this is bbc news, the headlines. police recovered a body from the river thames believed to be that of abdul ezedi, wanted for a corrosive substance attack in south london. a former conservative mp loses his appeal against a house of commons suspension, it is expected to lead to a by—election? former strictly come dancing star robin windsor dies at the age of 44 and scientists in australia say they have identified the brightest object ever recorded, a quasar. i'm lewis vaughan jones, i'm lewis vaughanjones, welcome back. we start in the uk, scott

benton, the british mp caught in a lobbying scandal has had his appeal against a recommended 35 day suspension from parliament dismissed by an independent panel. benton was caught by undercover newspaper investigators posing as gambling industry investors offering to lobby ministers and tabled parliamentary questions. a common standard committee report said he'd given the message "he was corrupt and for sale". benton has sat as an independent mp since being effectively expelled from the conservatives in april. our political correspondent peter saull is in westminster. figs political correspondent peter saull is in westminster.— is in westminster. as you say this noes is in westminster. as you say this aoes back is in westminster. as you say this goes back to _ is in westminster. as you say this goes back to april— is in westminster. as you say this goes back to april of _ is in westminster. as you say this goes back to april of last - is in westminster. as you say this goes back to april of last year, i goes back to april of last year, that sunday times sting. scott benton secretly recorded by journalists posing as gambling industry representatives, boasting about potentially being able to lobby ministers on their behalf, tabled questions in parliament, among other things. so then we had

an investigation from the commons standards committee, a committee of mps, they found he had brought parliament into disrepute, that he'd given the impression that he was corrupt and for sale. he appealed against that, pointed out that although he suggested he might be able to do these things, he didn't actually do any of them and certainly didn't take any money. but that appeal which has taken quite a few months to be looked at, the independent panel now saying that that appeal has no grounds, really, and so the initial recommendation from the committee that he be suspended from the house for 35 days will likely be approved by mps in the next few days. 35 days is way above the ten day threshold to trigger what is called a recall petition in his blackpool south constituency. so at some point in the next few weeks voters in blackpool south will have the ability to assign the recall petition and if 10% of registered voters do that then he will be recalled and we will have a by—election in a constituency that the conservatives won in 2019 with a

majority of around about 3500. so frankly, the labour party licking their lips right now about the potential of winning another formerly tory held seat. the labour party saying that he should resign immediately. scott benton has been contacted for comment but we are waiting to hear back still.- waiting to hear back still. peter, thank ou waiting to hear back still. peter, thank you for— waiting to hear back still. peter, thank you for that. _ waiting to hear back still. peter, thank you for that. breaking - waiting to hear back still. peter, | thank you for that. breaking news out of russia, tass news agency though so russia initiates new criminal case against navalny�*s brother 0leg. you will know that alexei navalny died in prison in the north of russia. he was a leading opposition figure in russia. and now russia has initiated new criminal case against navalny�*s brother 0leg. we don't have any more details than

that, just a single line from the newsagency there, our producers and correspondence are chasing the details right now as we speak but we wanted to bring you that line as soon as we got it. when we get any reaction of course we will bring it to you. we are coming back to the uk now. the nottingham attacks in which barney webber, grace 0'malley kumar and ian coates were stabbed to death by valdo calocane. he was sentenced to detention in a high security hospital after admitting manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. the attorney general has decided that the sentencing was unduly lenient and has referred it to the court of appeal. let's speak to our reporter emily anderson. what has the attorney general here said? good afternoon. the attorney general and solicitor general have unanimously agreed that the was unduly lenient in the case of valdo calocane and that it should be now

referred to the court of appeal. the decision was based on the following three aspects. number one, there was insufficient investigation into the culpability of valdo calocane during the attacks. number two, the minimum term given did not take into account the aggravating factors of planning the aggravating factors of planning the attacks, the premeditation of those attacks and the collection in advance of weapons and further risk of harms to others. and number three, the sentence of a hospital order was insufficient and should have additionally carried a penal element under the section 45 a of the mental health act. the papers are being lodged and the families are being lodged and the families are being lodged and the families are being told they will get a hearing date within eight weeks. we have just in the last few minutes got a statement from victoria prentis who says having received detailed legal advice and considered theissues detailed legal advice and considered the issues raised very carefully, she has concluded that the sentence imposed on valdo calocane for the offences of manslaughter and of

