president zelensky reveals 31,000 ukrainian troops have been killed in the two—years of war with russia. israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu tells us television they are "weeks" away from "total victory" in gaza. in sao paulo, supporters of the former president bolsanaro have gathered in support of him as a police investigation into him at nears its end. hello. we start in the uk, where the conservative party is finding itself under increasing pressure — after an mp made comments described as �*islamophobic, anti—muslim and racist�*.

lee anderson was suspended from the party after saying london's mayor was controlled by �*islamists�*. the suspension was not for the comments but for refusing to apologise. the party's leadership was drawn further into the argument on sunday — the deputy prime minister refusing to say whether he thought the comments were islamophobic. 0ur political correspondent iain watson reports. he's known for speaking his mind, but lee anderson kept his lips firmly sealed following his suspension from the parliamentary conservative party. here are the comments about london's mayor that got him into trouble. i don't actually believe 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. lee anderson was quite literally in the doghouse this afternoon. it's a pub in his constituency. sadiq khan and labour described his remarks as islamophobic. but the deputy prime minister seemed keen to avoid that

specific accusation. i don't believe that lee anderson was intending to be islamophobic, but nonetheless, i understand the concern about, particularly in relation to the mayor of london, how those words have caused offence, and because of that, that's precisely why he was given the chance to apologise, and when he failed to do so, action was taken. but were the comments themselves islamophobic? i think i've been clear that they could be taken that way. he also said if lee anderson had apologised, he'd still be a conservative mp. ceasefire now! the conflict in the middle east is having a profound effect on uk politics. labour had to kick out their candidate in the forthcoming rochdale by—election over anti—semitism, and are now keen to move the focus on to the prime minister and the problems in his party. what's unfolded in the conservative

party, the absolute poison that's been allowed to seep into their political debate, and a prime minister that's seemingly unwilling to even acknowledge the term islamophobia, let alone stand up to senior politicians in his party dragging our politics into their sewer. rishi sunak, shame on you! against a backdrop of demonstrations, the prime minister today warned against polarisation in politics. his critics say, though, he needs to get his own house in order, and openly challenge statements made by his own representatives. let's speak to shabna begum, interim ceo of the runnymede trust, a british race equality and civil rights think tank. thanks forjoining us on the programme. does the conservative party have a problem with islamophobia? yes, i'm afraid the events of the last few days confirm what we have known for many years that the

conservative party does indeed have a problem with islamophobia, not just about the outrageous remarks made by sadiq khan, and suella braverman talking about islamists taking over britain and robert jenrick earlier in the week in parliament talking about islamist intimidating the streets and people not being to walk freely and safely in the streets because of islamist bullies. i think there is a toxic narrative coming out of the conservative party that is extremely dangerous, and this is sadly not new. baroness was the, part of the tory party, has for many years talked about the fact that the conservative party had a deep problem with islamophobia. haw conservative party had a deep problem with islamophobia. how do comments like _ problem with islamophobia. how do comments like these _ problem with islamophobia. how do comments like these impact - problem with islamophobia. how do comments like these impact the - comments like these impact the muslim community in the uk? the? muslim community in the uk? they have a devastating _ muslim community in the uk? tie:

have a devastating impact on muslim community in the uk? tie1: have a devastating impact on the devastating impact in the direct sense. we've seen a report from last week that told us there had been a 335% increase in racist hatred attacks towards muslims and we know from previous episode where boris johnson in 2018 described muslim women as letterboxes, again in an article in the telegraph. we had a 375% increase in attacks on muslims in the days and weeks that followed that. we know these comments, these narratives are dangerous and incite violence and hatred and so division. what do you make of comments from senior conservatives including the prime minister that there needs to be a focus on extremism amongst some groups? they mentioned in particular pro—palestinian activists who are targeting mps. so the conservatives say as well as dealing with these prejudicial comments, according to some people, they say it is important to look at some aspects of extremism in the country. that important to look at some aspects of extremism in the country.—

