so that the prime minister rishi sunak has spoken this afternoon to the israeli prime minister, netanyahu. they spoke on the phone and in that call, mr sunak said that iran had badly miscalculated, but he did stress that significant escalation was in no i's interest. the statement said the prime minister had badly miscalculated and was increasingly isolated on the global chain, stage, stressing significant escalation was in no i's interest and with only deepen insecurity in the middle east and went on to say this is a moment for calm heads to prevail. james

lindell has been giving us the latest from jerusalem. essentially what israel is _ latest from jerusalem. essentially what israel is doing _ latest from jerusalem. essentially what israel is doing today - latest from jerusalem. essentially what israel is doing today and - what israel is doing today and various other spokespersons have been speaking the war cabinet has used language on this as well saying effectively making the argument that iran is notjust a threat to israel, but iran, and their argument, as a threat to the whole region and the whole world and therefore the whole world should support israel right now. in other words there is a clear attempt by israel to operationalise the support that it has got, as a result of the attack by iran over the weekend. in other words, israel, having been very much on the back foot, very much criticised by many of its allies in others because of the way it has been prosecuting its war in gaza, is trying to use the support and sympathy that it has had as a result of the attack on saturday night from iran to say,

let's use that. so that's what the foreign minister, has written to over 30 of its counterparts saying now is the time for you to put more sanctions on tehran, knows the moment for you prescribe the irgc. so what they're trying to do is essentially use that moment for a diplomatic game. was interesting about that that suggests that israel may want to play this is a long game. in other words that possibly suggests, this isjust speculation, but analysis, that may be israel is not going to strike back at iran soon. they may wait, if they want to maintain this strategic alliance as they call it. un agencies are warning of spiralling violence in the west bank and they have raised concerns over an escalation of the conflict following iran's attack on israel on saturday night. 0ur middle east correspondent lucy williamson sent this from jerusalem.

in gaza, the threat of all—out war in the middle east has little power to frighten. war there has already left many with little to lose. in the southern border town of rafah — now a vast refugee camp — the hamdan and shawa families buried five people today, killed in israeli air strikes overnight, gaza's health ministry said. translation: i lost my feelings. i don't have feelings any more. i'm going crazy. they should put me with him. the beach road leading north to gaza city was packed today, with crowds and rumours. people hoping to return to their homes in the north, but turned back again and again by the army. today, the prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, told new army recruits that operations in gaza were just one part of a wider war.

translation: it's part of a bigger system. - you can see it. iran stands behind hamas, behind hezbollah, behind others. but we are determined to win there and defend ourselves in all arenas. new footage released by the army shows the moment the military focus here changed. the first interceptions of iranian missiles ordered from this control room. israel's ongoing conflicts with iranian—backed groups have been pushed into the shadows by a direct attack from tehran. how israel responds could take the world down a much more dangerous path, and international allies — the uk among them — have been lining up, urging benjamin netanyahu to show restraint. but israel's former national security advisor says the iranian strike leaves israel with an opportunity to take on the groups it should

have confronted before. we didn't wage a war against hezbollah two years ago — huge mistake. when you see them even growing, becoming stronger, you have to do something. should we wait? i think it would be a huge mistake to wait with hezbollah, with hamas and with the iranians. we have to limit this threat to israel, but it's notjust israel. the west is next. israel is already treading a tightrope in its conflict with hezbollah. this, an air strike on a senior hezbollah commander today, the army said. the gaza war has already inflamed israel's regional conflicts. its next decision could push them into all—out war. lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem. with me is 0rly goldschmidt, spokesperson for the israeli embassy in london. welcome to the studio. we saw in

that report on the question making the point, the next decision of israel is crucial. what is their next step now?— israel is crucial. what is their next ste now? �* . ., , , next step now? after what happened on saturday night, _ next step now? after what happened on saturday night, more _ next step now? after what happened on saturday night, more than - next step now? after what happened on saturday night, more than 300 i on saturday night, more than 300 drones and missiles, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles were sent over to israel in order to murder innocent civilians. i have to say, i was watching this on tv and it really looks like an apocalyptic movie. thinking about my family there and all of our friends there waiting to know if the missiles were going to hit them or not was really, really shaken and moment. so israel needs to respond to that. the response will be at the right moment and right time as our official ministers are saying, but we need to make sure that iran is deterred and we need to make sure that this does not become the new normal. let

