hodgson was taken ill on thursday amid reports he was set to be sacked. today he announced he is stepping aside and crystal palace have already appointed his successor. and in sportsday later in the hour on bbc news, we will bring you the latest talking points from the bbc sport centre. good evening and welcome to the six o'clock news. a man who piloted a dinghy carrying dozens of migrants from france to britain, four of whom drowned, has been found guilty of their manslaughter. ibrahima bah, who is from senegal, agreed with a smuggling gang to pilot the boat in return for a free crossing even though he had no training. it's the first case of its kind and could have implications for future investigations.

our legal correspondent dominic casciani reports. a light in the dark. cries in the distance. the early hours of december 2022, a fishing boat in the english channel discovers a sinking migrants�* dinghy. men swim for their lives. 39 saved, at least four drowned. this man in the blue coat, ibrahima bah, accused of their manslaughter. he agreed to pilot the inflatable to england. over two trials prosecutors said he was criminally responsible for the deaths. when it began taking on water he could have taken the dinghy back to france. one of the survivors from that night told the bbc everyone feared they would drown. people stood up inside the boat and then the boat collapsed. i didn't know whether he was a smuggler, a refugee, asylum seeker, but he helped us and he saved us. i don't know what to say. he was speeding the boat in order

to get closer to the fishing boat and he also turned or swerved the boat in a way that helped us. and this is why the crossings are so dangerous. this boat is a similar size and construction to the one that ibrahim bah was in. ibrahima bah was in. the border force have got it out to show us and filled it with the items they find typically in every rescue. you have got buoyancy aids used on canoes, on lakes and rivers, totally unsuitable for the job. you've got fuel bottles, foot pumps, and look at this, the construction. it's basically a bouncy castle and that is why they say these are a death trap. jurors were told smugglers had offered ibrahima bah a free seat in return for piloting. the prosecutors argued the deaths occurred as part of a criminal enterprise. the senegalese man was responsible for everyone�*s safety and could have foreseen the tragedy. but bah said he had no choice, the smugglers threatened to kill him when he had second thoughts.

this manslaughter trial has been unprecedented. somebody is responsible, he can't duck out of saying that he was responsible simply because he says that he was in the same situation as the other migrants. he chose to be the man in charge? yes. more than 140 other people have been prosecuted for piloting boats since 2022, boats that have brought 30,000 men, women and children on dangerous journeys, a trade the government is under huge political pressure to stop. dominicjoins me now. there has not been another case like this, how significant is it? the there has not been another case like this, how significant is it?— this, how significant is it? the uk has extradited _ this, how significant is it? the uk has extradited one _ this, how significant is it? the uk has extradited one man _ this, how significant is it? the uk has extradited one man to - this, how significant is it? the uk has extradited one man to france this, how significant is it? the uk- has extradited one man to france who is facing a very similar situation, but pick up on the number in my package, we have had prosecutions for minor offences, illegal arrival in the uk essentially. but this case put a watermark down that there is a

potential opportunity to go for people who are found criminally responsible for harm. that was the key thing in this case. if you are going to prove manslaughter, you have to prove some responsibility for what happened. ibrahima bah said he was under duress and try to back out, but he had no choice. in the first trial of the first jury was undecided and they said he had a duty of care because he volunteered to take the tiller. it was a criminal agreement because he got a free passage and there was a serious and obvious risk of harm and it was foreseeable that people could die. it was blind luck that he got over. on that basis people were invited to convict and had done so. the sentencing at the end of this week, it will be interesting to see how the judge deals with that, given the unique situation. but this is what prosecutors can do in future cases. but this is what prosecutors can do in future cases.

the widow of the russian opposition leader alexei navalny says her husband was killed because the russian president couldn't break him and she will continue his work fighting for their country. the 47—year—old died unexpectedly in a prison camp on friday and his family have still not been allowed to retrieve his body to try independently to ascertain how he died. 0ur russia editor steve rosenberg reports. for three days now, she's been trying to recover his son's body, but alexei navalny�*s mother — here in the middle — was told that investigators are not ready to release it or even where the body is. a clue, perhaps, caught on cctv in the dead of night near mr navalny�*s remote penal colony, a prison convoy heading to a nearby town, just hours after the announcement of his death. it's thought this midnight motorcade may have been transporting his body. alexei navalny was an ambitious politician, promising a brighter future for russia. he once tried to run for president.

