which is, to get the hostages back, israel has to use force. it really, we think, _ is impossible to see how you can fight a war amongst these people. there's nowhere for them to go. more pressure on israel not to launch a full military operation in rafah in gaza. will it make a difference? king abdullah ofjordan in the us right now. we'll be across that for any reaction. also on the programme... the marathon world record—holder, kelvin kiptum, dies in a car crash. people across the globe paying tribute and remembering his talent. we'll look at the species on the edge of extinction. a new un report says many migratory animals are threatened

because of what people are doing to the planet. and it's been difficult to avoid the super bowl. we'll look at the stars on and off the field. we will be heading to israel and gaza getting the latest the in breaking news in the uk. the labour party has withdrawn its support for its candidate in the rochdale by—election after criticism of comments he made about israel. azhar ali reportedly said the country had allowed the 7th of october attacks to go ahead so it could do whatever it wanted in response. and in the last half hour or so, a labour party spokesperson has said they have withdrawn support, "following new information about further comments made by him." it is understood he has also been suspended by the party. let's get more straightaway

now from our political correspond it, then right. now from our political correspond it, then right-— now from our political correspond it, then ritht. ~ . ., ~ ., ~ it, then right. what do we know? we know that labour _ it, then right. what do we know? we know that labour will _ it, then right. what do we know? we know that labour will not _ it, then right. what do we know? we know that labour will not be - know that labour will not be endorsing azhar ali in this by—election, they will not be campaigning for him, they are completely distancing themselves from him and what he said about the hamas attacks on israel back in october. he faced a barrage of condemnation and criticism from people within the labour party, from various jewish groups people within the labour party, from variousjewish groups during the day, but labour�*s bind has always been of the last 48 hours that the nominations for this by—election in rochdale had closed, it was technically, legally impossible to take azhar ali's name off the ballot as labour's candidate. that remains the case when this election happens on every 29. his name will be on the paper and he will be there as the labour party candidate. but labour have said frankly "he has nothing to do with us at the moment." he has also been suspended as a labour

party member following a —— also been suspended as a labour party memberfollowing a —— pending a investigation. it has been until now a safe labour seat, he could be entering the house of commons already facing suspension as a labour mp without the labour whip, and it is highly unlikely he would be selected then to fight the forthcoming general election. it is a complete mess and a real shambles, but labour have clearly decided tonight to try as hard as they can tonight to try as hard as they can to draw a line under it and show to voters that the party has changed and had totally got a grip of anti—semitism, which of course it has been mired of allegations of anti—semitism for a number of years during the leadership ofjeremy corbyn. this is keir starmer�*s reaction to that history in many ways. i reaction to that history in many wa s. ,, reaction to that history in many wa s. , , ., �* ~ ., , ways. i guess we don't know this et, but ways. i guess we don't know this yet. but i — ways. i guess we don't know this yet. but i just — ways. i guess we don't know this yet, but i just want _ ways. i guess we don't know this yet, but i just want to _ ways. i guess we don't know this yet, but i just want to read - ways. i guess we don't know this yet, but i just want to read this | yet, but ijust want to read this line from labour saying "new information about further comments

made by mr azhar ali came to light," i'm guessing this isjust in the last 30 minutes or so as we have no further details.— further details. labour are not forthcoming — further details. labour are not forthcoming in _ further details. labour are not forthcoming in terms - further details. labour are not forthcoming in terms of- further details. labour are not forthcoming in terms of what l further details. labour are not. forthcoming in terms of what that new information is, but that clearly has been critical this evening in determining labour's move here. this story first broke in the mail on sunday, they had secretly recorded azhar ali at that meeting. a completely false and spurious claim. today, you had labourfront benches on the airwaves saying that as well as accepting an unreserved apology from mr azhar ali and promises to build bridges with thejewish community, mrthomas build bridges with thejewish community, mr thomas simmons said he accepted mr azhar ali's view that he had been taken in by an online conspiracy around the hamas attacks and that this morning was enough for labour to stand by him in this

