cairo to talk officials meet in cairo to talk about a possible cease—fire and hostage deal. shambolic— labour underfire over the hostage deal. shambolic— labour under fire over the handling hostage deal. shambolic— labour underfire over the handling of its rochdale candidates remarks on israel. we will be live with the latest. a massive rescue operation is launched as nine miners go missing after a landslide at a gold mine in turkey. experts warn polar bears are at risk of starvation as more sea ice is lost in the arctic. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala, welcome to verified live, hamas has warned there could be "tens of thousands" of casualties in rafah — if israel does launch a ground—offensive. the hamas—run health ministry says, more than 28,000 palestinians have been killed since the october the 7th attacks on israel.

more on rafah — and the diplomatic efforts in a moment — but i want to start the programme with an incredible piece from our colleagues at bbc arabic. the palestinian journalist feras al adjrami spent the first month of the war — following paramedics across northern gaza. the palestinian red crescent society says the demands can be relentless. a warning, their stories are distressing. he sobs.

sirens wail.

he sobs. and if you're in the uk, you can watch bbc arabic�*s full film gaza 101: emergency rescue on bbc iplayer now. in response to that report, the israel defense forces

said "any claim that we intentionally target red crescent or medical workers is baseless and untrue. we act in accordance with international law and take feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm in our operations". the united nations says it's not been given any notification by israel about plans to evacuate palestinians from rafah and would not particiapate in any forced evacuation. the un chief says he is worried about conditions under which humanitarian workers are operating in gaza. well, i am particularly worried with the deteriorating conditions and security for humanitarian aid delivery in gaza. there is a breakdown in public order. at the same time, we have restrictions imposed by israel that are not improved and limits the humanitarian distribution.

meanwhile, south africa has made —— south africa has made an urgent request to the international court ofjustice to consider whether an offensive in rafah could breach the rights of palestinians. the government says it's concerned there could be further large scale killings. let's get more on this with our correpsondent nick beake who's injeruslam. let's start with that. tell us more about this latest from the south african government.— about this latest from the south african government. matthew, the background _ african government. matthew, the background to _ african government. matthew, the background to this _ african government. matthew, the background to this is _ african government. matthew, the background to this is the _ background to this is the international court ofjustice rules last month that israel should do everything within its power to ensure its military does not commit genocidal acts against the palestinian people in gaza. that was the ruling then. what has happened todayis the ruling then. what has happened today is south africa has said it's extremely concerned about what may be happening in rafah, the city right in the south of gaza. the extent of which is put in this urgent request to the court and basically asking the judge is to look at what israel says it wants to

carry out in the city of rafah into consider whether it basically puts the israeli military in breach of what the court where talking about last month but also in breach of the genocide convention. so that's what south africa has been asking and we have to wait and see what the court decides to do next whether they think that's a legitimate line for them to pursue the.— think that's a legitimate line for them to pursue the. aside from that, of course, them to pursue the. aside from that, of course. we — them to pursue the. aside from that, of course, we have _ them to pursue the. aside from that, of course, we have had _ of course, we have had an international chorus of concern about israel's plans for rafah. is that having any impact? is that changing any mines in government, benjamin netanyahu in particular? very hard to say, matthew. at the moment, no obvious signs that he may be reconsidering. if we look at the military capability, if there where to be an end and ends operation, you would see a considerable build—up of troops around rafah, but we haven't been monitoring that are seen that in any meaningful way. of course, before that before any big military incursion into that city, israel

have said that they would have to move out the people who have tried to seek safety and shelter and rafah. some 1.5 million people and in terms of a plan, israel hasn't come forward with one yet and the united nations said they have not seen any sort of blueprint for how you move such a huge amount of people from that city. {131 you move such a huge amount of people from that city.— people from that city. of final click thought, _ people from that city. of final click thought, is _ people from that city. of final click thought, is there - people from that city. of final click thought, is there any - people from that city. of final| click thought, is there any sort people from that city. of final . click thought, is there any sort of update on that meeting going on in cairo, the help of some sort of new cease—fire hostage deal? hat cairo, the help of some sort of new cease-fire hostage deal?— cease-fire hostage deal? not yet. and i think _ cease-fire hostage deal? not yet. and i think we _ cease-fire hostage deal? not yet. and i think we need _ cease-fire hostage deal? not yet. and i think we need to _ cease-fire hostage deal? not yet. and i think we need to bear in - cease-fire hostage deal? not yet. i and i think we need to bear in mind that the head of the cia, the heavenly side, so spy chiefs as well as qatari and egyptian officials are involved in these negotiations, so may be unsurprising that there haven't been any significant leads that have come out today. someone who is familiar with the talks has told us that they believe hamas officials will be joining a new