diminished responsibility and attempted murder was unduly lenient and she says this is why it has been referred they're referred to the court of appeal. she my thoughts remain with all of calocane's victims and their families and friends who have shown such immeasurable strength during this devastating time. you immeasurable strength during this devastating time.— immeasurable strength during this devastating time. you mention the families. devastating time. you mention the families- has— devastating time. you mention the families. has there _ devastating time. you mention the families. has there been _ devastating time. you mention the families. has there been a - devastating time. you mention the i families. has there been a response? yes, the families of grace 0'malley—kumar, barnaby webberand 0'malley—kumar, barnaby webber and ian 0'malley—kumar, barnaby webberand ian coates have welcomed today's announcement. they have issued a joint statement saying, "we are optimistic that when this reaches the royal courts ofjustice for its appeal, there will be an outcome that provides some of the appropriate justice that we have all been calling for." they go on to say, "it is important to remember that this isjust say, "it is important to remember that this is just one part of the tragic failures in this case. the investigation into the mental health trust, the cps and nottinghamshire and leticia police forces still continues." they maintained that there are serious failures in all three agencies that must be fully addressed and that proper change should be made. emily, thank you

very much. should be made. emily, thank you very much-— should be made. emily, thank you ve much. ., , .,~ , very much. some more breaking news from the uk — very much. some more breaking news from the uk concerning _ very much. some more breaking news from the uk concerning events - very much. some more breaking news from the uk concerning events in - very much. some more breaking news from the uk concerning events in the l from the uk concerning events in the middle east. 0ur correspondent daniela relph has sent through a statement from the prince of wales. i'm going to read it in full. it is only three sentences but it says this "i remain deeply concerned about the terrible cost of the conflict in the middle east since the hamas terrorist attack on seventh 0ctober. too many have been killed. i, like so many others, want to see an end to the fighting as soon as possible. there is a desperate need for increased humanitarian support to gaza. it is critical that aid gets in and the hostages are released, sometimes it is only when faced with the sheer scale of human suffering that the importance of permanent peace is brought home. even in the darkest hour, we must not succumb to the counsel of despair. i continue to cling to the hope that a brighter

future can be found and i refused to give up on that." that statement there from the prince of wales in there from the prince of wales in the last few minutes regarding events in the middle east. we have seen protest from farmers across europe in recent weeks, tractor�*s began descending on madrid in spain and the greek capital athens today but that's only the latest instalment in a wave of dissent sweeping across european capitals. berlin, paris, brussels on monday, prague and the czech republic all being ground to a halt in places at times by farmers protesting against eu bureaucracy. in a speech to farmers union on tuesday the prime minister rishi sunak pledged to never take food security for granted and outlined his support for the sector. while in poland farmers will block roads across the country to protest against eu regulations as well as cheap grain from ukraine flooding the market.

demonstrators are already blockading border crossings with ukraine, which is causing long queues. the farmers want brussels to reintroduce tariffs on kyiv�*s agricultural imports, which were lifted after russia's invasion. ukrainian truckers are also planning a protest on their own side of the border, from tuesday. president volodymyr zelensky has condemned the demonstrations as a "mockery" and urged all parties to restore cross border traffic. let's speak to our correspondent in warsaw adam easton. what is happening there? well, the organisers of the protests say that the demonstrations are taking place in close to 200 locations across the country. they are blockading motorways and the major road junctions with tractors causing maximum traffic disruption, and as you mentioned also the blockades are ongoing at several of the border crossings with ukraine where the situation is very, very difficult for the drivers there who are waiting. at one crossing in

medyka that they are waiting for more than 11 days to be able to cross that border. there's been a particular flashpoint as well with the protesters, about 250 farmers protesting at that crossing were reportedly, and there is video footage of this of grain thought to be corn being allowed to spill out of a goods wagon onto the train tracks at that border crossing. certainly polish protesters were beside that wagon and they were sweeping the grain from the train tracks. there has been a very, very strong reaction from ukrainian officials to that footage. several ministers have condemned the action, saying police should take a very strict line and prosecute those responsible for that. and also won

deputy prime minister in ukraine said this is a political provocation designed to divide our two nations and there is a fear in poland, ukraine points this out, that these polish protests are not necessarily about grain, they say, it is more about grain, they say, it is more about politics. and they are designed to drive a wedge between countries that are supporting ukraine militarily in their war against russia. that is a concern on both sides of the border. i have to say many people on social media tweeting about how bad this looks that polish protesters were destroying ukrainian grain on the border crossing.— destroying ukrainian grain on the border crossing. adam, thank you very much — border crossing. adam, thank you very much for— border crossing. adam, thank you very much for that. _ very much for that. as israel's offensive in gaza continues, a small number of israelis are starting to move back into communities bordering the gaza strip. many of them still bear the scars of the hamas attacks four months ago. 200,000 people have been