campaign. not so this evening. i campaign. not so this evening. i know you will be working on this in the hours ahead. for the moment, thank you very much. here is a full list of candidates standing in the rochdale by—election, and if you would like more information to head to the website. now we are going to get the latest on the israel— gaza war, we are going to head to rafah. it seems israel is planning a large ground operation. the international warnings are stacking up. us president biden says there must be a plan to protect civilians. the uk foreign secretary says israel must stop and think carefully before any more action. around 1.5 million people are in rafah. there is no obvious or easy for them to go. these are the latest pictures we have from the israel defense forces. this is rafah. they say showing the rescue operation which freed two hostages after 130 days in captivity.

israel says a prolonged battle took place during this operation. with all the latest, here's lucy williamson. explosion last night, israel's army came to rafah. special forces, backed by air strikes on homes and mosques. left behind more than 60 people dead and took with them two israeli hostages, snatched from a second—floor apartment. these pictures — released by the israeli army — show the moment counter—terrorist police went in. 60—year—old fernando marman and 70—year—old louis har were kidnapped from kibbutz nir yitzhak on october the 7th. their arrival back in israel, a rare moment for the country's prime minister.

covered by special forces on their way out of gaza, covered on arrival with love. military operations have so far freed three hostages. relatives say a deal with hamas is still the best way to get the others out. mentally, they look ok. physically, they look ok. please, be serious and strike a deal. the israeli people needs the deal done. not yesterday, not tomorrow, today. we want it done as soon as possible. we want to go back to our ordinary life. for gazans, ordinary life has disappeared, buried in the rubble of their homes, in the quivering of their children. translation: we were at home i when the airstrikes were going on. i told my mother that i wanted to use the bathroom. suddenly, all the walls of the bathroom and all the water containers above it collapsed on me.

rafah is the next target for israel's army. the war has pushed half of gaza's population south, into this border town. the us has warned an offensive here, without proper planning, would be a disaster. israel is so far sticking to its plan. the united nations and international actors now face a fateful choice. do they want to save hamas or save palestinian civilians? they cannot stop israel from dismantling the last four hamas battalions in the gaza strip and securing the release of the 134 remaining hostages. the price of israel's war is rising. forfamilies in rafah today — the cost, incalculable. the us is urging israel to consider a potential hostage deal to pause the fighting.

israel worries that a deal would mean hamas surviving. but after four months of war, it isn't the group's leaders who are dying. lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem. let's speak to lt col peter lerner. he's a spokesman for the israel defense forces. thank you very much for coming on the programme. good evening, lewis. i rewrite an understanding that a large ground operation in rafah is coming and coming soon?- large ground operation in rafah is coming and coming soon? lewis, the government — coming and coming soon? lewis, the government has _ coming and coming soon? lewis, the government has instructed _ coming and coming soon? lewis, the government has instructed the - coming and coming soon? lewis, the government has instructed the idf i coming and coming soon? lewis, thei government has instructed the idf to devise a plan to continue implementing our rows of this war, of dismantling a mass as a governing authority, as a terrorist entity in the gaza strip and to bring home the hostages as widely reported. that we did this morning, and continue that effort. at the same time, they have instructed us to create a plan of evacuation in accordance to the expectations of our operations as we have conducted them up until now. of

course, we are listening extensively to our allies around the world, those that raising concern, and of course there is that a raising concern, and of course those concerns weigh heavy on us. our role in this is to restore safety and security to the people in israel to make sure that hamas never have the ability again to launch attacks and abduct, kill, murder, massacre and rate from the gaza strip. this is a goal that we need to achieve. and we need to bring back the 134 remaining hostages that are in the clutches of hamas and most probably in the area of rafah. ., ., , ., ,, of rafah. you said the words of your allies do weigh _ of rafah. you said the words of your allies do weigh heavy _ of rafah. you said the words of your allies do weigh heavy on _ of rafah. you said the words of your allies do weigh heavy on you. - of rafah. you said the words of your allies do weigh heavy on you. if- of rafah. you said the words of your allies do weigh heavy on you. if you | allies do weigh heavy on you. if you look at it, and frankly cannot find a way to keep civilians safe, to move them anywhere, will that change your operational objective? will that change your decision? irate your operational objective? will that change your decision? we are not in the position _ that change your decision? we are not in the position to _ that change your decision? we are not in the position to raise - that change your decision? we are not in the position to raise a - that change your decision? we are not in the position to raise a white| not in the position to raise a white flag to amass and say get on with it