extremism in the country. that is art of extremism in the country. that is part of the _ extremism in the country. that is part of the problem. _ extremism in the country. that is part of the problem. right - extremism in the country. that is part of the problem. right now. extremism in the country. that is | part of the problem. right now we have this narrative where we are conflating what our peaceful pro—palestinian demonstrations that have been stated by the metropolitan police and we have had hundreds of thousands of people gather for national demonstrations with minimal numbers of arrests, and yet we have this wild conflation between the pro—palestinian demonstrations and this idea that islamist bullies are taking over the country. it's those sort of narratives that are deeply dangerous and irresponsible and reckless and are islamophobia. thank ou for reckless and are islamophobia. thank you forjoining — reckless and are islamophobia. thank you forjoining us- _ supporters of former brazillian president jair bolsonaro are protesting in sao paulo. thousands of his backers rallied in the city's main avenue — the first major demonstration of its kind since he left office just over a year ago. 0rganisers say mr bolsonaro is the victim of political persecution by the left—wing government.

let's speak to our correspondent, ione wells, who's in sao paulo. mr bolsanaro mr bolsa naro has mr bolsanaro has been addressing the crowd. what has he had to say? that's right. he's been addressing the thousands of supporters of his who turned up here in the centre of sao paulo to show their support for him. this rally was really called in response to an ongoing investigation into mr bolsanaro, into whether or not he incited thousands of his supporters last year to storm the presidential palace, congress and the supreme court, calling for a military takeover and for the election result to be overturned and in his speech today at this rally, he called allegations of an alleged coup a conspiracy and also asked for

an amnesty fora coup a conspiracy and also asked for an amnesty for a supporter of him who ended up and was arrested and put in prison as a result of looting government buildings last year. we see the large crowds in sao paulo. more broadly, how is mr bolsanaro seenin more broadly, how is mr bolsanaro seen in brazil? he more broadly, how is mr bolsanaro seen in brazil?— seen in brazil? he is a polarising fiaure. seen in brazil? he is a polarising figure. clearly _ seen in brazil? he is a polarising figure. clearly from _ seen in brazil? he is a polarising figure. clearly from the - seen in brazil? he is a polarising figure. clearly from the crowds l figure. clearly from the crowds today he still does have a large fan base. there are still the right wing supporters of his who do believe that he should still be allowed to run for office again, even though he is currently banned for running from office for the next eight years. brazil is still politically polarised between those who support the former president and those who loathe him and disagree with everything he did while in office, but also what he has attempted to do since the election took place. just a couple of weeks ago on the same avenue in sao paulo there was a counterprotest against the former

president and support of the current left—wing president lula and that was marking the riots that took place in brazil last year and these were criticising both for him calling the election fraudulent, and there was no evidence to suggest that, but also certainly it was kind of in support of the current president lula on his left—wing policies as opposed to the crowds we are seeing today. just policies as opposed to the crowds we are seeing today.— are seeing today. just tell us a bit more about _ are seeing today. just tell us a bit more about the _ are seeing today. just tell us a bit more about the investigations - more about the investigations against the former president and what is expected to happen next? how would they proceed? we what is expected to happen next? how would they proceed?— would they proceed? we don't know et the would they proceed? we don't know yet the result _ would they proceed? we don't know yet the result of _ would they proceed? we don't know yet the result of the _ would they proceed? we don't know yet the result of the investigation i yet the result of the investigation but that is certainly why he wanted to come out here today to try and really show the support he still has amongst its followers. the main investigation at this rally that it has been called in response to his whether he deliberately incited an alleged coup last year, and this was partly because him and a lot of his

supporters at the time had made claims of electoral fraud and said the election was rigged, even though there was no evidence to suggest that was the case. there are also allegations he is being investigated for whether or not he instructed military chiefs to enable an alleged coup last year, so those are some of the charges that have been brought against him, so far as part of the investigation he's had his passport confiscated and also been subjected to police raids and some of his properties and we don't know what the result will be but certainly some feel there will be enough evidence to potentially land him in jail which could lead to him being arrested, but the result of the investigation is not yet clear and he has used his platform here today to defend himself and claim that those allegations are part of a big conspiracy against him. we those allegations are part of a big conspiracy against him.— those allegations are part of a big conspiracy against him. we can 'ust see these conspiracy against him. we can 'ust these five fl conspiracy against him. we can 'ust see these live pictures i conspiracy against him. we can 'ust see these live pictures from i conspiracy against him. we can just see these live pictures from sao - see these live pictures from sao paulo and he has drawn a huge crowd.