wright, who presented so many different programmes for bbc radio 1 and two for more than four decades has died at the age of 69. his family confirmed his death with deep sorrow and profound regret in a statement that has just been released. joining the bbc in the 19705 and went down to host the afternoon shows on radio one, radio two. he also fronted numerous television programmes for the bbc. so that new is just coming in, confirmed by his family in a

statement, the death of steve wright, who presented so many different programmes over the years for the bbc. ready and waiting to talk to me isjeremy vine act radio two. jeremy, this is very, very sad news. , �* , two. jeremy, this is very, very sad news. , �*, ., , news. yes, it's come as a complete shock to us- — news. yes, it's come as a complete shock to us. the _ news. yes, it's come as a complete shock to us. the radio _ news. yes, it's come as a complete shock to us. the radio to _ news. yes, it's come as a complete shock to us. the radio to family - news. yes, it's come as a complete shock to us. the radio to family are j shock to us. the radio to family are in morning. we are devastated. —— mourning. the thing about steve, although he was 69 when he died, and i still can't believe it's, he still sounded like he did when he was 30.

gone and there are so many people who will feel this loss. i gone and there are so many people who will feel this loss.— who will feelthis loss. i can hear that in who willfeelthis loss. i can hear that in your— who will feelthis loss. i can hear that in your voice. _ who will feelthis loss. i can hear that in your voice. you _ who will feelthis loss. i can hear that in your voice. you were - who will feel this loss. i can hear i that in your voice. you were talking about his scale, his brilliance, his ability to connect with ordinary people, with

the way, our broadcasting studio... for obvious reasons and we are being moved out this week. the last show, i ended my show at two o'clock and knew about the news. i went through to what had been steve's studio and the sadness of this space that he inhabited for 18 or 19 years in this one building, this one room it's all been stripped out, you stand there looking and think, you know, it is almost too much to bear that he is gone as well. and he had a particular way of doing the show. it was the big show. it was serious, shocking, it was asked elvis, it was three hours of relentless energy, and he would come in at nine or ten in the morning and leave at 5:30pm every single day five days week. and all of us may be just a bit younger

than him would just watch and wonder at what he did. i do come back to this, he was so beautiful as a friend and as a gentle man. he was such a lovely man. he would spend time, every single day on the air, he would pop into my studiojust before i came off and say i love your show today and come off the back of the knees and make some joke about it. he was so generous and so giving and he lived for the radio. so if you are looking at the five or six greatest broadcasters in the history of the microphone to me about any nightingale, steve wright is up there, but forever, he is up there. , , ., ,~' is up there, but forever, he is up there. , ., there. jeremy, i will ask you another question _ there. jeremy, i will ask you another question in - there. jeremy, i will ask you another question in a - there. jeremy, i will ask you i another question in a moment, there. jeremy, i will ask you - another question in a moment, but let mejust tell viewers another question in a moment, but let me just tell viewers the bbc director general has just put out a statement saying all of us at the bbc are heartbroken to hear this terrible sad news. steve was a truly wonderful broadcaster who has been a huge part of so many of our lives

over many, many decades. he was the ultimate professional." jeremy, over many, many decades. he was the ultimate professional."jeremy, i will come back to in a moment, but there are more attributes at the moment on bbc radio 2. sarah cox speaking now. ijust want to play speaking now. i just want to play a little about. speaking now. i 'ust want to play a little about.— little about. elizabeth says heartbroken, _ little about. elizabeth says heartbroken, i— little about. elizabeth says heartbroken, i grew- little about. elizabeth says heartbroken, i grew up - little about. elizabeth says| heartbroken, i grew up with little about. elizabeth says - heartbroken, i grew up with steve in the afternoons, yeah, same, there are no— the afternoons, yeah, same, there are no words— the afternoons, yeah, same, there are no words to describe how much is voice _ are no words to describe how much is voice will_ are no words to describe how much is voice will be — are no words to describe how much is voice will be missed, mandy and nottingham says, "absolutely got it. so sorry— nottingham says, "absolutely got it. so sorry for— nottingham says, "absolutely got it. so sorry for you all and send you all love — so sorry for you all and send you all love me _ so sorry for you all and send you all love. me and my mates went to see in_ all love. me and my mates went to see in the — all love. me and my mates went to see in the 1988 at the black orchid in nottingham." i bet that was quite the gate _ in nottingham." i bet that was quite the gate. let's play this. a quarter flash— the gate. let's play this. a quarter flash and _ the gate. let's play this. a quarter flash and harden my heart. his producer— flash and harden my heart. his producer for many, many years. sarah 'ust ttivin producer for many, many years. sarah just giving you — producer for many, many years. sarah just giving you a _ producer for many, many years. sarah just giving you a flavour _ producer for many, many years. sarah just giving you a flavour of _ producerfor many, many years. ”(mu just giving you a flavour of what is happening on bbc radio 2. the many attributes that are coming in from listeners on to that show. jeremy, let me bring you back in because as i said right at the beginning, of course, he originally presented on