displaced from both israel's northern and southern borders since the october attacks. i middle east correspondent lucy williamson travelled from israel's southern border with gaza to the northern frontier with lebanon to look at the growing pressures of israel's displaced communities. a museum to the violence of the hamas attacks, the first residents have returned. they say it is lonely here at night. they say it is lonely here at night. they weren't successful getting us so they burned the house down. gunfire gunhre dozens gunfire dozens were killed and taken hostage here when hamas gunmen overran the kibbutz on the 7th of october. the war in gaza a mile away now the

backdrop to life. no one else has come back to live here full—time. faith in israel's ability to protect left in tatters.— faith in israel's ability to protect left in tatters. , . left in tatters. maybe they convince themselves — left in tatters. maybe they convince themselves that _ left in tatters. maybe they convince themselves that what _ left in tatters. maybe they convince themselves that what they - left in tatters. maybe they convince themselves that what they are - left in tatters. maybe they convince i themselves that what they are saying is the truth. but obviously it wasn't. it was a lie and we all bought into it, definitely. a lot will have to change. by bought into it, definitely. a lot will have to change.— bought into it, definitely. a lot will have to change. by the sea of galilee we met _ will have to change. by the sea of galilee we met residents - will have to change. by the sea of galilee we met residents from - will have to change. by the sea of galilee we met residents from a l galilee we met residents from a kibbutz evacuated from israel's northern frontier. they village, targeted by missiles from the lebanese group hezbollah, a hamas ally. lunchis ally. lunch is brought in from the village each day. costs and frustrations are rising. but conditions for living on the front line have changed. the

situation has _ the front line have changed. tue: situation has changed the front line have changed. tte: situation has changed since the front line have changed. tt2 situation has changed since we have been evacuated. suddenly we realise that going back to something that we used to live that way is no longer an option. it's no longer an option that we will be under the threat of some guy in beirut would like to pull the trigger any time he likes. hostility along the northern border is mounting. war with hamas is the way to restore security in the south, israel's prime minister says. but here at the northern front, metres from lebanon, they face a better equipped, better trained enemy. so what's his solution here? israel's defence minister has said the diplomatic hourglass is running out. israel boss mike war with hamas has led some to say should take on hezbollah, too, but hezbollah is a

different kind of enemy and this would be a different kind of war. israel says hezbollah must retreat from the border before residents can return, but neither time nor diplomacy has moved the dial. empty homes, domestic hostages in this conflict for which israel's government is paying a rising price. lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. bbc news, bringing you different stories from across the uk. with wide open space expansive views, the valley in sheffield could be a popular place to live but the estate which was built about 60 years ago is becoming dilapidated while it waits for a £97 million face—lift. the refurbishment was first planned in 2017. we face-lift. the refurbishment was first planned in 2017.— face-lift. the refurbishment was first planned in 2017. we are now resent first planned in 2017. we are now present at _ first planned in 2017. we are now present at 2024 _ first planned in 2017. we are now present at 2024 and _ first planned in 2017. we are now present at 2024 and nothing - first planned in 2017. we are now present at 2024 and nothing has| present at 2024 and nothing has happened, not a single spade has hit

the ground. very frustrated. frustrated for the people living on the estate. , ., , , the estate. under the plans, blocks of maisonettes _ the estate. under the plans, blocks of maisonettes like _ the estate. under the plans, blocks of maisonettes like this _ the estate. under the plans, blocks of maisonettes like this one - the estate. under the plans, blocks of maisonettes like this one work. the estate. under the plans, blocks| of maisonettes like this one work to be knocked down and replaced, and other homes were to be completely transformed. sheffield city council says it took five years to consult on and draw up the master plan because of covid and administration change. however, work will start next month to demolish a former care home. for more stories across the uk, head to the bbc news website. you're to live with bbc news. a couple of bits and breaking news to bring you in the last couple of minutes. firstly in the uk, the labour party is calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in gaza. that's the first time they have done that since the outbreak of the conflict back in october. the scottish national party has proposed a motion in the commons tomorrow urging an immediate ceasefire which

