israeli strikes continue across gaza, with heavy fighting reported in the southern city of khan younis, as the death toll nears 30,000. donald trump moves closer to the republican presidential nomination with a big primary win in south carolina. it's his fourth consecutive victory. and oppenheimer is the big winner at the screen actors guild awards. it nets the top prize, as well as best actor for cillian murphy. hello, i'm nicky schiller. we start this hour here in the uk. the deputy prime minister has defended the way his party handled the suspension of mp lee anderson, who suggested london's mayor sadiq khan is controlled by "islamists". but speaking on sunday with laura kuennsberg this morning, 0liver dowden declined to say if he personally agreed the remarks were islamophobic. he said mr anderson could've

remained as a conservative mp if he'd apologised. mr anderson was suspended by the prime minister following his remarks on gb news. 0ur political correspondent georgia roberts reports. lee anderson, seen this morning, was not long ago the deputy chairman of the conservative party, but he has now been suspended for refusing to apologise for these comments. i don't actually believe that these islamists have got control of our country, but what i do believe is they've got control of khan and they've got control of london. speaking this morning, the deputy prime minister said the mp didn't intend to be islamophobic, but acknowledged the comments could have been read that way, which is why he was asked to apologise. i don't believe that lee anderson was intending to be islamophobic, but nonetheless i understand the concern, particularly when it is in relation to the mayor of london, how those words have caused offence. but you're talking about... and because of that, that is precisely why he was given

the chance to apologise. and when he failed to do so, action was taken. the deputy prime minister said there were wider concerns about rising extremism that were right to be addressed. it comes after the speaker controversially allowed labour to have their say in an snp debate, citing concerns over mps' safety. i think what lee anderson was more broadly expressing in his interviews, and others have done, is a deep concern, which by the way i also share, about the way in which politics is being conducted. and what has happened over the past week, i never thought in my lifetime as a politician i would see a situation where what was happening in the house of commons was influenced by the threat of violence, and that has caused huge anger and frustration. labour's shadow international development secretary criticised the prime minister's handling of the row. watching what has unfolded in the conservative party, the absolute poison that has been allowed to seep into their political

debate and a prime minister that is seemingly unwilling to even acknowledge the term islamophobia, let alone stand up to senior politicians in his party dragging our politics into the sewer. the snp are seeking another vote on the gaza conflict this week in parliament, with an aim to keeping the pressure up on the issue. 0utside parliament, the high emotion on this shows no signs of abating any time soon. georgia roberts, bbc news. the scottish national party says it will push for another commons debate on gaza following last week's chaotic vote. there was uproar in the commons when speaker sir lindsay hoyle allowed mps to vote on a labour amendment to the snp�*s ceasefire motion. it meant the snp motion was not voted on, causing the party to call for sir lindsay to quit. to the middle east next. israeli forces are continuing

strikes across the gaza strip, with heavy urban combat in the southern city of khan younis. gaza's health ministry says more than ninety people were killed through the night. the total number is nearing 30,000. in the israeli city of tel aviv, police used water cannon for the first time to disperse anti—government protesters demanding the release of the hostages held in gaza by hamas. let's speak to our diplomatic correspondent paul adams. he is in jerusalem he is injerusalem for us. can you start off with those air continuing overnight? start off with those air continuing overniuht? , ,., , , start off with those air continuing overniuht? , , , ., overnight? yes, so this is part of the very much — overnight? yes, so this is part of the very much an _ overnight? yes, so this is part of the very much an ongoing - overnight? yes, so this is part of the very much an ongoing israeli | the very much an ongoing israeli attack on rafah, this is not the ground assault people had been talking about for some time and the israeli government continues to warn about, in fact there was a tweet last night from benjamin netanyahu in which he said some time early this week the government would announce the plans for the evacuation of rafah and the military

