to help other victims and one of the most eagerly—awaited sequels, dune 2, gets its uk premiere. we'll hear from some of its a—list stars. hello. we start here in the uk, where the government has suffered a double by—election defeat at the hand of the oppotion labour party. it's the latest blow to the conservatives less than a year from a general election that opinion polls suggest they are likely to lose. labour candidates overturned comfortable majorities in kingswood and wellingborough. hailing the results, labour's leader, sir keir starmer, said the british people were ready to put their trust in his party to deliver change. in kingswood labour

overturned a 11,220 conservative majority to win. our political correspondent hannah miller sent us this report. the results are in and they are pretty much packed up here in kingswood to now. until tonight, labour haven't won in this seat since 2005, and it is a seat that with one exception has tended to vote for the party that then wins the general election. of course, by—elections are not the same as when people go to the polls in a general election, but the party is using tonight to claim that the result here shows that people are ready to trust in a labour government. there was a real glint in the eye of labour people here tonight, feeling that they had put in the work for this win, and that it was one set them on the right track for the months to come. this is what the labour candidate, now the labour mp, had to say immediately after his win. today we have been knocking

doors — today we have been knocking doors all_ today we have been knocking doors all day, speaking to pe0ple. _ doors all day, speaking to people, and you are never quite sure _ people, and you are never quite sure how— people, and you are never quite sure how it_ people, and you are never quite sure how it is going. but it has — sure how it is going. but it has been _ sure how it is going. but it has been a really positive campaign. we have tried to run on issues — campaign. we have tried to run on issues that people care about, _ on issues that people care about, try and listen to pe0ple. _ about, try and listen to people, focus on addressing those — people, focus on addressing those things, and it is kind of lucky— those things, and it is kind of lucky because things that the residents were telling us are things— residents were telling us are things that keir and the labour party— things that keir and the labour party have been talking about, the nhs, — party have been talking about, the nhs, cost of living crisis, policing, _ the nhs, cost of living crisis, policing, community policing, that_ policing, community policing, that seem to chime with the voters — that seem to chime with the voters of— that seem to chime with the voters of kingswood.- that seem to chime with the voters of kingswood. taking a look at the — voters of kingswood. taking a look at the other _ voters of kingswood. taking a look at the other parties, - look at the other parties, reform came third, beating the greens and the liberal democrats. if all the people who voted reform had voted for the conservatives, we could have been looking at a different result. of course you can't necessarily say that that is what they would have done, but it is something that will be on the mind of rishi sunak and some conservative mps when they look at these results in they look at these results in the cold light of day. on one person who is looking very closely at them is the former

cabinet ministerjacob rees—mogg. his constituency neighbours kingswood, and when the kingswood constituency gets broken up at the next general election because of the boundary changes, a sizeable chunk of the people who voted here today will be voting in his constituency. this is what he had to say in the aftermath of the result. it’s he had to say in the aftermath of the result.— of the result. it's not as bad as i'd expected. _ of the result. it's not as bad as i'd expected. if _ of the result. it's not as bad as i'd expected. if you - of the result. it's not as bad as i'd expected. if you add l as i'd expected. if you add together the conservative and the reform party vote, it is more — the reform party vote, it is more than the labour party vote — more than the labour party vote. labour didn't get over 50%. _ vote. labour didn't get over 50%. and _ vote. labour didn't get over 50%, and bear in mind this was a seat— 50%, and bear in mind this was a seat labour held throughout its period _ a seat labour held throughout its period in government from 1997 _ its period in government from 1997 to— its period in government from 1997 to 2010. if it is not winning _ 1997 to 2010. if it is not winning and winning strongly here — winning and winning strongly here in— winning and winning strongly here in the by—election, then it's prospect in a general election— it's prospect in a general election are not that good. clearly— election are not that good. clearly the story for the night here in kingswood is that it has been a very good night indeed for the labour party. in the other by—election in wellingborough labour overturned a huge conservative majority of over 18,000 to win.