we knew about before, i believe, but the labour party calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in gaza for the first time since the outbreak of the conflict in october. that coming through from our chief political correspondent henry zeffman. the second bit of breaking news to bring you, again, a recap with a couple more details on what we told you a couple of minutes ago, concerning the aftermath of the death of alexei navalny, the russian opposition leader in a prison in russia. we now know from reuters news agency which are quoting the state news agency, russia has initiated a new criminal case against 0leg navalny, the brother of the dead russian opposition leader alexei navalny. tass news agency not saying under which article of the criminal code of the case is being opened but said police were searching for 0leg navalny. he was

already on the wanted list in connection with another matter. in 2014 0leg navalny was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for fraud in a case that the kremlin critics said was trumped up and designed to pile pressure on his late brother. that extra reporting there from reuters. we are going to stay in russia. a couple of different stories to bring you from there. first, a moscow court has ruled that the detained american journalist evan gershkovich should remain injail untilat journalist evan gershkovich should remain in jail until at least the end of march. the wall street journal reporter spent nearly a year injail. secondly, a russian military pilot who defected to ukraine last year has been killed in spain. maxim kuzminov piloted his helicopter across the border to ukraine back in august 2023 saying he was opposed to the invasion of ukraine. his death has been confirmed by ukraine's main

intelligence director. and lastly, out of russia, the russian security service, the fsb, says it has arrested a russian—american dual citizen suspected of treason and raising funds for ukraine. these are the pictures from a russian tv show showing a 33—year—old woman who was detained in a remote ural region of russia. she is understood to be a resident of los angeles in the us, and stands accused of proactively collecting funds to fund aid and military supplies for ukraine. in russia, treason is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. let's speak now to liza fokht from the rush new service. what happened to this woman? ,, �* service. what happened to this woman? , . , , . woman? the fsb security service toda said woman? the fsb security service today said the — woman? the fsb security service today said the unnamed - woman? the fsb security service today said the unnamed woman i woman? the fsb security service i today said the unnamed woman who lived in los angeles had allegedly organised fundraisers for a

ukrainian group that spent money on medical supplies, ukrainian group that spent money on medicalsupplies, equipment, ukrainian group that spent money on medical supplies, equipment, weapons and ammunition according to russian news wires. it also published a video of the woman whose face was blurred out but the lawyer group dealing with the case of alleged treason and espionage in russia, said the woman was 32 years old and she was originally in yekaterinburg, according to her social media she started in ekaterinburg and then moved to the united states, became a citizen in 2029, then worked there as a spa manager at a hotel in beverly hills. according to lawyers she is charged with spending $51 from her us bank account to support a pro—ukraine nonprofit on the day vladimir putin invaded, ordered the

invasion of ukraine in february 2022. they also said that a lawyer for this woman filed an appeal against her pre—trial detention which started in mid—january when she was arrested on a minor allegation near a movie theatre in ekaterinburg. that's all we know for now. . ~' ekaterinburg. that's all we know for now. ., ~ , ., ekaterinburg. that's all we know for now. ., ~ ., ., now. thank you for that. in the uk, for most quickly — now. thank you for that. in the uk, for most quickly come _ now. thank you for that. in the uk, for most quickly come dancing - now. thank you for that. in the uk, for most quickly come dancing star| for most quickly come dancing star robin windsor has died at the age of 44. the professional dancer appeared on the tv show between 2010 and 2015. his management announced his death and described him as the embodiment of passion, grace and sheer talent. let's speak to our culture reporter sophie van brugen when was robin on the show? tell us a bit more about him. he was artnered tell us a bit more about him. he was partnered with _ tell us a bit more about him. he was partnered with anita _ tell us a bit more about him. he was partnered with anita dobson, - tell us a bit more about him. he was partnered with anita dobson, patsy l partnered with anita dobson, patsy kensit, lisa riley and deborah meaden from dragons' den but with lisa riley he got through to the

semifinal in 2012 and he was such a popular dancer with all the crowds and then went on to do the strictly come dancing on tour. 0ne and then went on to do the strictly come dancing on tour. one of his fans have been pouring in tribute saying how much they loved watching him when he was in the show, and also the strictly family said to us they are saddened to hear the devastating news, fellowjudge and dancer anton du beke said he was so sad and had known him for 25 years from a young competitor to a star on strictly come dancing. everybody is going to miss him very much. a very huge feeling from people there that he was a very much loved dancer on the show and he will leave that legacy behind of being one of the stars of straightly come dancing. thank you very much for that. astronomers have discovered what could be the brightest object in the universe, a quasar shines about 500 trillion times brighter than our sun