assault, but in the meantime, what we have seen is pretty regular israeli air strikes on that specific targets in rafah. there was a mask macro hit the other day, completely flattened, more attacks over the weekend, so this is very much familiar to people in that city. —— there was a mosque hit the other day. it is a very crowded place, between 1.2 and 1.5 million people displaced there. ahead of the expected israeli attack we have seen people leaving west towards the coast or north towards the middle part of the gaza strip, but it is very much a city that is waiting to experience the full wrasse of the israeli military. == experience the full wrasse of the israeli military.— israeli military. -- at the full wrath. israeli military. -- at the full wrath- in _ israeli military. -- at the full wrath. in tel— israeli military. -- at the full wrath. in tel aviv _ israeli military. -- at the full wrath. in tel aviv we - israeli military. -- at the full wrath. in tel aviv we have i israeli military. -- at the full. wrath. in tel aviv we have seen protest but last night particularly a lot of anger directed at benjamin netanyahu. a lot of anger directed at ben'amin netan ahu. , a lot of anger directed at ben'amin netan ahu. . , , , .,

netanyahu. there was. this is a combination _ netanyahu. there was. this is a combination of— netanyahu. there was. this is a combination of factors. - netanyahu. there was. this is a combination of factors. this - netanyahu. there was. this is a combination of factors. this is l combination of factors. this is people who for more than a year have been protesting against benjamin netanyahu, they lawyers him and his current right—wing government, they were extremely angered byjudicial reforms proposed a year ago, that triggered months of protest last year, well before the war in gaza began. —— they loathe him. when you add to the war, a whole dilemma of israeli hostages, 134 he still remain in captivity in gaza, this has just remain in captivity in gaza, this hasjust added a remain in captivity in gaza, this has just added a whole new layer to those protests and these two elements have come together over the past few months and we have seen that the protest getting more and more angry, people fear that what the israeli government is doing is paying more attention to its desire to destroy hamas than it is the business of getting hostages out, and we sought for the first time

water cannon being used to disperse them, so it is a rather painful indication ofjust how divided the country is. i should add that most israelis still believe that what the army is doing in the gaza strip is necessary and most israelis support that, while not necessarily in supporting the government. thank ou. donald trump has won a convincing victory in the south carolina republican primary, beating his only remaining rivalfor his party's presidential nomination, nikki haley, in her own home state. ms haley, a former governor of south carolina, has vowed to stay in the race saying polling shows most americans don't want mr trump or presidentjoe biden to win this year's election. joining me now is gavinjackson, host of tv programme this week in south carolina and south carolina lede podcast.

thank you forjoining us. nikki haley says she will fight on — how realistic is that? it is still a battle, she knew that, here in her home state she lost by 20 points and this continues the trend of nikki haley losing to donald trump, donald trump won the iowa and here we are in the south carolina by 20 points. it was something that she knew would be on the cards for her, earlier this week she did acknowledge she was continue on through super tuesday which is on march the 1st, so she knew it was coming for her, she continued to say she wanted to close that gap and build a coalition but still an uphill battle as donald trump continues to cement his support. we didn't see him mention nikki haley in his speech, something he solidified going forward with his message at this point. his

solidified going forward with his message at this point. his focus is all on joe biden _ message at this point. his focus is all on joe biden and _ message at this point. his focus is all on joe biden and november? i message at this point. his focus is i all on joe biden and november? yes, that is right- — all on joe biden and november? yes, that is right. does _ all on joe biden and november? yes, that is right. does nikki _ all on joe biden and november? yes, that is right. does nikki haley - that is right. does nikki haley really think— that is right. does nikki haley really think she _ that is right. does nikki haley really think she has _ that is right. does nikki haley really think she has any - that is right. does nikki haley| really think she has any chance going forward, and it is that she still getting money from donors to be able to continue this campaign, because it is not cheap? it is be able to continue this campaign, because it is not cheap?— because it is not cheap? it is not, she did raise _ because it is not cheap? it is not, she did raise ella _ because it is not cheap? it is not, she did raise ella 3.5 _ because it is not cheap? it is not, she did raise ella 3.5 million - because it is not cheap? it is not, she did raise ella 3.5 million in i she did raise ella 3.5 million in january which has a very strong sign of support. -- -- £11.5 $11.5 —— —— £11.5 311.5 million that messaging is still resonating with folks. there were crowds from 50 to folks. there were crowds from 50 to folks in the thousands depending on which part of the state you're in, so there are still people supporting her. she is using that as a symbol that people still want an alternative notjust that people still want an alternative not just to that people still want an alternative notjust to donald trump but also joe biden. alternative notjust to donald trump