we need to make sure that this does not become the new normal.- not become the new normal. let me ask ou not become the new normal. let me ask you this- — not become the new normal. let me ask you this- we _ not become the new normal. let me ask you this. we have _ not become the new normal. let me ask you this. we have heard that. ask you this. we have heard that prime minister rishi sunak has spoken with mr netanyahu today. i will read you some of the statement he said, that significant escalation was in no i's interest. and would only deepen insecurity in the middle east. he said, this was a moment for calm heads to prevail. is israel likely to heed what the prime minister and other allies are saying? minister and other allies are sa in: ? ~ . , , saying? we are listening very carefully to — saying? we are listening very carefully to our _ saying? we are listening very carefully to our allies - saying? we are listening very carefully to our allies and - saying? we are listening very carefully to our allies and it i saying? we are listening veryj carefully to our allies and it is also thanks to the help of our allies, the americans and the british as well that we were able to thwart 99% of those 300 over missiles that were sent towards israel on saturday. but at the end of the day, and i'm sure you would understand that, and especially after that the reality of what happened on the 7th of october, israel will take the right decisions to protect israeli citizens. does that mean _ to protect israeli citizens. does that mean you _ to protect israeli citizens. does that mean you may _ to protect israeli citizens. does that mean you may not -

to protect israeli citizens. does that mean you may not listen l to protect israeli citizens. does| that mean you may not listen to to protect israeli citizens. does that mean you may not listen to the warnings from people like prime minister sunak? cool heads should prevail. minister sunak? cool heads should revail. ~ . �* minister sunak? cool heads should revail. ~ ., �* , minister sunak? cool heads should revail. ., �* , ., prevail. what i'm saying is we are not interested _ prevail. what i'm saying is we are not interested in _ prevail. what i'm saying is we are not interested in a _ prevail. what i'm saying is we are not interested in a war. _ prevail. what i'm saying is we are not interested in a war. we - prevail. what i'm saying is we are not interested in a war. we are i not interested in a war. we are interested in deterrence and we will make the right decisions in order to make the right decisions in order to make sure iran is deterred. but your country would understand it better than any other, sometimes not doing anything is making things worse. we know that we need to deter iran, we know that we need to deter iran, we know we cannot let that happen ever again. i would like to remind you that iran that has threatened us is the same iran that is using their proxies in the middle east, hezbollah, the hamas, and the houthis all over the world to threaten and destabilise the middle east. it is the same iran vincennes missiles to rush in order to attack ukraine. . . , missiles to rush in order to attack ukraine. . ., , ., missiles to rush in order to attack ukraine. . .,, ., , missiles to rush in order to attack ukraine. . ., , ., ukraine. purchase of this was a matter of _ ukraine. purchase of this was a matter of self-defense - ukraine. purchase of this was a matter of self-defense after i ukraine. purchase of this was a matter of self-defense after an matter of self—defense after an

attack from israel. i matter of self-defense after an attack from israel.— attack from israel. i find this bizarre. but _ attack from israel. i find this bizarre. but israel— attack from israel. i find this bizarre. but israel did i attack from israel. i find this bizarre. but israel did attack| attack from israel. i find this i bizarre. but israel did attack that mission? first _ bizarre. but israel did attack that mission? first of _ bizarre. but israel did attack that mission? first of all _ bizarre. but israel did attack that mission? first of all it _ bizarre. but israel did attack that mission? first of all it was i bizarre. but israel did attack that mission? first of all it was not a | mission? first of all it was not a mission? first of all it was not a mission it _ mission? first of all it was not a mission it was _ mission? first of all it was not a mission it was a _ mission? first of all it was not a mission it was a building - mission? first of all it was not a mission it was a building next i mission? first of all it was not a j mission it was a building next to mission? first of all it was not a l mission it was a building next to a mission, but iran for the last 45 years have been trying to destroy israel and they saying that out loud so it is not a surprise and we are taking those threats very seriously. they have been attacking us through their proxies for the last 45 years as well and now for the first time, they have attacked us directly. but it is not something that has to be taken in the middle of the story. we're talking about 45 years of attacks against israel against the sole jewish country attacks against israel against the solejewish country in the world. so sole jewish country in the world. so has nothing to do with self—defense. let me ask you about the diplomatic response in trying to respond to build a coalition to deter iran from any further strikes, there are some who would say that iran has been subject to sanctions before and they