radio one and then made the transition to radio two. i mean, thatis transition to radio two. i mean, that is not easy but he made it look easy. that is not easy but he made it look eas . ., ., that is not easy but he made it look eas , ., ., ., that is not easy but he made it look eas . ., ., ., ., , that is not easy but he made it look eas . ., ., ., .,, ., that is not easy but he made it look eas . ., ., ., ., ., that is not easy but he made it look eas. ., ., ., ., .,, ., easy. part of that, he was on a show called read — easy. part of that, he was on a show called read and _ easy. part of that, he was on a show called read and write _ easy. part of that, he was on a show called read and write and _ easy. part of that, he was on a show called read and write and he - called read and write and he comes to radio one and ijust remember his breakthrough on radio one was sensational because he was the only person who in the daytime, he was the second generation, so tony blackburn had launched the station, steve wright came on with others in the early 805 and he was the only one who packed an incredible amount of production into his two or three hours a day and weekdays. in a sort of sense the workload must have been incredible but it was driven by this obsession that he had, this passion for radio. and when i tried to find out because i am a massive fan of his, what exactly was behind its coming he would say in every spare moment he would fly to america and drive around america listening to different american radio stations to get ideas. when he came to radio to in the 905, he changed upon the

voices of mr angry and all of that. -- bbc voices of mr angry and all of that. —— bbc radio 2. indeed presented a different kind of show which i think was much more durable in the sense that he could do three hours a day for as long as he did. but, yeah, the move of steve wright to bbc radio 2 was a huge move and turning the page of the station under control controller called jan who felt he was sending a signal about what bbc radio 2 is going to be in the years to come. so he's an absolute linchpin of bbc radio 2 and absolute linchpin of bbc radio 2 and a bbc radio1 absolute linchpin of bbc radio 2 and a bbc radio 1 and of the whole of british radio and their want to be a radio addict anywhere in the country who doesn't love the name steve wright. who doesn't love the name steve writht. ,, . ., wright. such an intelligent conversation _ wright. such an intelligent conversation over - wright. such an intelligent conversation over these i wright. such an intelligent i conversation over these years wright. such an intelligent - conversation over these years and his various shows on bbc radio 2. i mean, i mean, am reading here, i didn't know this, he was last on there distance hosting a prerecorded special of a valentines day addition of his programme and about love songs. of his programme and about love sonts. , ,., of his programme and about love sonts. , ., , ., of his programme and about love sonts. , ., y ., , of his programme and about love sonts. , ., , ., , songs. yes, so many love songs was a bit art of songs. yes, so many love songs was a big part of steve's _ songs. yes, so many love songs was a big part of steve's life, _ songs. yes, so many love songs was a

big part of steve's life, and _ big part of steve's life, and once he stopped doing his daily show, he was concentrating on that and sounds of the 605 as well. i think he was taking a bit of time to step back from this relentless schedule that he had. in a way i hope they put out that last programme of his because the whole country will listen to it. he had an amazing way with listeners and i think the thing about radio, it makes a big splash, it's big, radio is much more intimate. even though not everyone knew it he looked like because it doesn't function with photos and films with steve, the connection that he had with his listeners, because it went back so far was incredible. and i remember, matthew, we have some kind of auction for children in need all the presenters were doing things that i was taking some around london or whatever and the steve wright auction was just the simplest thing,