he ended up in prison. now he's dead. in a video statement filmed abroad, his widow, yulia, accused the kremlin of killing him and vowed to continue his fight to change russia. translation: having killed alexei, putin killed half of me, _ half of my heart and half of my soul. but i still have the other half, and that tells me i have no right to give up. i will continue the work of alexei navalny, continue to fight for our country. today, yulia navalny was in brussels, meeting european foreign ministers. for years, she's kept a low profile. now she's vowing to unite opposition to vladimir putin. and the kremlin, what has it been saying about the death of its staunchest critic? very little. president putin has yet to make any public comments

about the death of alexei navalny, but today the kremlin spokesmen described accusations that it was the russian leadership that killed him as "obnoxious and utterly unacceptable". at this makeshift shrine to alexei navalny, we discovered that many of the floral tributes have been cleared away. and yet muscovites were still coming here to honour the man who called for change but would never live to see it. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. the business secretary has come out fighting after allegations yesterday by the former chairman of the post office that he was instructed by government to delay compensation payments to victims of the horizon it scandal. kemi badenoch said the allegations were categorically untrue and that it was a blatant attempt by the ex chairman to seek revenge after she dismissed him. with me now is our business correspondent emma simpson.

we have got the situation where a 900 sub postmaster is were convicted in the scandal and many are still fighting for compensation and now we have this extraordinary war of words between the business secretary and the ex chairman, henry staunton. another drama in a way, henry stanton is a 75—year—old city grandee and he was sacked last month and he had only been in post for a year. he gave this explosive newspaper interview at the weekend, claiming he was told by a senior civil servant to slow down the rate of compensation payments. apparently this was to help the government finances ahead of the election. he also made claims about the way in which he was unceremoniously fired by kemi badenoch and today she came out fighting, saying he was a disgrace. it out fighting, saying he was a dis race. , out fighting, saying he was a disurace. , , disgrace. it is so disappointing that he has — disgrace. it is so disappointing that he has chosen _ disgrace. it is so disappointing that he has chosen to - disgrace. it is so disappointing that he has chosen to spread l disgrace. it is so disappointing i that he has chosen to spread this disgrace. it is so disappointing - that he has chosen to spread this to the papeh — that he has chosen to spread this to the paper. all of this confirms in my mind — the paper. all of this confirms in my mind that i made the correct

decision— my mind that i made the correct decision in— my mind that i made the correct decision in dismissing him. second, mr staunton — decision in dismissing him. second, mr staunton claimed i told him that someone _ mr staunton claimed i told him that someone has got to take the rap for the horizon— someone has got to take the rap for the horizon scandal and that was the reason _ the horizon scandal and that was the reason for— the horizon scandal and that was the reason for his dismissal. that was not the _ reason for his dismissal. that was not the reason at all. i dismissed him because there were serious concerns— him because there were serious concerns about his behaviour as chair. _ concerns about his behaviour as chair, including those raised from other— chair, including those raised from other directors on the board. what she went on _ other directors on the board. what she went on to _ other directors on the board. what she went on to say _ other directors on the board. what she went on to say is _ other directors on the board. what she went on to say is that - other directors on the board. wrist she went on to say is that an investigation had been launched into allegations of misconduct, such matters as allegations of bullying. we have not had a response from mr staunton to these allegations but this morning he was standing by what he said and kemi badenoch also said there was no evidence whatsoever that any government official had told him to go slow on paying compensation, it didn't make any sense. of course, that does not mean it was not said. now we have two completely contrasting stories and it is far from over because mr staunton has been invited to appear

before the select committee next week. ., , ., , , week. that should be interesting. thank yom _ the broadcasting regulator ofcom has launched an investigation into whether a gb news programme which featured a q&a session with the prime minister rishi sunak breached impartiality rules. the programme, people's forum: the prime minister, saw mr sunak take questions from the public in county durham on february 12th. ofcom says it has received around 500 complaints. schools in england should ban the use of mobile phones completely, according to the government, which has issued new advice today. ministers say they want headteachers to be confident to take a tougher line. but head teachers' unions said most schools already put limits on mobile use and said it would make little difference. here's our education editor branwen jefffreys. most secondary schools already have rules on mobiles. for the teenagers here in liverpool, it's clear, it