have not made too much of a difference, so what difference could they make now? the difference, so what difference could they make now?— difference, so what difference could they make now? the more sanctions there are, they make now? the more sanctions there are. the _ they make now? the more sanctions there are, the better— they make now? the more sanctions there are, the better it _ they make now? the more sanctions there are, the better it is. _ they make now? the more sanctions there are, the better it is. we i there are, the better it is. we really believe diplomatic sanctions and economic sanctions and prescribing the irgc, the revolutionary guard as a terrorist organisation can really make a difference. we encourage all the countries to take stronger sanctions and to stand alongside with israel against those forces that are trying to destabilise not only the middle east but the whole world. just a . ain, east but the whole world. just arain, i east but the whole world. just again. i want— east but the whole world. just again, i want to _ east but the whole world. just again, i want to put _ east but the whole world. just again, i want to put this to you, a pull from hebrew university says 52% of israelis say that the country should hold fire, not retaliate in any way. 74% say, don't attack if it undermines israel's alliance with the regional and world powers. so it is notjust some of israel cosmic allies who are urging restraint, also people in your country. the war

cabinet is the _ also people in your country. the war cabinet is the one _ also people in your country. the war cabinet is the one taking _ cabinet is the one taking decisions at the end of the day in the trust the war cabinet to take the best decisions for the israeli security. i would like to remind you that hamas is one of the proxies of iran and hamas, on the 7th of october, has taken 200 plus hostages and they are still holding i33 hostages in gaza in horrible situation. we actually don't know if their situation if they are still alive or dead, we know that women have been subject to rate, we know people are being really, really mistreated. so we need to remember that those were bringing war into the region are iran and its proxies and we need to defend ourselves.— defend ourselves. thank you very much. of course, _ defend ourselves. thank you very much. of course, lots _ defend ourselves. thank you very much. of course, lots with i defend ourselves. thank you very much. of course, lots with the i much. of course, lots with the hostages and of course all of the

palestinians as well in gaza who have lost loved ones. mps have decided to pass a bill to phase out smoking. the bill would stop anyone born afterjanuary 2009 from ever buying cigarettes. that vote has just happened and 6? from ever buying cigarettes. that vote hasjust happened an vote has 'ust happened and 67 mps votin: vote hasjust happened and 67 mps voting against _ vote hasjust happened and 67 mps voting against it. _ vote hasjust happened and 67 mps voting against it. the _ vote hasjust happened and 67 mps voting against it. the conservativel voting against it. the conservative party had a free vote in this. rishi sunak made it very clear he was not, although vastly in support of this measure himself, he was not imposing as of this party. critics would say because he would have been faced a massive rebellion and certainly we don't know as of yet, we have not seen the voting rolls and we don't know how many of the 67 were conservatives but i would imagine a vast majority are. labour had with their mps, the most mps to back this generational smoking ban,

their mps, the most mps to back this generationalsmoking ban, but their mps, the most mps to back this generational smoking ban, buti think it is notjust about the numbers. i think rishi sunak point of view, this legislation would be something of a legacy for him in an election year. we don't yet know, of course, when it will finally pass but this is the first big foot on this legislation and with a few stages to go. but what was interesting with the level of opposition and side of the conservative party. we can't officially call it a rebellion, but given that there has been lots of noise about his leadership so far, it was interesting that it was a particularly strong intervention by the former prime minister liz truss who said that the smoking ban was unconservative who said importers of it were basically finger wagging supporters of the nanny state and control freaks. it chairman of the conservative party jake berry saying that the government was addicted to telling people what to do. and he would not be supporting it either. we've also had at least one cabinet

minister not supporting this as well. that is kemi badenoch the business and trade secretary she said that the aims were laudable but she was of course worried about a range of issues including the enforcement and the effect on businesses which were selling cigarettes and having to enforce this themselves. so we have had some quite big names if you'd like on the conservative benches effectively saying that they don't respect rishi sunak point of view or authority on this issue. in fairness there is a lasting manager change when smoking was banned in pubs and restaurants under the last labour government. there's also a free vote and also cabinet level splits including the deputy prime minister at that time. john prescott voting different way from tony blair and gordon brown. nonetheless i still think this is a sizeable number of people who voted against this, but a big majority nonetheless across the house of commons in favour of bringing in this smoking ban which is to say