it's the biggest drop in the share of the vote at a by—election for the conservatives since at least the second world war. 0ur political correspondent harry farley was at the count and sent us this report. well, a significant victory for the labour party this evening here in wellingborough. the new labour mp for wellingborough gen kitchen giving interviews to the media behind me. she said that she was delighted by the result. she said that she hoped it would send a strong message from northamptonshire to downing street. sir keir starmerjust commenting saying that he said the tories have failed, in his words, and he said there is victory shows that labour are back in the service of working people. this is one of the largest swings in history. 28.5% swing to labour, and that is well beyond what the labour party need to take a majority in the general election next year. the conservatives, from their perspective they will say city governments often struggle in by—elections, they will point

to the fact that they didn't campaign particularly hard here. unlike labour, rishi sunak did not come to do a campaign visit here, sir keir starmer did. they didn't campaign particularly hard, they will say, i will potentially hope to win this backin potentially hope to win this back in a general election in the coming months, but that doesn't take away from the fact that this is a very significant victory for the labour party, and one that they will hope to carry on and take forward to a general election later this year. general election later this ear. , , . general election later this ear. ,, ., 2 year. this is what laybutt's newest mp. _ year. this is what laybutt's newest mp, gen _ year. this is what laybutt's newest mp, gen kitchen, l year. this is what laybutt's i newest mp, gen kitchen, said year. this is what laybutt's - newest mp, gen kitchen, said in her victory speech. i am delighted to stand here is the newly elected labour mp for wellingborough. cheering. i am honoured that local people have placed their trust in me and the labour party under keir starmer — but i also know from the thousands of conversations i have had during this campaign how desperately people want to change and a fresh start for our country.

the people of wellingborough have spoken for britain. this is a stunning victory for the labour party, and must send a message from northamptonshire to downing street. iran a positive campaign built on both the local issues that people told me needed addressing here as well as the national desire for change. people here are patriotic, and hopeful for our country, and they care about our community. but they know that our roads aren't fit to drive on, getting your child a doctor's appointment can seem impossible and that they are paying more and getting less. today they said enough is enough. applause. in reaction, the labour leader sir keir starmer called the by—election results "fa ntastic". in a statement he says: "by winning in these tory

strongholds, we can confidently say that labour is back in the service of working people and we will work tirelessly to deliverfor them." sirjohn curtice, professor of politics at strathclyde university, has been following the by elections overnight and joins us from our london newsroom. thank you forjoining us, you have been up all night and you are still going. let me ask you the big question. do you think these results suggest that keir starmer�*s labour party will secure a victory at the next general election?— secure a victory at the next general election? these results certainly do _ general election? these results certainly do nothing _ general election? these results certainly do nothing to - general election? these results certainly do nothing to cast - certainly do nothing to cast any doubt on that proposition that didn't exist beforehand. it has long looked, really ever since the downfall of liz truss backin since the downfall of liz truss back in the autumn of 2022, that labour had an excellent chance of winning a general election. we have now seen overnight two very substantial swings from conservatives to labour. they are on top of

substantial swings in by—elections in the second half of last year, and therefore in a sense the evidence is all of a sense the evidence is all of a piece, that the conservative party which has been trying hard in the last six months under rishi sunak to try to narrow labour's lead and give it a chance of being able to recover by the time of a general election which has to happen by the end of this year, but so far the conservatives' efforts are not yielding any significant reward, and at the moment at least they still seem to be heading for what could be, and i emphasise could, be a serious defeat in the general election. �* serious defeat in the general election. . g ., ., ., election. and john, to what extent do _ election. and john, to what extent do you _ election. and john, to what extent do you think- election. and john, to what extent do you think the - election. and john, to what| extent do you think the new beast, reform uk, and their results affected that result? it has added extra dimension to the difficulty the conservatives find themselves in. the opinion polls suggesting that reform uk are