but alsojoe biden. we had a lot of democrats turn out last night, still crunching the numbers in the future days, but it is clear a lot of democrats crossed over, did not vote in the february three to democratic primary and came out to support nikki haley but not in a. realistically, we will have a donald trump versus joe realistically, we will have a donald trump versusjoe biden election? don't ruin the surprise for me, but thatis don't ruin the surprise for me, but that is what we are heading, the writing has been on the wall with these early voting states cementing his dominance in this competition, but nikki haley is throwing up these warning signs saying if we have this match up again, you will seejoe biden win a second term, because you see these hypothetical matchups going in november and donald trump does not blow upjoe biden like nikki haley does, that is her message, so people understand what is at rest in november.— is at rest in november. thank you for “oininu is at rest in november. thank you forjoining us- _

to ukraine, and the country's presidential chief of staff says he's "not afraid of a trump presidency". at a press conference on the second anniversary of russia's full—scale invasion, he was asked whether he was concerned by the former president's previous claim that he would "end the ukraine war in a day". the defence minister, rustam umerov, has also been talking — he criticised western supporters for failing to live up to the commitments they have made about weapons deliveries. have a listen. at the moment, commitment doesn't constitute delivery. 50% of commitments are not delivered on time. so which means that in the mathematics of war, we look to the enemy, their economy is almost 2 trillion, they use up to 15% official and unofficial budget for the war which constitutes over 150 billion us dollars. so, annually, it's officially. so basically, whatever commitment that doesn't come on time, we'll lose people,

we'll lose territory. that is ukraine's defence minister. let's speak to yuriy sak, adviser to ukraine's minister of strategic industries. thank you forjoining us. defence minister has criticised western supporters for failing to deliver weapons promised — how big a problem is that? for you and the troops on the ground? for you and the troops on the round? ,., ., ., ., ., for you and the troops on the round? _, ., ., ., ., .., , ground? good afternoon. of course, we have always _ ground? good afternoon. of course, we have always been _ ground? good afternoon. of course, we have always been on _ ground? good afternoon. of course, we have always been on the - ground? good afternoon. of course, we have always been on the one - ground? good afternoon. of course, l we have always been on the one hand very grateful for our partners for the support we are receiving, but at the support we are receiving, but at the same time, we have always stressed that the delays in the supply of ammunition, the end delays of the surprise of any weapon systems, results in higher casualties, high rate of losses, so when we urge our partners to provide these weapons and ammunition is

faster, we are not criticising them, we are just stipulating the facts. time is weaponised by russia and we have to be conscious of that. this is why ukraine has already started to produce our own ammunition, we are building up our own centre and base, but of course we are still heavily reliant on the support of our western partners and time is of essence. how crucial is it for us politicians to agree those billions of dollars in aid currently stuck in the us house of representatives? 0n the one hand, we have always said that if there is no support coming to ukraine, for us it is a war of survival, so we will continue the fight with brooms and stakes if we have two, but as our president has said just today, he said will

ukrainians survive? yes, we will, but not all of us, so that needs to be in mind. it is all about the cost that has to be paid, we have committed to defending and we will fight this war, we are not asking our partners to send their soldiers or beats on the ground, but we are asking for weapons, financial support, because it is about our survival and that by extension will impact the future of european countries and the world at large. what would your message be to those western politicians and also everyday people living in countries in the west? ilil" everyday people living in countries in the west?— everyday people living in countries in the west? , , , , in the west? our message is simple, stand with ukraine, _ in the west? our message is simple, stand with ukraine, continue - in the west? our message is simple, stand with ukraine, continue to - stand with ukraine, continue to support ukraine. we are bound by the same objective, to end this war and we wanted to end this war with a