doesn't matter how much they want to be on their phones, in lessons, they are off and out of sight. if the rule wasn't there, i think kids would use their phones a lot more, go on them and do stuff like that, yeah. they also help teach self—control to kids to get off their phone, which, obviously in the day and age we are in now, with attention spans and everything, it can be very helpful. we are not supposed to be on it at all during - the lessons or break time, j and if they catch you on it, they take it off you and you're not allowed it i at the end of the day. for the school, putting phones away it works better with a total ban. we are in it works better with a total ban. - are in february, dark nights, dark mornings, coming to school, and i think a lot of parents like that comfort, they like the comfort that they can phone mum and dad and let them know they are going to be a bit late. but then obviously in—school the policy is to keep them out of sight not heard.— the policy is to keep them out of

sight not heard. generations... this new advice — sight not heard. generations... this new advice says _ sight not heard. generations... this new advice says phones _ sight not heard. generations... this new advice says phones should - sight not heard. generations... this new advice says phones should be l new advice says phones should be banned all day, notjust in lessons, but in break times as well. but it is entirely up to schools whether they go that far.— is entirely up to schools whether they go that far. many, many head teachers want _ they go that far. many, many head teachers want to _ they go that far. many, many head teachers want to do _ they go that far. many, many head teachers want to do this _ they go that far. many, many head teachers want to do this and - they go that far. many, many head teachers want to do this and this . teachers want to do this and this helps empower them to do it. we are not the first country in the world, other countries have done this as well, but we want to be consistent across our schools and reset that social more. across our schools and reset that social more-— across our schools and reset that social more. schools are 'ust part ofthe social more. schools are 'ust part of the picture. * social more. schools are 'ust part of the picture. parents _ social more. schools are just part of the picture. parents worry - social more. schools are just part. of the picture. parents worry about what teenagers can access on their phones, content that can damage their self—esteem, their mental health and their relationships. one charity that speaks to parents told me it is notjust screen time. a big concern is children's safety. parents will be worried about their children accessing the dark web, they will be concerned about access to pornography, often that

pornography is violent and abusive. someone being bullied can now be bullied 2a hours a day and that changes the way parents view access to smartphones. changes the way parents view access to smartphones— to smartphones. smartphones are embedded into _ to smartphones. smartphones are embedded into teenagers' - to smartphones. smartphones are embedded into teenagers' lives, l to smartphones. smartphones are l embedded into teenagers' lives, but many parents are increasingly uneasy at the door they open. branwen jeffreys, bbc news. the bbc has discovered that many nhs patients in england are stuck on hidden waiting lists, potentially running into millions. people who are referred to a specialist for treatment for cancer or heart failure for example are no longer counted on the main waiting lists. our health correspondent, dominic hughes, has more. rigby! cleo! sit. good boy. margaret is living with the knowledge she has skin cancer, and yet has not had any treatment for years. good boy. she was diagnosed and referred to see a specialist, then nothing. the waiting has taken a toll. you can hit really low spots. i think my kids and my

grandchildren, and my husband as well, they're what keep me going, because i think i would have given up before now. i can't do any more. every month, we report on the latest waiting times for nonurgent treatment in the nhs in england. currently, that figure is around 7.6 million people. but once you've been referred to a specialist, you're no longer counted on that main nhs waiting list, and you could end up like margaret, one of potentially tens of thousands of people who are waiting follow—up treatment. now, that's could be things like physiotherapy, cancer checks, regular treatment to help preserve eyesight, even surgery. it's not known exactly how many people are facing delays on these hidden waiting lists, as nhs england doesn't collect the figures. every month, around 1.4 million people are taken off the national waiting list because they've started treatment. we contacted 30 of the biggest hospital trusts in england,

around a quarter of the total, to ask whether they keep a check on that backlog of delayed care. but only three trusts could provide us with data showing they were recording the number of patients affected. there were patients who might have chronic conditions which could, if they were left untreated, deteriorate further. it's very difficult to get an idea of the number of patients who are waiting for overdue appointments. it is not quite clear which hospitals record it and which ones don't, so really, we have no idea, but i would guess that it's in the millions. a spokesman for nhs england says there's clear guidance that if a treatment becomes overdue and a patient is left waiting, they should be added back onto the waiting list, and would then be included in the nationalfigures. when she had a stroke a few years ago, margaret experienced the very best of the nhs's emergency care. but now, waiting months for treatment, she feels trapped and anxious. the emergency services are great. anything else, i'm terrified.