and we will hope and pray you let go of the hostages that you are holding onto. our operation is to utilise our military operations to create the conditions to be able to create as soon as possible, it can be through diplomacy but it also can be as we demonstrated in the early hours of this morning here in israel through boots on the ground, through a military operation. with regard to broadening the scope of the operation with a wide scale, potential wide scale operation in the area of rafah, of course we need to take into consideration the urban environment, the civilians packed into the rafah area, but of course we need to weigh up all of those components in order to achieve our goals, but differentiate and distinguish between civilians and noncombatants on the other. where do ou exect noncombatants on the other. where do you exoect people _ noncombatants on the other. where do you expect people to — noncombatants on the other. where do you expect people to go, _ noncombatants on the other. where do you expect people to go, then? - you expect people to go, then? lewis, since the beginning of this

operation, since october three, october seven to sorry, if we go backjust a few months, we were telling people for weeks to evacuate the northern gaza strip and indeed they did. so it can be done, where there is a well, there is a way. and we believe that if we are instructing people to move from a to b to get out of harms way, without defining exactly at this stage, then it will happen. we have proven that with quite an elaborate plan of action of evacuation to temporarily evacuate people from combat zones, that it can be done. and that is despite the fact that sometimes international players have been saying that it cannot be done. we have proven time and time again that things can be done. find have proven time and time again that things can be done.— things can be done. and on the hostages. _ things can be done. and on the hostages. we _ things can be done. and on the hostages, we heard _ things can be done. and on the hostages, we heard from - things can be done. and on the hostages, we heard from the l things can be done. and on the - hostages, we heard from the families of some their saying, do a deal, get a deal done and do it now. what is your response to them?—

a deal done and do it now. what is your response to them? imagine being in their position, _ your response to them? imagine being in their position, four— your response to them? imagine being in their position, four months - your response to them? imagine being in their position, four months their - in their position, four months their loved ones, i34 in their position, four months their loved ones, 134 of them. i cannot imagine the pain, how their lives have been torn to pieces. of course the government is listening to them. the idf is listening to them. we are accompanying the families day in, day out, and indeed our efforts are to create two realities, one that will bring every last one of those hostages back through negotiations, through diplomacy, but if not to create the operational conditions to bring them home as we did this morning. 50 bring them home as we did this mornint. ., , . ., morning. so do i understand from that that the _ morning. so do i understand from that that the diplomacy _ morning. so do i understand from that that the diplomacy is - morning. so do i understand from that that the diplomacy is not - morning. so do i understand from that that the diplomacy is not an l that that the diplomacy is not an option from your side or from the other side?— other side? no, our role, the idf role is not _ other side? no, our role, the idf role is not to _ other side? no, our role, the idf role is not to manage _ other side? no, our role, the idf role is not to manage the - other side? no, our role, the idf - role is not to manage the diplomacy, but to create the conditions, meaning increasing the pressure on hamas so that hamas realise there is a diplomatic way out of this by

releasing the hostages, i34 a diplomatic way out of this by releasing the hostages, 134 people, they are being held by hamas, many of them we believe in rafah, like this morning. and they need to be brought home immediately. hamas can't release them. hamas could end this work today. they would need to do is release hostages and create a reality of unconditional surrender so that they never pose a threat to israel ever again.— israel ever again. thank you very much for coming _ israel ever again. thank you very much for coming on _ israel ever again. thank you very much for coming on the - israel ever again. thank you very - much for coming on the programme. good evening. much for coming on the programme. good evening-— good evening. around the world and across the uk. _ good evening. around the world and across the uk. this _ good evening. around the world and across the uk. this is _ good evening. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc _ good evening. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. - double child rapist and murderer colin pitchfork will face a fresh hearing after challenging a decision to keep him behind bars. he was jailed for life for raping and strangling two 15—year—old girls in the 19805. he was granted parole, but this was challenged by ministers