and has the fastest growing black hole ever recorded at its centre. the australian led team said the discovery had been staring them in the face. take a look at this image now. it is a free diver taking a look at whalebone is on the sea bed off greenland. it was taken by a swedish photographer alex dawson who won underwater photographer of the year against more than 6500 other entries and he's been talking to us about his work. tt is entries and he's been talking to us about his work.— about his work. it is amazing. i feel so honoured _ about his work. it is amazing. i | feel so honoured that somehow about his work. it is amazing. i - feel so honoured that somehow my image managed to make it to the top. i dive under thick ice that is two metres thick and my model, free diver, swimming on a breath from the surface trying to find me under the ice among these whalebone is. it is a minky wail on the bottom that she is swimming by. it is a very

challenging environment, minus two degrees in the water, it is pitch black down there. yeah, it's a privilege and it's been a long, hard journey. i've been educating myself also in diving in very advanced system is advanced cave diving, the vehicles that push you deep into caves and it takes me to places that very few people have been able to go. the more people that can see my underwater photography and cinematography, the happier i am because it's such a different world and people need to know about it, we need to take care of what is under the surface, we need to think from an environmental perspective so i think this is all very relevant, as much as i like to show beauty, i like to show the beauty of the world, it makes me happy. that was the swedish — world, it makes me happy. that was the swedish photographer— world, it makes me happy. that was the swedish photographer alex - the swedish photographer alex dawson. there is still plenty more to come, all the headlines and all the latest updates at the top of the

r. stay with us. i'm lewis vaughan jones. this is bbc news. bye—bye. —— at the top of the hour. hello, after a quiet start of this week, things are set to turn one settled over the next few days as low pressure systems bring wet and windy weather to our shores but it will be mild for the next couple of days before things turn colder from thursday onwards. this weather front sinking southwards across the country bringing some splashes of rain here and there. ahead of it, cloudy, breezy and mild, behind it brightens up for scotland and northern ireland with sunshine, some blustery showers in western scotland and feeling a bit cooler here behind the front but ahead of it very mild for the time of year, 13—14 or 15 degrees. through tonight, things turn a bit drier for northern, central and eastern areas, temperatures plummeting but it won't last across southern and western areas. wet, windy, milder weather

spreads north, up to 10 degrees in plymouth by the end of the night, touch of frost likely across central and north—eastern scotland. wednesday looks decidedly unsettled, deeper area of low pressure moving across the country, more isobars on the chart so it will be windy with gales around the coast and the rain will be quite heavy as well, falling on saturated ground, causing some issues with localised flooding in places. gales unlikely around irish sea coasts and across northern and eastern scotland but a blustery day for all. the rain takes its time to clear through the morning. into the afternoon it will brighten up with a few showers, northern and western areas, taking its time to clear east and south—east of england. the last of the mild days for now as it has been mired for more than a week now, 12 or 13 degrees, 8—11 across the north. and then into thursday, another area of low pressure crossing the country, bringing another spell of wet and windy weather you will notice as it pulls away into the north sea late on thursday we opened the floodgates to a colder, west, north westerly wind

and the cold air will be with us for the end of the week into the weekend as well. a rather messy picture for thursday, wet, windy, certainly windy across southern britain, spell of heavy rain spreading from west to east, and again could cause issues of localised flooding, gradually turning more to sleet and snow over the hills in the north as the cold air begins to move southwards but it will be a brighter enter the day across northern areas but chilly, as you will see, 5—9 c. the cooler theme last friday into the weekend, sunshine and showers, the showers will have a wintry element in the north and night will be cold with a touch of frost in places.

today at one. .. police believe they have found the body of the man suspected of the clapham chemical attacks. there had been a huge manhunt for abdul ezedi after a woman was hit with a corrosive substance and her two young children were injured. the body was spotted near tower bridge at for o'clock yesterday afternoon. formal identification will take some time but from the clothing, detectives believe it is abdul shokoor ezedi. the sentence given to the killer of three people in nottingham will be reviewed — the attorney general says it was too lenient. the bbc uncovers new evidence in the post office scandal: seven years ago, the government knew the post office had dropped an investigation into the faulty horizon it system.