just peace. just piece is international interest of ukraine, eu countries, united states of america, any country in the coalition of three nations, so stand with ukraine and together we are stronger. share with ukraine and together we are stronuer. �* ,. .,, , . stronger. are you optimistic, briefl , stronger. are you optimistic, briefly. that _ stronger. are you optimistic, briefly, that that _ stronger. are you optimistic, briefly, that that will - stronger. are you optimistic, l briefly, that that will happen? stronger. are you optimistic, - briefly, that that will happen? we are ve briefly, that that will happen? - are very optimistic, because we communicate with our partners. you saw it today, the leaders of so many european and western countries arrived in kyiv to commemorate the second grim anniversary of this brutal aggressive war against our country and these last two years, six and a half million ukrainians have been made refugees, thousands of schools and kindergartens have been destroyed. this is all happening in ukraine now and we still have a chance as an international coalition to end this war here in ukraine. we don't have to allow it to spill over to other western countries. why miss the

chance? and not to miss the chance means western partners understand this and continue to stand with us and we are hopeful and optimistic in that respect. and we are hopeful and optimistic in that respect-— that respect. thank you for “oining us. now it's time for a look at today's sport. the first major trophy of the english football season will be won later, with chelsea taking on liverpool in the league cup final at wembley. there's no mo salah, or darwin nunez for liverpool, even in their squad, as they contend with injuries, with chelsea unchanged from their draw with manchester city last weekend. 0ur sports correspondentjoe wilson is at wembley for us. we know, and jurgen klopp has known, in the build—up to this that liverpool will not be at full strength. he will not have all the players he would hope to draw on in a cup final right at the start of the season, but what liverpool have is this emotional wave behind him and behind the team. the sense that liverpooljust have to reward him or say goodbye tojurgen klopp with at

least one trophy this season. this is liverpool's first chance, it might be their best chance. certainly amongst the thousands of fans who got hit really early to the ground, i've seen many wearing scarves with jurgen ground, i've seen many wearing scarves withjurgen klopp's ground, i've seen many wearing scarves with jurgen klopp's face scarves withjurgen klopp's face embroidered on the fabric. scarves with jurgen klopp's face embroidered on the fabric. chelsea did not spend all that money to finish mid—table. there has been a change essential to her chelsea but nothing says progress like a trophy. liverpool versus chelsea, i know you have seen that movie before but this one feels different because of the significance for both teams in different ways. to cricket and india have fought back and are in a strong position to win not only the fourth test but also the series against england, after an impressive third day in ranchi. they started it trailing by 134 runs with three wickets remaining in theirfirst innings,

but now are chasing 152 to win, after an england batting collapse. dhruv jurel�*s 90 helped them to a total of 307 all out in theirfirst innings, which cut into england's lead. england's second innings was a disaster — india's bowlers doing the damage. ravichandran ashwin with ben duckett and ollie pope removed. five wickets in all for him. joe root was unable to match his heriocs from the first innings. he went forjust 11. the collapse saw england slump to 145 all out, and it's very much india's match for the taking. to rugby union, and the six nations, where france will host italy in the next hour, but it is ireland who remain the team most are talking about after making it three wins from three. they beat wales 31—7 in dublin. in what was a bonus point win for the irish, as they move a step closer to becoming the first team to win back—to—back grand slams in the six nations era. that's now three defeats in a row

for this young welsh side at this year's tournament. ireland play england next — they were beaten by scotland as duhan van der merwe scored a hat—trick in a deserved 30—21 victory at murrayfield. it's the first time in almost 130 years scotland have won four successive six nations matches against england, and it means the calcutta cup stays with them. and that's all the sport for now. we will be back with more later on with all the football. see you then. it was the screen actors guild awards in los angeles on saturday night — a ceremony that is seen a good predictor for the oscars. and 0ppenheimer was the big winner. christopher nolan's film was the top prize for best film cast. accepting the award on behalf of the cast, sir kenneth branagh said they were all "grateful, humbled and proud". cillian murphy was named best leading actor for his role in the movie about the atomic bomb. killers of the flower moon star lily gladstone was named best leading actress. 28 years ago when i was trying to become an actor, i was a failed musician and i felt extremely like an interloper, but now looking out at all of you guys here today