yeah, when something else goes wrong... when you're young and healthy, you don't think about these things, but when things start going wrong, yes, it is frightening. dominic hughes, bbc news. the time is 6:17pm. our top story this evening... a migrant is convicted of manslaughter after four other migrants drowned as he took them across the channel in a dinghy. and still to come — a special investigation into why some members of afghan special forces were stopped from coming to live in the uk. and on bbc london: court with a boot full of laughing gas. an essex man becomes the first in the country to be jailed after nitrous oxide is outlawed. when we meet the young london film—makers who triumphed at last night's bafta film awards. this week marks the second

anniversary of the war in ukraine. russian forces have made some advances in the east of the country, and as america delays new funding to support ukraine, concerns are growing about how long the war could drag on and whether ukraine will have enough weapons and soldiers to continue fighting it. our correspondent andrew harding visited the town of lyman a year ago, and returned recently to find out how people there are coping. how do you judge the mood of a country this big and this broken? we've come back to a frontline town, lyman, a place seized by russian forces and then liberated by ukraine back in 2022. since then, the closest front lines have remained just up the road. this was alexander a year ago with his cats. alexander. yes. andrew, from the bbc? today he is still here. yes, i rememberyou, he says.

he shows me the wreckage of his old apartment block, hit by russian missiles. and he says he sees this war differently now. i want peace, peace, peace. so has your opinion changed? it has changed. so this is interesting. he's changed his opinion over the course of the last year. before he said ukraine had to win this war, now he is saying there has been too much death, too much suffering. he wants talks even if it means giving up land. peace is more important than victory. you can feel the weariness on the streets of lyman. british aid distributed here mostly to pensioners who ignore the sound of another explosion on the front lines. "our youth are being exterminated. "if this continues there will be no

ukraine left," says nadieska. "this war will go on for a long time yet," says pasha. but it's not all gloom here. council workers are out doing what they can and a younger generation isjust getting on with life. school is mostly online, but not entirely. laughter "i've got everything i need," she says. a year ago ,we found families hiding from the war in these cellars. and today the dimitrenko family are still here, but there is regular electricity now, waterfrom a pub outside, now, waterfrom a pump outside, and irina, an accountant, is quietly determined. "we are waiting for

victory," she says. "we are all tired, but i don't see how we can "negotiate with murderers." still, lyman's mayor is worried that america will stop supplying weapons to the ukrainian troops protecting his town. "we are fighting a monster," says alexander zuraviov. "so we need more outside military help. "our soldiers are doing their best and they are running out "of guns and ammunition." this small town feels torn between determination and despair. what unites it now is sheer exhaustion, the knowledge that this war will not be quickly won, and increasingly, the fear that ukraine's fate may be decided by foreign politicians in far—away capitals. andrew harding, bbc news, in eastern ukraine. three young children found dead at a house in bristol have been named as nine—month—old mohammed bash, three—year—old joury bash and seven—year—old fares bash.

police officers discovered the children after responding to a call in sea mills in the early hours of yesterday. a 42—year—old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder. dan johnson has more. sunday morning, shortly after midnight. a neighbour called the moment police and paramedics answered a call about someone in this house. paramedics found three dead. this is a terrible and deeply distressing tragedy. it is this is a terrible and deeply distressing tragedy. it is the young a . e distressing tragedy. it is the young ace of distressing tragedy. it is the young age of those _ distressing tragedy. it is the young age of those children _ distressing tragedy. it is the young age of those children which - distressing tragedy. it is the young age of those children which is - age of those children which is really upsetting. but we believe the victims are a boy aged seven, a girl of three, and a ten—month—old boy. the death of such young children is a great shock to the whole community, and this incident has had a profound and deep impact on all of us in the police.