now picking up as many 2019 conservative voters as our labour, and these are essentially for the most part people who are in favour of being outside the european union, and reform's progress on the rise in the polls in recent weeks have been confirmed in these by—elections. it is helping to fraction further that coalition of overwhelmingly pro—lee voters that brought borisjohnson victory back in 2019. and while not everybody who voted reform would otherwise have voted conservative, there can be little doubt that it is primarily affecting the conservative vote, and the result, given that reform are threatening to stand in every constituency, they are going to find themselves not only losing ground to labour, but also losing ground to reform, not

that reform will necessarily pick up seats, it is just that their progress will simply increase the size of labour's seats tally. increase the size of labour's seats tally-— seats tally. john curtice, thank you _ seats tally. john curtice, thank you very _ seats tally. john curtice, thank you very much. i seats tally. john curtice, l thank you very much. you seats tally. john curtice, - thank you very much. you can go and have some breakfast now. everybody who wants more on this story, you can follow all the latest developments on it by heading to our live coverage online, that is it on the website or the app. let's get some of the day's other news now. israel says it has found and arrested dozens of hamas gunmen inside a hospital it raided in southern gaza. medical sources said the israeli army fired into a ward in nasser hospital in khan younis, killing a patient and injuring others during what they called a catastrophic operation. an israeli army spokesman said the incursion into the hospital — which he alleged was used to hide hostages , had been precise and limited. the greek parliament has approved a bill to legalise same—sex marriage.

it makes greece the first 0rthodox—majority country, and the first in south—east europe, to enshrine marriage equality, and to allow same—sex couples to adopt children. the prime minister, kyriakos mitsotakis, said the result was a milestone for human rights, reflecting a progressive country, passionately committed to european values. but the head of the greek orthodox church said the measure threatened to corrupt social cohesion. president putin says russian families must produce at least two children if the nation is to survive, and three or more if it is to develop and thrive. russia's population has been declining for decades, but this has now been aggravated by heavy battlefield losses in ukraine and the exodus of hundreds of thousands of young people escaping the draft. in the us, donald trump will become the first former president to go on criminal trial after a new york judge set a court date for the end of next month.

he is accused of falsifying business records in connection with payments made to an adult film star stormy daniels. let's speak to gregory germain, professor of law at syracuse university. thank you very much forjoining us. is this a straightforward case that he is now facing? it is a very complicated case, because in order for those payments to be a crime, they have to show that they were made as part of a conspiracy to cover up anotherfederal made as part of a conspiracy to cover up another federal crime, and election crime. that he is not being charged with and hasn't been charged with. and so it is a very complicated case. ,., so it is a very complicated case. y ., ~ so it is a very complicated case. ~ ., case. do you think donald trump. — case. do you think donald trump. who _ case. do you think donald trump, who says - case. do you think donald trump, who says this - case. do you think donald| trump, who says this case case. do you think donald - trump, who says this case will interfere with his running in the election, it's a fair comment? and do you think that thejudge has taken comment? and do you think that the judge has taken that factor into account?—

into account? well, we don't really know _ into account? well, we don't really know what _ into account? well, we don't really know what the - into account? well, we don't really know what the judge l into account? well, we don't l really know what the judge has taken into account except the judges pushing this case forward right now. so presumably he is not very impressed with that argument. we have got to remember that this case has been tried in new york city, and new york city is very anti—trump. but york city, and new york city is very anti-trump.— york city, and new york city is very anti-trump. but why do you think ou very anti-trump. but why do you think you didn't _ very anti-trump. but why do you think you didn't take _ very anti-trump. but why do you think you didn't take that - very anti-trump. but why do you think you didn't take that into . think you didn't take that into account, then, that it might interfere with the running of the election?— interfere with the running of the election? just because he has decided _ the election? just because he has decided to _ the election? just because he has decided to go _ the election? just because he has decided to go forward - the election? just because he | has decided to go forward with the case, and this case has been on hold for a very long time, and all of a sudden he is pushing thejudges, decided to pushing thejudges, decided to pushit pushing thejudges, decided to push it forward right now. and as we are coming into election season, so he didn't have to do that, and so that suggests to me that he very much wants to push this case forward right before the election. find push this case forward right before the election. and for everyone — before the election. and for everyone following - before the election. and for everyone following this - everyone following this closely, this is one of four criminal cases against former president trump. how serious is this case compared to the