i know that i am part of something truly wonderful. so thank you so much. cheering and applause thank you for all of the compassionate souls in this room and all of the storytellers here tonight. keep speaking your truths and keep speaking up for each other. have a good one. see you again. the holdovers star da'vine joy randolph was named best supporting actress, a prize she has won consistently throughout awards season and is considered almost certain to take at the oscars. i think the biggest thing is... as a woman of colour it is very imperative to me that the stories i am telling are diverse, authentic, real and quality. so i really took a lot of time on picking the roles and making sure that who i am going to portray means something and will impact people, and people will enjoy to experience,

and hopefully feel seen. 0ppenheimer�*s robert downeer, who has similarly been dominating his category, was named best supporting actor. he described the award as "incredibly meaningful", and also acknowledged his 0scar frontrunner status by asking, "why me, why now, why do things seem to be going my way?" jennifer aniston and bradley cooper presented this year's lifetime achievement prize to veteran singer and actress barbra streisand. she received a standing ovation from the audience and joked it was "such a wonderful award to get, because you know in advance you're going to get it". she also recalled her childhood. like reality, i wanted to be in the movies, even though i knew i didn't look like the other women on the screen. -- i didn't —— i didn't like reality. my mother said you better learn to type, but i didn't listen. and somehow... . .some way. . . thank you, god. ..it all came true.

it certainly did. let's speak to film critic helen 0'hara. not a big surprise 0ppenheimer won. absolutely not. it has looked like the frontrunner all awards season. i think there was some speculation before that may be killers of the flower moon would give it a close run for its money, but it does feel like it is kind of nailed on. there is a lot of overlap in the freighter ship further the sag awards and the oscars. —— in the votership. sags have a good track record of predicting 0scar winners. cillian murphy — does he have the oscar in the bag? there is always a possibility of an upset, but he is clearly the frontrunner. i would say all four of

those actor wins last night are the frontrunners for the oscars. i think the baftas were a bit of an outlier going further emma stone because lily was not nominated, but i would be very surprised if they win as we saw last night were not the winners at the acting categories at the oscars. ., ., , , ., , oscars. your money is on lily gladstone. — oscars. your money is on lily gladstone, which _ oscars. your money is on lily gladstone, which would - oscars. your money is on lily gladstone, which would be i oscars. your money is on lily gladstone, which would be a | oscars. your money is on lily - gladstone, which would be a first in 0scars history? gladstone, which would be a first in oscars history?— gladstone, which would be a first in oscars history? yes, because native american actors _ oscars history? yes, because native american actors and _ oscars history? yes, because native american actors and actresses - oscars history? yes, because native american actors and actresses have | american actors and actresses have not really been recognised. they have not had the role is to be recognised, lead roles. when i have been stories set in their culture, we have had daniel day lewis or kevin costner in the lead role, so it is a big moment for her. partly it is a big moment for her. partly it is a great performance but also that narrative is one that the oscars really that narrative is one that the 0sca rs really want to that narrative is one that the oscars really want to celebrate. 0scars really want to celebrate. yes, for anyone who has not seen the film, give us an idea of the outline of it. , ., ., a, ., film, give us an idea of the outline of it. , ., ., ~ , of it. killers of the flower moon is about the nation _ of it. killers of the flower moon is about the nation where _ of it. killers of the flower moon is about the nation where oil- of it. killers of the flower moon is about the nation where oil was - about the nation where oil was discovered early in the last century

and a bunch of people flocked there to try and exploit the people there and one of them was leonardo dicaprio's character who married lily gladstone's character essentially for her oil money and all matter of shady business went down. ., , ,., , all matter of shady business went down. _ ., all matter of shady business went down. .,, , . ., ., down. robert downey junior, if we go back to oppenheimer, _ down. robert downey junior, if we go back to oppenheimer, what _ down. robert downey junior, if we go back to oppenheimer, what an - down. robert downey junior, if we go l back to oppenheimer, what an amazing back to 0ppenheimer, what an amazing comeback in a way he has had. 30 years ago, he was huge, he had his troubles, and now he is back really storming the way in all of these award ceremonies.— storming the way in all of these award ceremonies. 10096. i think hollywood _ award ceremonies. 10096. i think hollywood loves _ award ceremonies. 10096. i think hollywood loves a _ award ceremonies. 10096. i think hollywood loves a redemption i award ceremonies. 10096. i think - hollywood loves a redemption story, and we all do, it gives us hope, but i think his is so compelling. he really had all of the talent, he squandered it on drink and drugs, i don't think i am saying anything out of ten, i think you would agree, and he has been clawing his way back for the past 20 years, most noticeably via marvel and that incredible formance as tony stark, but we also see him get his recognition from his