and the parole board denied his release in december. schools are spending tens of thousands of pounds more a year to meet rising costs of contracts with private firms. these private finance initiative schools are locked into 25—30—year contracts in which charges rise more than at other schools. pfi investors say the contracts give long—term value for taxpayers' money. police say they will take no further action against the conservative mp andrew rosindell after he was arrested on suspicion of rape, sexual assault and misconduct in public office. scotland yard said the evidence threshold for criminal prosecution had not been met. you're live with bbc news. tributes have been paid to the world marathon record—holder kelvin kiptum, who's been killed in a car crash at the age of 24. he died alongside his coach when their car came off

the road in western kenya. he set the world record in the chicago marathon last year with a winning time of two hours and 35 seconds. anne soy reports from nairobi. he was no doubt destined for greatness. at only 24, kelvin kiptum had run three of the seven fastest marathon times in history. this is him in london last year. he broke away from the leading pack mid—race and went on to win and set a new course record. later in the year, he broke the world record in chicago, shaving 34 seconds off his compatriot eliud kipchoge's time. a world record means a lot to me. to beat a world record, it's so hard, you have to work hard, and that has been a long journey for me. he was going to attempt to run the rotterdam marathon in under two hours this april, but over the weekend,

he crashed on this road, close to his birthplace in kenya's rift valley. kelvin lost control of the vehicle, it veered off the road and entered into a ditch. he drove through that ditch for 60 metres, before hitting a big tree. tributes have been paid to him in kenya and across the world. the world athletics federation ratified kiptum's record only last week. its president, sebastian coe, described him as "an incredible athlete, who's leaving an incredible legacy". also paying tribute to kelvin kiptum, the four—time olympic gold medallist sir mo farah. "kelvin was an amazingly talented athlete and had already achieved so much. he truly had a special talent and i have no doubt he would have gone on to have had an incredible career."

and this, from emile cairess, the highest—placed british athlete in the london marathon last year. i was in a state of shock. you never expect anybody so young to pass away. and then i guess it takes it to that next level and it's even more shocking when it's a generational talent, like kelvin kiptum was. kelvin kiptum ran his first major competition in borrowed shoes because he couldn't afford a pair. in such a short time, he had achieved so much, before an accident robbed the world of a sporting great. anne soy, bbc news, nairobi. so many tributes there to an extraordinary talent. there are hopes that two new drugs aimed at slowing the progress of alzheimer's could pave the way for the development of future treatments for the disease. the medicines are expected to be licensed within months, but charities are warning the uk's national health service

isn't ready for them, meaning many patients could lose out. our medical editor fergus walsh reports. dawn is 62 and about to get her first dose of a new alzheimer's drug, donanemab, as part of a trial. you've started, have you? we've started, all right? yay! her memory problems were identified early and she has only mild cognitive impairment. i feel so grateful that i noticed and that i investigated further, and that i know. because knowledge is power, and it could mean that it just slows it all down, and if it slows it down, then i'll be able to function as i'd like to. in trials, donanemab and another drug, lecanemab, slowed cognitive decline by between a quarter and a third in patients with early—stage alzheimer's. that gives you, over

that 18—month period, about five months at a higher level of function. for me, that's meaningful. but it's small. i think these drugs do represent a turning point in our research in alzheimer's but i also think they are just the beginning. if the drugs are approved, patients would need a specialist brain scan or a spinal lumbar puncture to check they are eligible. at present, just 2% of alzheimer's patients have either of these tests. we're worried that tens of thousands of people could miss— out on having treatments because the nhs isn't- ready to deliver them. we need to have a really clear plan from the nhs about how they're i going to scale up services. the department of health says early dementia diagnosis is vital and it's working to identify and treat more people as new drugs become available. and this... here? david, who is 79, has been on lecanemab for over three