others? i this case compared to the others? ., _ , this case compared to the others? ., , , others? i would say this is the least serious _ others? i would say this is the least serious of _ others? i would say this is the least serious of the _ others? i would say this is the least serious of the crimes - least serious of the crimes that have been alleged, some very old case dating back to 2016, these payments were made before the election between donald trump and hillary clinton, and so it's, there is statute of limitations problems on the underlying claim, and it is a very complicated case, and it involves money payment, hush money payments, and ultimately covering up the payment of hush money to these two women. and so unlike the other cases that he is facing, much more current in serious cases involving taking and not disclosing highly confidential national secrets and election

interference after the last election, and so those cases i think are much more serious cases, and it is interesting that we have this relatively old and obscure case coming up first. , ., , , ., ., first. gregory germain, law professor. _ first. gregory germain, law professor, thank _ first. gregory germain, law professor, thank you - first. gregory germain, law professor, thank you very l first. gregory germain, law- professor, thank you very much forjoining us. professor, thank you very much forjoining us— around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. in other news. the number of patients in england waiting more than 12 hours for a bed on a ward after being seen in a&e was 19 times higher this winter than it was before the covid pandemic. new data shows there were nearly 100,000 12—hour waits in december and january — compared to about 5000 in 2019—to—2020. british gas has announced its profits for 2023 increased tenfold to £750 million. the supplier said the jump from £72 million in 2022

was due to regulator 0fgem allowing it to recover losses of £500 million it racked up in the aftermath of russia's invasion of ukraine. centrica, british gas's parent company, said its profits fell by 17% to £2.8 billion. the bass guitar used by paul mccartney to record some of the beatles' biggest hits has been returned to him more than 50 years after it was stolen from a van in london. a public appeal prompted a man in southern england to remember he had an old instrument in his attic. you're live with bbc news. here in the uk, survivors of forced marriage say more needs to be done to help other victims. it comes almost one year after a new law increasing the legal age of marriage to 18 came into force in england. the government said the change would crack down on forced marriages and protect vulnerable young people. previously, 16 and 17—year—olds could marry if they had parental consent. two women from the midlands who were taken abroad and forced into marriage as teenagers say the law

will help others, but cases could be more hidden. shehnaz khan reports. this man they got me married to was 30 and i was 15. at 15, rubie marie went to bangladesh on a family holiday, but then she was forced into marriage. without her knowledge, her father had arranged for her to marry a man she had never met. he just casually — just so casually — said, "wouldn't it be great if we got rubie married?" everyone knew apart from me what was going to happen. after her wedding day, her new husband wanted a child. and the rape would happen continuously. i went into a zombie state, i was depressed. after returning to wales to give birth, she fled to the west midlands. she says a new law, which increased the legal age of marriage from 16 to 18 last february, will help other victims. i don't think that it's easily going to be stopped. it's going to push more

and more underground. for fozia rashid, a trip to pakistan to visit her dying grandparents also ended in a nightmare. i went to pakistan, and within two weeks... ..i was married. at the age of 16, she was held at gunpoint by her uncle, and forced into marrying her cousin. the stress of the incident caused permanent damage to her eyes. she was told, if she didn't go ahead, she and her family would be killed. so the option for me was... ..death or marriage. it wasn't of my choice. i was a child. when she returned to the uk, she told her parents what had happened, and they stood by her. i think if the... if the law was changed to say that you have to be at least 21 years of age to get married, that could only be a good thing.