would affect anyone born on the 1st of january would affect anyone born on the 1st ofjanuary 2009 or later would would affect anyone born on the 1st of january 2009 or later would never be able to smoke legally in the united kingdom. aha, be able to smoke legally in the united kingdom.— be able to smoke legally in the united kinudom. �* ., ,, . ., united kingdom. a massive cultural change. thank _ united kingdom. a massive cultural change, thank you _ united kingdom. a massive cultural change, thank you very _ united kingdom. a massive cultural change, thank you very much i united kingdom. a massive cultural change, thank you very much for i change, thank you very much for bringing us up to date without breaking story that has just happened a few moments ago in westminster. shortly on the programme i will speech one of the mps who voted it. still to come on the programme. donald trump is in the courtroom in new york but the cameras aren't allowed in with him. we'll be speaking to a courtoom artist about the important role they play in these kinds of trials. and as the dangers of deepfakes are discussed about more and more a new law in england and wales proposes to make the creation of sexually explicit images to be made a criminal offence. we'll take a look at the issue and the challenges. around the world and across the uk. this is the world today on bbc news.

a fire that tore through the old stock exchange

in the historic heart of the danish capital has finally been brought under control. final extinguishing work was under way. this is the moment the spire of the building collapsed. the emergency chief says the building has been half burned down despite the efforts of more than a hundred firefighters. the culture minister said 400 years of danish cultural heritage "had gone up in flames". firefighters say their efforts to tackle the blaze are hampered because the copper roof is keeping the heat in. adrienne murray spoke to us from the scene. it's not clear yet what the cause of the fire was. we do know there is renovations taking place on the building. so it was covered with scaffolding and also plastic sheeting. and it's also a very windy day. and all of that is said to have made it quite a difficult task for the firefighters to actually put that blaze out. there were people in the building,

we understand they all managed to safely escape. they were evacuated and police said there were no reports of injuries. of course, this is a very historic building. it's aoo—years—old and some of them were trying to salvage and rescue some of the historic artworks and bring those out with them. so there will still be an evaluation of what has been stayed and sadly, what has been destroyed by the blaze. let's hearfrom a resident who helped carry out some of the artwork. i was carrying one of the four pictures of one i don't know what it is in english, but it's a historical painting. and we it kind of it was we could see it was torn in several places and they had taken it out in a hurry.

and i helped them to carry the picture to the parliament and go in and put it flat out on the floor in the parliament. let me show you some of the latest pictures we are getting showing the smouldering building. you can see the utter devastation there. let's just take a moment to show what the old stock exchange building looked like before this fire... really quite different so much gone up really quite different so much gone up in smoke. this picture was taken five years ago, and it shows the twisting spire, which was put up in the 17th century and which has now collapsed. the building, which is located next to the danish parliament, has stood on the site since the 1620s. anders sorensen is writing a book on the history of the builging. he told us about the signifcance of that spire. the spire consists of four entwined dragons orfable animals that, according to legend, protects the building

from fire and has done so for the past 400 years at least. so that's the story that's been told about how that particular fire and the building has got fires throughout history. two majorfires in copenhagen, a series of minor episodes of fire in the building, but has always somehow managed to escape a devastating fire, one we sadly have seen today. copenhagen residents are deeply moved by the fire. let's listen to some voices from the streets. it is extremely horrible. it was a 400—year—old building that was built. what we're losing right now is crazy. i'm a historian, so of course i might find it extra horrible. it was actually the most impressive hall in copenhagen, maybe in denmark. the woodwork and the golden elements all around and small details. yeah, it's we lost something

big today with it. it's absolutely horrible. it's such a great honour. to work in such an iconic, historic building. it's just awful to stand and watch. people trying to attend a gathering with featuring right—wing politicians in brussels have been stopped from entering after authorities in the city have ordered the police to shut it down. former brexit party leader nigel farage and hungarian prime minister were amongst those attending the national conservative conference. with more a nick peek. a movement that wants to go global collided with local politics, the police have come to shut down a gathering of conservatives from across the us and europe. because the socialist mirrored clade the far right were not welcome here. the leading lights in this anti—eu movement says its champions traditional values had already filed in. top of the bill,