years as part of a study. although his alzheimer's is progressing, his wife cheryl feels the drug has helped. they're not saying this is a complete cure. no. just giving individuals more time before they can't remember, you know... who their children are. it's given me longer with david as my husband and so, you know, that's worth all the money in the world. the drugs can cause swelling and bleeding in the brain, so patients like dawn need careful monitoring. but despite their side—effects and modest benefits, many scientists believe they represent a defining moment in the fight against alzheimer's. fergus walsh, bbc news. next, migrating animals face a growing threat of extinction from

hunting, fishing, and habitat destruction, according to a new report. overall, more than 40% of migratory species listed as needing international protection are declining in numbers. many could be wiped out, with marine animals in greatest danger. the report, by the un environment programme, is being presented at a gathering in uzbekistan. now let's go to susan lieberman, who is the vice president of international policy at the wildlife conservation society. thank you very much for coming on the programme. mr; thank you very much for coming on the programme-— thank you very much for coming on | the programme._ good the programme. my pleasure. good evenina. the programme. my pleasure. good evening- so — the programme. my pleasure. good evening. so what _ the programme. my pleasure. good evening. so what is _ the programme. my pleasure. good evening. so what is the _ the programme. my pleasure. good evening. so what is the interest - evening. so what is the interest here in these migratory species that travels these large distances? what are the risks they are facing? migratory species are exposed to even _ migratory species are exposed to even greater threats than pcs that don't _ even greater threats than pcs that don't migrate from across multiple countries _ don't migrate from across multiple countries because they are exposed to serious— countries because they are exposed to serious threats across their entire — to serious threats across their entire migratory route. a whale that migrates _ entire migratory route. a whale that migrates from antarctica up the

atlantic— migrates from antarctica up the atlantic ocean into the northern hemisphere is exposed to tremendous risks, _ hemisphere is exposed to tremendous risks, the _ hemisphere is exposed to tremendous risks, the same for migratory bird species. _ risks, the same for migratory bird species, bat species and many other species _ species, bat species and many other species. this report is a wake—up call that— species. this report is a wake—up call that governments and all of us need _ call that governments and all of us need to— call that governments and all of us need to do— call that governments and all of us need to do more for migratory species — need to do more for migratory secies. �* ., need to do more for migratory secies. . . . ., species. and what are some of the threats? what _ species. and what are some of the threats? what are _ species. and what are some of the threats? what are people - species. and what are some of the threats? what are people doing i species. and what are some of the i threats? what are people doing that is putting them at risk? weill. threats? what are people doing that is putting them at risk?— is putting them at risk? well, one ofthe is putting them at risk? well, one of the greatest _ is putting them at risk? well, one of the greatest threat _ is putting them at risk? well, one of the greatest threat is _ is putting them at risk? well, one of the greatest threat is climate i of the greatest threat is climate change — of the greatest threat is climate change of course, because animals are forced — change of course, because animals are forced to change their habitats to adapt — are forced to change their habitats to adapt. but in addition, habitat loss, _ to adapt. but in addition, habitat loss, habitat destruction and overexploitation, killing of wild species — overexploitation, killing of wild species and destruction of their habitats — species and destruction of their habitats for agriculture, for timber production, for mining, those are the greatest threats to these species _ the greatest threats to these species. but we could do something about— species. but we could do something about that — species. but we could do something about that. ., species. but we could do something| about that._ well, about that. 0k, tell me what? well, we, about that. 0k, tell me what? well, we. citizens — about that. 0k, tell me what? well, we, citizens and _ about that. 0k, tell me what? well, we, citizens and governments, - about that. 0k, tell me what? well, we, citizens and governments, needj we, citizens and governments, need to work— we, citizens and governments, need to work together to set aside