the government's forced marriage unit provided support for 302 cases in 2022. in almost one third of those, the victim is under 18 years old. but campaigners say increasing the minimum age isjust the first step in tackling forced marriages in the uk. forced marriage impacts on many different age groups, and we need to ensure that we have the right services and the right training in place to be able to support. the government says child marriage destroys lives, and that its dedicated forced marriage unit provides support and advice for victims both in the uk and overseas. let's go to the world of pop now. just days after she watched her boyfriend's team win the super bowl, pop mega star taylor swift is in australia for the next leg of her blockbuster eras stadium tour. let's take a look at the numbers. after kicking off in march last year, it's the highest grossing music tour in history,

with more than one billion us dollars in ticket sales. the show has more than 150 dates across five continents. in australia, more than 620,000 tickets have been sold — and that was before a last—minute release of more tickets on tuesday. and in melbourne alone, the city's mayor estimates that swift will bring in more than $1 billion australian to the city's economy during the three night tour. let's speak to news reporter emer mccarthy in melbourne. i think you are still searching for a ticket, aren't you? what is the atmosphere like there? these will be the hardest tickets you can get your hands on right now. the crowd behind me, we are still a few hours away from taylor hitting the stage, but the crowds are here and out and about. i am feeling pretty underdressed, i don't think i have enough sparkles or glitter, and there are a lot of cowboy boots, so i don't think are really fit in with the crowd, but i must say there is a fantastic atmosphere, as you can see, i don't want to rub it

in in london, but it is a beautiful night here in melbourne, and a wonderful atmosphere. people are giving away friendship bracelets, there are fantastic costumes, whether they are handmade or kansas city chiefs jerseys, everyone is certainly getting into the spirit here in melbourne for the first night of taylor swift's eras tour. and how has the city been preparing? i and how has the city been preparing?— and how has the city been --rearina? . , and how has the city been --rearin-? ., , ., preparing? i have been here for the last ten _ preparing? i have been here for the last ten days _ preparing? i have been here for the last ten days or— preparing? i have been here for the last ten days or so, - preparing? i have been here for the last ten days or so, not - the last ten days or so, not that i was around back in 1964 when the beatles were here, but everyone is saying that this can only be compared to beatlemania back in 1964 when the beatles were here. you cannot turn on a radio, you can't open a newspaper, you can't open a newspaper, you can't sit on a train and not hear people talking about taylor swift. as you sit in your introduction, the mayor of melbourne is expecting this tour to bring in $1 billion to melbourne's economy alone over the three nights. in addition to that, melbourne airport has

its busiest day since before the pandemic today, with last flights getting in, and almost every single hotel room is booked as well. taylor mania has well and truly taken over. and what is it like meeting the super fans? and what is it like meeting the soper fans?— super fans? they are super fans, that's _ super fans? they are super fans, that's for _ super fans? they are super fans, that's for sure. - super fans? they are super fans, that's for sure. i - fans, that's for sure. i wouldn't want to say the wrong thing in front of them. i certainly wouldn't want to mention any of taylor's previous boyfriends or get a lyric wrong. i feel that the swifty is a very serious fan base. there is a lot of fun. emer mccarthy, who never says the wrong thing, thank you for joining us. how exciting. it's one of the most eagerly anticipated sequels in years. hollywood heart—throbs timothee chalamet and zendaya hit the red carpet last night for the world premiere of dune: part two.

our culture reporter noor nanji was there for us... i'll love you as long as i breathe. the long wait is over for the sequel to denis villeneuve's 0scar—winning film dune. it's a story... in the lead roles are hollywood's biggest young stars — timothee chalamet back as paul atreides, and starring alongside him as his love interest is zendaya. ever since dune: part 0ne's cliffhanger ending, fans have been patiently waiting for the next instalment. the release date was delayed due to the hollywood strikes. in london's leicester square, it was all smiles as the world premiere finally took place. the sequel is filled with more stunning cinematography and an even bigger a—list cast. honestly, you just wake up every day hoping that you can be as good as the person next to you. they truly are so brilliant, and getting to learn from them and watch them work, i think, is the best part. 0n the red carpet, crowds of fans queued for hours to see them.