fares was seven years old, joury was three, and their baby brother mohammed was born last year. neighbours say their family is originally from sudan, and the sudanese community here is really feeling this. everybody feel sad, tragedy. we feel really— everybody feel sad, tragedy. we feel really down. we everybody feel sad, tragedy. we feel reall down. ~ ., �* everybody feel sad, tragedy. we feel really down-— everybody feel sad, tragedy. we feel reall down. ~ ., �* , ., ., really down. we don't understand how this happened — really down. we don't understand how this happened and _ really down. we don't understand how this happened and why _ really down. we don't understand how this happened and why this _ really down. we don't understand howj this happened and why this happened, you know? _ this happened and why this happened, you know? everybody— this happened and why this happened, you know? everybody is _ this happened and why this happened, you know? everybody is shocked. - you know? everybody is shocked. i you know? everybody is shocked. i didn't _ you know? everybody is shocked. ididn't want— you know? everybody is shocked. i didn't want to _ you know? everybody is shocked. i didn't want to believe _ you know? everybody is shocked. i didn't want to believe it. - i didn't want to believe it. i didn't want to believe it. i didn't want it to be true. i was really, really sad. this woman knew the family and has been unnerved by what happened. those children, they were very happy children. they were amazing, they were beautiful. we want answers. we want to know what happened to these children and have it happened. we feel let down and we want answers. —— how it happened. we feel let down and we want answers. -- how it happened.— feel let down and we want answers. -- how it happened. we know officers dealt with the — -- how it happened. we know officers dealt with the family _ -- how it happened. we know officers dealt with the family earlier _ dealt with the family earlier this month, something the police watchdog is now considering. that is alongside an active murder investigation, and detectives are busy working through evidence here inside and out. they are also waiting to speak to the woman who is

under arrest, waiting to speak to the woman who is underarrest, but waiting to speak to the woman who is under arrest, but still being treated in hospital. so many people here are struggling to comprehend the loss of such young children. dan johnson, bbc news, bristol. an investigation by the bbc�*s panorama team and the website lighthouse reports has discovered that uk special forces were given a veto over which former members of afghan specialforces were allowed to settle in britain. hundreds of the afghan troops whose units were set up, funded and run by the uk, applied to live here after the taliban took over over in 2021, but they've had their resettlement applications rejected. joining me now isjoel gunter, who carried out the report for panorama. this i know that this has been a lengthy investigation tell us more about what you've discovered. many believed they would be allowed

to settle in the uk, we have hundreds had their applications rejected. we have seen documents showing uk special forces, rejected. we have seen documents showing uk specialforces, the rejected. we have seen documents showing uk special forces, the very force that vetted, funded and trained these afghan commandos, that had a veto over their applications and rejected them. why were they rejecting them? it is why were they re'ecting them? it is not exactl why were they rejecting them? it 3 not exactly clear why, but it is controversial, and former members of uk specialforces and controversial, and former members of uk special forces and others have told the bbc they believe it is a real conflict of interest, because uk special forces have this veto power at a time when they were also the subject of public inquiries into alleged war crimes that were alleged to have happened on operations where the afghan commandos were present. so if they were in this country, they could be potential witnesses to that inquiry. the shadow armed forces minister luc pollard, following our reporting today, has written to the government asking how

many times this veto was used. the ministry of defence has previously said that 2000 decisions will now be independently reviewed. they told us that civil servants make final decisions on these kinds of cases, but when we asked them if uk special forces had previously had decision—making power, they declined to answer that question. thank you, joe. now a brief look at some other stories making the news today. lord cameron has become the first british foreign secretary to visit the falkland islands in 30 years. david cameron said the islands' status was �*not up for discussion'. in 2013, islanders voted to retain their status as a uk overseas territory, but argentina's president javier milei has said he hopes to take control of the islands by diplomatic means. junior doctors in northern ireland are to go on strike next month over pay. the 24—hour walkout from 8am on march 6th is their first strike. the union claims doctors' pay has been eroded over the last sixteen years and what's on offer is unacceptable.