how influential is mr bolsanaro and his supporters within brazilian politics today? he his supporters within brazilian politics today?— politics today? he is still influential. _ politics today? he is still influential. still- politics today? he is still influential. still seen - politics today? he is still influential. still seen as| politics today? he is still. influential. still seen as one politics today? he is still- influential. still seen as one of the key figures on the right in brazil and those who oppose the current left—wing president lula feel bolsanaro is a figurehead and a voice for them, even though he is banned from running for office for the next eight years. so certainly i think he is kind of influential and certainly has a big social media presence. his family, his sons are also key as part of his general brand and campaigning still promoting a lot of his policies on social media when it comes to running for office again, his political career looks pretty uncertain given he is currently already barred from running for office as a result of some of his comments and actions which were seen to have undermined the electoral system brazil.—

president zelensky has said 31,000 ukrainian troops have been killed so far during the two years of war with russia. it's the first time in many months that figure has been revealed. he said tens of thousands of civilians in the russian occupied territories had also died. speaking at a news conference to mark saturday's second anniversary of russia's invasion, mr zelensky said he couldn't reveal the number of people injured because that information would help russia, but the loss was very painful. he was hopeful of a peace summit in the spring, and was �*sure' the us congress would pass its aid package for ukraine. translation: we cannot lose. what it will mean if ukraine loses, it means there will be no us, no us in existence. definitely, this is not the end of our existence that we like. if ukraine loses, if it becomes complicated,

the number of victims, it will depend on you, on our partners and the western world. if we are strong with the weapons that we get, this and that, we won't lose the war. we will prevail. 0ur correspondentjames waterhouse also attended president zelensky�*s marathon news conference and told me more about it. well, it was a bit of an endurance event today. president zelensky knows how to draw a crowd. his profile is at the level of him being one of the most famous world leaders. so his government announced this nine hour press conference where 28 officials and ministers spoke and president zelensky talked about the delay to western aid. now, it is true that ukraine has received a substantial amount to date, but the issue for kyiv has always been the speed at which it has arrived. he talked about forging

relationships with european partners to a greater extent to potentially fill a gap left by the us if it was to further withdraw support. although he said he's confident that won't happen, i asked him how he felt about the delays of aid to this point. translation: frustrated. well, losing time means losing money. that's my biggest frustration. longer with the war, the more are the casualties. that second thing. and casualties, they can be different. they could be civilian casualties, military casualties, children. and the more people are staying in the occupied territories, the more ukrainians are being deported or taken somewhere to russia. the longer the war, the more countries are starting to kind of balance, and the time is not

in favour for everyone. so what else can it be disappointed with or frustrated with? i'm grateful for this help to maintain. it's important that this assistance come on time. the war is a technological one, and you're really waiting, for some weapons for some armoured vehicles. but by the time it arrives, we fight with drones. you start then you waiting a lot for the long range weapons, when it arrives, the people are already, you know, fighting with different means and missiles are the war when maybe, let's say, we cannot lose the time. it's interesting. his defence minister said half of the delivered western aid to date had been delayed. so it's clearly a frustration being held. but what's interesting is i was at that press conference this time last year

where there was a different atmosphere and the subject was one of an upcoming counter offensive and ukraine had just liberated swathes of territory in two different areas. the country had the wind in its sails. this time around, the talk is around long term security agreements, recovery, possible peace plans, forging relationships with other allies. it's a different kind of war now, and it's a different kind of foreign policy challenge for president zelensky. and you feel that he and his country and his military are preparing for a long war with an outcome which is farfrom certain. now it's time for a look at today's sport. hello from the bbc sport centre. liverpool have won the league cup for a tenth time, extending their own record of wins in the competition. they beat chelsea 1—0 in the final, with their winner coming in the final two minutes of extra time. with that defeat, chelsea have secured an unwanted record,