i'm most excited to see zendaya and timothee chalamet—100%. who are you most excited to see? timothee chalamet — i literally love him so much! i got this cardboard cut—out for christmas — it was amazing. here because we saw. the first film, which was absolutely incredible — - i thought it was so amazing — so really look - forward to part two. chalamet admitted to feeling nervous about reprising the role, but was glad to be reunited with former little women co—star florence pugh. a little bit of pressure, a little bit of pressure to see it through. but, you know, got to reunite with my good friend over here, help me carry over the finish line. he's psychotic. another star addition in the role of the villainous baron is austin butler — but not as you've ever seen him before. i'm a massive fan of the book and of the first, like, part one of dune, so it wasjust the time of my life. look who's back from the dead.

expectations for dune are sky high, after the first film won six oscars and was a box—office hit. film—makers will be hoping part two can repeat the success. noor nanji, bbc news. sky—high expectations champion for the business use coming up in a moment, and we have a star of dragons' den. don't miss that. hello there. we're certainly seeing quite a lot of rain so far this february, but it's also been incredibly mild with it at times. and this warm and wet story is perfect growing ingredients for those early spring bulbs out there. now, temperatures at this time of year should be sitting around 8—9 celsius as an average, butjust take a look at what happened during thursday. we saw temperatures widely into the mid—teens, and for some as high as 18 celsius. so, yes, it was incredibly mild. the mild theme is set

to continue, perhaps not quite as mild, but nevertheless pleasant enough. and on friday, we should start the day with some sunshine coming through. a westerly wind just feeding in a few isolated showers across wales and northern england, but on the whole, pleasant enough. bit more of a breeze down towards the south, and the cooler northerly breeze across the far north of scotland. so here, a little bit cooler, but generally temperatures between 12—14 celsius. now, into the start of the weekend, we've still got that little ridge of high pressure with us to begin with, but this weather front starting to push in from the atlantic. so, first thing on saturday, some early brightness in eastern areas, clouding over quite quickly and it will be quite drizzly with it as well. the further west you go, we'll start to see some rain, some of it heavy by the end of the afternoon. but still the wind direction coming from a southerly, so still those temperatures above where they should be for the time of year, 9—14 celsius the high. that rain will sweep its way steadily south and east overnight saturday into sunday morning, so a bit of a contrast first thing on sunday morning.

we could see some rain lingering for a time through the east midlands and down into south—east england, but it will slowly improve, brightening up across the far north in scotland, northern ireland, northern england, eventually western areas by the end of the afternoon. and in the sunshine, well, it'll still feel pleasant enough, but it could stay rather grey in the south—east through much of sunday. into the early half of next week, it's a similar weather story. we'll have one frontal system easing away, a ridge of high pressure building, but not lasting, another front pushing in. and the isobars squeezing together, the winds could be a feature. so it's not a wash—out by any means. there will be some sunnier moments. it stays relatively mild, but also some rain at times.

live from london, this is bbc news. tightening the net — the eu widens its digital services act from tomorrow, to include all platforms offering services in the union. so how will this affect consumers? troubles in india's start—up ecosystem which is facing scrutiny from regulators. and why are chinese consumers so fond of uk and european brands?

we begin in europe, where the eu's new digital services act — which has been in place for large platforms like tiktok, snap, and meta since august — will also apply to providers of intermediary services from tomorrow. cloud providers, online marketplaces and app stores will all be required to comply with a number of obligations which aim to create a safer digital environment. joining me now is 0lia valigourskaia, ceo and founder of webete — which allows platforms to identify copyright and criminal content. thank you so much forjoining me here. what is actually going to change on saturday with the digital services act? how will it come into effect and how will it affect consumers? thank ou for will it affect consumers? thank you for this _ will it affect consumers? thank you for this question _ will it affect consumers? thank you for this question and - will it affect consumers? thank you for this question and for. you for this question and for inviting me. one thing i have to say is that platforms have been already trying to

implement measures to