the uk former home secretary, suella braverman. by now, local officials had decided the views of the speakers could cause public disorder. and so ordered the events to stop. it’s disorder. and so ordered the events tosto. h .,, .,, disorder. and so ordered the events tosto. �*, .,, ., , , to stop. it's monstrous, absolutely monstrous- — to stop. it's monstrous, absolutely monstrous- a _ to stop. it's monstrous, absolutely monstrous. a very _ to stop. it's monstrous, absolutely monstrous. a very decent - to stop. it's monstrous, absolutely i monstrous. a very decent respectable group of people, prime ministers, academics, business people, being told they cannot hold the terms of you. told they cannot hold the terms of ou. . ~' told they cannot hold the terms of ou. ., " , ., told they cannot hold the terms of ou. ., ~ ,., ., told they cannot hold the terms of ou. ., ~ ., �* ., , told they cannot hold the terms of ou. ., ~ ., �* ., you. thank god for brexit. fears of rare anti-abortion _ you. thank god for brexit. fears of rare anti-abortion antigay - rare anti—abortion antigay sentiments held of the building? was the sentiments held of the building? the silencing sentiments held of the building? —" the silencing free speech or protecting people from extremist ideology. what's happening now is brussels police have lined up outside the venue and they are refusing entry to anyone wanting to get in. they are not going inside and dragging people out. many delegates here say they have been cancelled, but the reality is this conference is continuing at least

for now. the band meant the far right for french politician eric samora was unable to give his speech and it is unclear where the events will be held tomorrow. so a gathering of only a few hundred people was catapulted onto the front pages of papers and websites. as one organiser put it, you can't buy the publicity like this. that's it for the soft power. stay with us on bbc news. hello there. it's not been as windy today, but it certainly still felt on the cold side. and we're not alone because colder air has pushed all the way into many parts of europe. in actualfact, bringing with it a lot of showers, notjust here at home. we're still in that colder air at the moment with the northerly breeze and high pressure for now is sitting to the west and that

will bring some more cloud towards us for tomorrow. but at the moment, we've still got the showers and we've seen them streaming across northern england into the midlands and into the south east of england, where there's been a few thundery showers around it as well. now, those should tend to fade away during this evening. we could see a few more showers coming into northern england and wales for a while and we've still got those wintry showers affecting north—eastern areas of scotland. but with some clearer skies developing and the winds easing, it's going to turn quite cold out there. we're looking at the risk of a touch of frost across northern england and also into scotland. we'll start with some showers across northeast scotland. many places, though, starting dry and quite sunny. the cloud will build up again and we will see a scattering of showers with the odd heavy one arriving. but there's more cloud and some outbreaks of light rain affecting northern ireland moving over the irish sea into western parts of wales later in the day. but ahead of that we've got that northerly breeze. it is not as strong as it has been, but it's still cold air. and so temperatures are going to struggle again on wednesday. that cloud that's coming

in from the atlantic on that weather front that's moving away. high pressure still to the west, another weather system coming in around the top of that. but we'll have some clearer skies overnight into thursday morning. this time more across england and wales. so there's a risk of a touch of frost here. in actualfact, sunny, start here, but it will cloud over from the north and we'll see outbreaks of rain coming into scotland, perhaps affecting northern ireland and then pushing into northern parts of england, limiting the sunshine in the afternoon more towards the south west of england and the channel islands. temperatures could reach 12 degrees in cardiff and 12 degrees in belfast. so still it's not particularly warm out there. now, the weather system, an area of low pressure that's bringing the rain, pushes away quite quickly overnight and into friday, allowing this to arrive. high pressure to build across the uk. now that's going to bring some uncertainties. it looks like we're in for a much needed drier spell of weather, but we could introduce more cloud and it's not going to be as warm as last weekend.

this is the world today from bbc news. the headlines. israel says it's killed a senior commander in lebanon. donald trump returns to court in new york as jury selection for his hush money trial continues

in piece to pass the bill to phase out smoking it would stop anyone born afterjanuary 2009 from ever buying cigarettes. and clamping down on sexually explicit defects. new legislation will be introduced in england and wales. —— deep fakes. in india were voting in the general election begins on friday and it takes place over a number of weeks on a number of stages. most predictions suggest that modi will him when a resounding victory which will make it his third consecutive mandate. mr modi is a controversial figure but he has a huge support base almost unparalleled in contemporary india. a state which is a stronghold for mr modi's party. here's our south asian correspondent.