come and see his show. and the bidding on that was crazier than anything else. it was a double or treble every other a lot. all anyone ever wanted to do was go and watch steve at work, and his home was that studio. that studio i was in today. that studio where i love to be, he left to turn the microphone on can i see the red lights and no he was talking to his listeners. you see the red lights and no he was talking to his listeners.- talking to his listeners. you said so many interesting _ talking to his listeners. you said so many interesting things. i talking to his listeners. you said so many interesting things. and| so many interesting things. and amongst one of the earlier answers you talked about the impact he had on the next generation, people like you in so many others. tell me more about that. i you in so many others. tell me more about that-— about that. i “oined bbc radio 2 and 2003. i about that. i “oined bbc radio 2 and zoos. l was — about that. ijoined bbc radio 2 and 2003. l was 37. — about that. ijoined bbc radio 2 and 2003. l was 37. l was _ about that. ijoined bbc radio 2 and 2003. i was 37. i was intimidated i about that. ijoined bbc radio 2 and| 2003. iwas 37. iwas intimidated by 2003. i was 37. i was intimidated by the scale of the network. and there where one or two presenters, steve wright, ken bruce, who wear it so it generates, and steve especially. i mean, steve said to me i really like to meet yourfamily mean, steve said to me i really like to meet your family and invited mean, steve said to me i really like to meet yourfamily and invited us all down to his club and we had lunch on a sunday within and he sat outside chatting about radio and

chatting about his family, who he loved. he was a very humble man, actually, and i think he was very private, i think that generation was so famous and he said tony blackburn's show as is as ofjuly 20 6 million people. they learn to have a level of privacy, and if you had any moment that was if i went out with dinner with steve or something like that we had a conversation that wasn't about radio, i would feel very privileged because i think they learn to hide away events. i think logan was very private, bruce was very private. and therefore it was a real gift that he offered friendship and particularly as a colleague, i just think the ultimate professional. and i incredible impression —— professional. so the incredible combination of friendship and professional, no one could touch him. he was neverjealous, he was never envious that he would never bad—mouth anyone. he only one time said he had a total ban on people

coming near his studio with clipboards, which was really funny because obviously some manager, health and safety had come near the window of his studio with a clipboard. that was the only time i saw him even slightly cross. jeremy, it is treat saw him even slightly cross. jeremy, it is great to — saw him even slightly cross. jeremy, it is great to talk _ saw him even slightly cross. jeremy, it is great to talk to _ saw him even slightly cross. jeremy, it is great to talk to you _ saw him even slightly cross. jeremy, it is great to talk to you and - it is great to talk to you and semi—wonderful memories and a lovely tribute from you to hand as we learn the news that steve wright, one of the news that steve wright, one of the giants of the bbc has died at the giants of the bbc has died at the age of 69. tim devi, director general, saying no one had more energy to deliver shows that put a smile on audiences basis. so that new is coming into us we will have plenty more coming into us in the next little while. —— tim davies. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news here in the uk... the trial has started of a man accused of murdering pc sharon beshenivsky in 2005.

the 38—year—old officer died after she was shot while she and a colleague responded to reports of a robbery in bradford. 75—year—old piran ditta khan — who was extradited from pakistan last year — denies all the offences. official figures show that the rate at which wages are rising dropped in the three months to december — but it still outpaced the level of inflation. the office for national statistics said wage growth dropped by 0.4 percentage points to 6.2% in the last quarter of last year. a man has astonished police by calling 999 to report himself for drink—driving. north yorkshire police said the call came injust before noon on monday from a man who said he was "drink—driving and doesn't know what he is doing". the driver told the call—handler he was in knaresborough and had had "a heavy weekend".

you're live with bbc news. in it he discusses the treatment of the mp andy mcdonald, who was suspended by labour for an alleged anti—semitic remark. invis. that was the final straw and labour has now withdrawn its support. those comments were appalling and that is why we took decisive action. bring us up—to—date. bring us up-to-date. people we have been sneaking _ bring us up-to-date. people we have been speaking to _ bring us up-to-date. people we have been speaking to here _ bring us up-to-date. people we have been speaking to here this _ been speaking to here this afternoon, matthew, have been telling us that they are divided and what they said in a private meeting and his thoughts on the middle east there. the common feeling is that

they do think those comments may have cost in the seat. how it plays out at the polls we get to see whether or not they are concerned about this political row. people are more concerned about the issues here in rochdale itself, but the cost of living come about housing. but certainly people have told us they feel very strange being a voter. as a labour majority with no official labour candidate. if you are a traditional labour voter, how do you feel about the party at the moment. you've spoken there about one of the latest developments within the labour party itself this afternoon. also, do you feel that it acted quickly enough in withdrawing support and what critics are saying today about being treated differently if you are left of the party compared to the right. this