own appears which i think has been very moving to him and he has genuinely been enjoying this 0scar season of singh himself accepted. very briefly, do you think christopher nolan will get best director at the oscars? —— at seeing himself accepted. i director at the oscars? -- at seeing himself accepted.— himself accepted. i think he will, i think there's _ himself accepted. i think he will, i think there's the _ himself accepted. i think he will, i think there's the question - himself accepted. i think he will, i think there's the question of - think there's the question of scorsese who you can't count out, but i think the oscars tend to acknowledge people who have been doing good work consistently for years and have not yet been rewarded and he fits that category. thank years and have not yet been rewarded and he fits that category.— and he fits that category. thank you ve much and he fits that category. thank you very much for— and he fits that category. thank you very much forjoining _ and he fits that category. thank you very much forjoining us _ and he fits that category. thank you very much forjoining us and - and he fits that category. thank you very much forjoining us and of - very much forjoining us and of course we will have full coverage of the oscars next month here on bbc news. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. much of the country enjoying a fine

and dry parts of the weekend with quite a lot of sunshine around after that cold frosty and foggy start. much of the country will remain dry with sunny spells. low pressure to the south of the uk will continue to bring wet and windy weather to south wales, south—west england, increasing lizzo to the south and south—east of england through this evening and overnight. —— increasingly to the south. further north, where we have clearer skies, a ridge of high pressure topping it. it will be cold and frosty, less so in the south and east because of the cloud, wind and rain from this feature which will pull out into the near continent for monday, taking the main weather it, but it will remain quite windy across england and wales. we remain in the colder air mass with this ridge of high pressure which will bring much of the country a lot of dry and sunny weather on monday before it turns wet and windy in the far north—west later. a windy day to come across southern and eastern areas, the rain eventually clears from sussex and

kent. a few showers across north sea coast, otherwise mostly dry with sunshine thanks to that ridge of high pressure. winds is lighter in the north compared to the south and east and that really takes the edge of the temperatures, windy for the northern isles ahead of this weather front. temperatures in the face of it 6-9 , front. temperatures in the face of it 6—9 , colder in the south—east when you factor in that strong north—easterly breeze. as we had to monday night, clearer skies of the england and wales. the breeze tending to die down. it has wet, windy and cloudy the scotland and northern ireland, so here less cold across england and wales well there will again be a frost, perhaps a mist and fog patches to start the day. tuesday, this weatherfront mist and fog patches to start the day. tuesday, this weather front is pushing southwards and eastwards across the country, weakening as it pushes into that ridge of high pressure. heavy rain likely across scotland and northern ireland for a time, may be snow on the hills, that's where the front weakens as it pushes into england and wales, is a cloudy afternoon here. brighterfor

scotland and northern ireland into the afternoon but there will be blustery showers and these will have a wintry element, temperatures 7-10 . a wintry element, temperatures 7—10. remains a wintry element, temperatures 7—10 . remains unsettled for the rest of february, ten turner mall up midweek but then colder as we head into the first few days of march. —— turning milder midweek.

this is bbc news. the headlines... senior conservatives are drawn into an argument over islamophobia after the conservative mp,

lee anderson, said "islamists" had "got control" of the mayor of london. the deputy prime minister refuses to say whether the comments are islamophobic. israeli forces are continuing their strikes across the gaza strip, with heavy urban combat in the southern city of khan younis. israel is insisting there will be no let—up in the fighting, despite fresh hopes of a pause in hostilities following peace talks in paris. donald trump is one step closer to the republican presidential nomination, easily beating rival nikki haley in the south carolina primary. the former president won his opponent's home state with a 20—point margin — making it his fourth consecutive victory. the screen actors guild awards. it takes the top prize of best cast, as well as best actor for cillian murphy. barbara streisand was also presented with a lifetime achievement award. i will have a full bulletin at the top of the hour.

now on bbc news...tecthlore: japan