protected areas, what did the migratory species and the local people — migratory species and the local people that depend on them need in terms _ people that depend on them need in terms of— people that depend on them need in terms of protected areas? how can we reduce _ terms of protected areas? how can we reduce or— terms of protected areas? how can we reduce or limit the overexploitation? we know how to do conservation. i work for the wildlife _ conservation. i work for the wildlife conservation society, we know _ wildlife conservation society, we know how — wildlife conservation society, we know how to set protected areas up with governments. governments need to commit— with governments. governments need to commit to do that or we are going to commit to do that or we are going to lose _ to commit to do that or we are going to lose these precious species. we must to lose these precious species. must leave it to lose these precious species. - must leave it there. thank you very much for coming on and talking us through that. my pleasure. thank you. let's bring you right up to date without breaking news in the last 40 minutes or so. the labour party says that it has "withdrawn support for the rochdale by—election candidate, azhar ali, following his comments about israel." the bbc

understands he has been suspended from the labour party pending an investigation, and labour said the decision was taken after "new information about further comments made by mr azhar ali came to light." we don't know what there is further comments are or are alleged to have been, we don't have new information about them. but we are chasing all of those details for you. do stay with us here. at the moment, i'm lewis vaughanjones, this is bbc news, goodbye. hello. good evening. rather showery today towards the northwest of the uk, but for many of us it was dry with some decent spells of sunshine and in the best of the sunny spells, it felt rather spring—like. but still a lot of standing water out there, particularly for central southern england and the midlands.

we're only going to be adding to those rainfall accumulations, too, as we head through this week. big changes on the way. it will be turning wetter and also milder from the southwest. so the cooler air still in place through the day on monday. temperatures close to the seasonal average. and then that milder air comes streaming through, displacing that colder air to the far north of scotland for still a few days to come. now, today, we've been seeing this little feature just run out west to east, piling some showers into scotland. again, some of the showers wintry over the tops of the hills. and we'll still see some wintry showers over around 200 metres overnight tonight. again, a few showers just pushing into northern ireland and maybe through the pennines and into western wales as well. cloudier towards the south tonight, so here it's going to be a milder start to the day tomorrow, but still a frost possible from the north of england northwards. quite a sharp frost i think across parts of scotland. now, as we head through tomorrow, we look out towards the south—west to see these weather fronts just push that milder air in. so temperatures will be rising throughout the day. there will be brisk south—westerly

winds and quite a lot of thickening cloud as well. it's a warm front, some mist and murk. outbreaks of rain on and off, the odd heavy downpour at times. that rain eventually pushing into the south—east of england and east anglia as we head through the afternoon, it's a bright start to the day across northern ireland, but it will cloud over here. the rain will arrive, maybe some cloud into southern scotland, but it's across scotland where we'll see probably the day's best sunshine. still some wintry showers, though, over the tops of the hills. and then that warm front continues to push northwards into scotland as we head through the day on wednesday. a sharp frost to start the day across northern scotland and then some of this rain likely to turn to snow as it bumps into the colder air. further south, outbreaks of rain on and off — misty, murky out there, some hill fog, maybe a slice of sunshine through the midlands into east anglia and north wales there. but temperatures will start to rise on wednesday to 13 or 14 degrees in the south and they could rise even further, perhaps as we head through thursday. it's generally milder, wetter for the rest of the week. bye— bye.

hello, i'm lewis vaughanjones. you're watching the context on bbc news. police in delhi have imposed a ban on public gatherings ahead of a planned march by thousands of farmers.

sport, and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's gavin. hi there. to the football first, and chelsea are hoping to move into the top half of the premier league table with a win struggling crystal palace. palace have literallyjust scored there so it is not going to well for chelsea. an absolute cracker for crystal palace who are up i—0. palace fans have been protesting over the club's run of results. they lost 4—1 at brighton last weekend and came into the match five points off the relegation places. if it goes as planned, they could be a little further away from the relegation places, i should say. one match in la liga to bring you, too, as bottom side almeria, who are still in search of their first win this season, host top—four—chasing athletic bilbao. it's currently goalless there. bilbao would jump above atletico

madrid into the champions league positions with victory.