row has brought these factions within the party to the forefront yet again. and do you feel that the party has changed, of course, this is something that kier starmer has said that he would be doing under his leadership, tackling anti—semitism, a message he has always been putting forward their and repeated again this afternoon as he said a few moments ago as he took decisive action. as a voter here, these are things that you will be weighing up in the coming weeks, but what we do now about to buy elections usually is that they can be used as a way of showing your dissatisfaction with the current government that can be used in that way. labour has a majority of 9000 year. of course, he's been performing well in the polls, so you might have thought that this would be a given that the party would have one here, of course, opponents now hoping that this curveball would mean that labour would suffer a

backlash instead. he was in a couple of weeks' time, and of course, and politics, a lot can happen between now and then stop by to thank you very much. as fiona was saying, as we put the full list of candidates and that by election, still on that list under labour. it was too late for azhar ali to be removed. latte for azhar ali to be removed. we will have more in _ for azhar ali to be removed. we will have more in the _ for azhar ali to be removed. we will have more in the next _ for azhar ali to be removed. we will have more in the next little - for azhar ali to be removed. we will have more in the next little while i have more in the next little while and that suspension of graham jones. that news just and that suspension of graham jones. that newsjust coming and that suspension of graham jones. that news just coming to us from the labour party. i am back with headlines here injust a moment. don't go away. hello there. good afternoon. a very different—looking day of weather today for much of england and wales than we saw yesterday. gone are those blue skies. instead, the daffodils languishing underneath rather grey leaden skies. but still the sunshine continues across much of scotland today

and indeed the far north of northern ireland too. and here is the weather front responsible for the change in our weather. it's a warm front, it's moving further northwards and eastwards as we head through the rest of the afternoon across england and wales. and it's bringing with it some milderfeeling air, but lots of thickening cloud, coastal fog and some showery outbreaks of rain on and off for the rest of the day with brisk south—westerly winds. but still some sunshine for much of northern ireland and from the borders north with some wintry showers still perhaps across the higher ground of western scotland. and overnight tonight, well, our weather front continues to push further northward, sending more cloud into northern ireland and perhaps into southern scotland, too. a sharp temperature contrast overnight tonight with temperatures for some in the sheltered glens of scotland down as low as minus six celsius, but double figures further south across much of england and wales. again, the showery outbreaks of rain likely to continue and a few more weather fronts around on wednesday again, all pushing northwards and eastwards. there'll be some heavy rain for a time across northern ireland and into southern scotland. as that rain moves further north and bumps into the colder feeling

air over the higher ground of scotland it's likely that it could turn to snow. there'll also be more rain across the south of england and wales, but in between maybe a few brighter spells and any brightness will help to lift the temperature to 1a or 15 celsius. again, brisk south—westerly winds for some. more weather fronts around on thursday. this warm front introducing some very mild feeling air and if we do get any brightness across the south east of england through the day on thursday, temperatures here could rise as high as 16 or 17 celsius. most of the rain on thursday will tend to be towards the north and the west. again, there will be some heavy downpours at times, temperatures well above the seasonal average and starting to rise, too, across the far north of scotland as that rain continues to push further northwards. on friday, that rain is mostly pushed out towards the east. there'll be plenty of cloud around, some outbreaks of drizzle here and there. the best of any brightness really on friday will tend to be to the south and the west. again, temperatures mild for the time of year. bye— bye.

this is bbc news. the headlines: and bbc radio 2 presenter steve wright dies at the age of 69. labour are under fire under the handling of their rochdale

candidate's marks on israel. it is a touth candidate's marks on israel. it is a tough decision _ candidate's marks on israel. it is a tough decision and _ candidate's marks on israel. it is a tough decision and necessary i tough decision and necessary decision, but when i say the neighbour party has changed under my leadership, i mean it. —— when i say the labour party has changed. 0n patrol when air strikes hit. we'll bring you an exclusive bbc report on the challenges paramedics face when responding to gaza's emergency calls. king charles returns to london for what is widely expected to be medical treatment following his cancer diagnosis. all of that coming up. first, though, let's head to the bbc sport centre. good evening. good evening, matthew. thank you. the return of the champions league is just a few hours away, as manchester city resume the defence of their title with a trip to fc copenhagen tonight. the current champions go into the last 16 tie as favourites, but city manager pep guardiola is warning against complacency when taking on a side which beat manchester united ll—3 at home

in the group stages.