plans to build new hospitals, surgeries and a network of treatment centres in scotland have been put on hold. a least a dozen projects are being postponed after the scottish government announced that no money was currently available. a revised nhs infrastructure plan will be unveiled in the spring. roy hodgson has quit as the manager of crystal palace. it comes after he fell ill during training last week and went to hospital amid speculation he was going to be sacked. the club have announced that oliver glasner will be their new manager, and tonight, they face everton in the premier league at goodison park. our sports correspondent katie gornall is there for us. i think the important thing to say is that hodgson is now out of hospital clash here at goodison park that hodgson confirmed he was

forward his successor. he added he has fully enjoyed his he added he has fully en'oyed his time over six * he added he has fully en'oyed his time over six seasons. _ he added he has fully enjoyed his time over six seasons. the - he added he has fully enjoyed his time over six seasons. the club's| time over six seasons. the club's chairman paid tribute to hodgson, saying he has a special place in the club by the lack of history and will never be forgotten. quite simply, he said, we are our continued premier league status to roy. shortly after that, as you say, crystal palace confirmed 49—year—old austrian oliver glasner will replace roy hodgson. he is the former manager of eintracht frankfurt and signed a deal until 2026. eintracht frankfurt and signed a deal until2026. he eintracht frankfurt and signed a deal until 2026. he will not be in the dugout here tonight at goodison park, and takes charge at a difficult time, with alice struggling forform. difficult time, with alice struggling for form. they have just two winds since november and are dangerously close to the bottom three. it is a difficult time for them, and i think this all adds to them, and i think this all adds to the fact that i don't think this is how roy hodgson would have wanted to call time on his managerial career. this is his second stint at crystal palace. he led them to 11th last season but things have not worked

out for him this season. he has had a distinguished ministerial career. we don't know what this means for his future, but he has been in management since 1976. —— managerial career. thank you, katie. a racoon who's been evading animal rescuers for two months has been found just yards from his enclosure. meeko was one of three racoons to escape from sunderland training and education farm shortly before christmas. his friends rocket and pinch were recaptured, but meeko remained on the loose. he was finally tracked down on saturday after his paw prints were discovered, eventually leading rescuers to him in a small tree, which had to be cut down. he'd been raiding other animals' enclosures forfood. pretty smart, i reckon! time for a look at the weather. here's matt taylor. very smart indeed! i'll tell you something else that has been evading us, winter! yes, another pretty one day out there for the stage in february at least. in the sunshine in london, 15 degrees. it is one in a streak of over a week now in which we have

seen temperatures well above average for the time of year. they should be around 6—8, but we have hit 17—18 over the past few days alone. things will change later this week. friday afternoon, temperatures closer to where they should become a 6—9 for most, and in scotland and northern ireland, it will be colder than some of the nights recently, including tonight. 9 degrees in belfast, eight in stornoway, another frost free night. plenty of cloud in the north and west, and some rain at times, and west, and some rain at times, and for tomorrow, scotland and northern ireland, be prepared for a speu northern ireland, be prepared for a spell of rain during the morning, brightening up for the afternoon to sunshine and showers. england and wales, fairly selestat, some showers in england and wales in the afternoon, heavy at times, particularly to the west of wales. further south, particularly to the west of wales. furthersouth, probably particularly to the west of wales. further south, probably dry during daylight, and again, temperatures around 14—15. that rain weakens and it stalls across southern counties tomorrow evening. clearer skies further north, and it stalls because it loops back into this next weather system which will bring more widespread rain and stronger winds

for wednesday. widespread rain and stronger winds forwednesday. not widespread rain and stronger winds for wednesday. not looking like a good start anywhere you are. outbreaks of rain heaviest in the west. all falling on saturated ground. they could be minor flooding. it brightens up in the west and north through wednesday. shetland and the south—east could hold on to cloud and rain into the afternoon, and it will be wendy too, widespread gales across the country, but still a reasonably mild feel before things turn pressure late in the day. —— windy. 11—13, but there is a change in the way, an area of low pressure, close to iceland, pushing eastwards, allowing that cooler but not particularly cold air with us to end the week. thanks, matt. and that's bbc news at six. you can keep up with all the latest developments on bbc website. now it's time to join our colleagues for the news where you are. goodbye. hello, and welcome to sportsday. i'm olly foster.

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