they have lost their last six cup finals. our sports correspondentjoe wilson was at wembley. it was liverpool's vastly experienced captain virgil van dijk who rose to head the decisive goal in extra time, remembering the headed goal by van dyk that was headed goal by van dyk that was headed early in the game. but when headed early in the game. but when he turned to celebrate with his team—mates, he would have seen teenage liverpool players who are only on the fringes of the first team at the start of the season. this is a livable team so beset by injuries, so to win in those circumstances, i am sure, will be especially memorable forjurgen klopp in his farewell season it might be a games of liverpool be on him. chelsea supporters i'm sure will be tired of people like us referring constantly to the amount of money they have spent. in truth there were very expensive players on there were very expensive players on the pitch on the final who did not look like matchwinners. conor gallagher was central to chelsea's best moments and almost won the game

twice near the end of 90 minutes but when chelsea needed something extra in extra time, in fact, they faded, and that might be the most disappointing element of this cup finalfor disappointing element of this cup final for chelsea fans as they trudged home in the north london drizzle. just one match in the premier league on sunday and sheffield united remain bottom of the table, losing at wolves 1—0. pablo sarabia with the first half winner — his third goal of the season. the result lifts gary 0'neil�*s side up to eighth in the table and boosts their hopes of appearing in europe next season. sheffield united did create some chances, but they stay bottom, eight points off safety. india should clinch the test series after bowling england out forjust 145 in their second innings in the fourth test in ranchi. ravichandran ashwin took five wickets and india were a0 without loss at stumps, needing another 152 to go 3—1 up in the series with one to play skipper rohit sharma is unbeaten on 2a, with yashasvi jaiswal on 16.

italy were just inches away from one of the biggest upsets in the history of the six nations championship after fighting back to draw level against 1a—man france in lille, paolo garbisi kicked what would have been the winning penalty against the upright. it finished 13—13, the first draw between the two nations. i was thinking about trusting my process, really. it is part of my job to do the kick over, so i take full responsibility for that, and i'm sorry for the team, because i thought they were amazing today, but also for all of the italian supporters. that is my dad and i will work on it.— supporters. that is my dad and i will work on it. fortunately the guy missed a kick. _ will work on it. fortunately the guy missed a kick, but _ will work on it. fortunately the guy missed a kick, but for _ will work on it. fortunately the guy missed a kick, but for us, - will work on it. fortunately the guy missed a kick, but for us, we - will work on it. fortunately the guy missed a kick, but for us, we are i missed a kick, but for us, we are disappointed that even with a draw. we expected to beat italy today. to

concede _ we expected to beat italy today. to concede 13 — we expected to beat italy today. to concede 13 points is not too bad against — concede 13 points is not too bad against 14— concede 13 points is not too bad against 14 players, but we are obviously _ against 14 players, but we are obviously disappointed we didn't actually— obviously disappointed we didn't actually get a win. lots more on the bbc sport website and that's all for now. in an interview with us broadcaster cbs, israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, says once troops begin their operation in rafah, what he described as �*total victory�* would be just weeks away. gaza's hamas—run health ministry says more than ninety people were killed overnight. paul adams reports. tel aviv last night. israel's deep divisions on raw display. these streets are used to protests, but they are bigger now, angrier. for the first time since october, the police resorting to tougher measures. the loathing for israel's prime minister and his hardline cabinet goes back more than a year, but it's spurred on by the war in gaza

and the fear that their government is more interested in defeating hamas than freeing hostages. we cannot keep on doing the military solutions, because they are not working. it is becoming worse. a lot of people are dead on both sides. we are waiting for any development and we want them home. the government here says the talks aimed at getting the hostages back are making progress, something hamas denies. the process is due to continue in qatar this week, but the government is also saying it is about to approve plans for an assault on rafah. the israeli military, which released these pictures, is still fighting in nearby khan yunis. an assault on rafah could be weeks away. israel has yet to signal any real preparations. speaking on american television today, mr netanyahu said it was just a matter of time. if we have a deal, it will be delayed somewhat, but it will happen.

if we don't have a deal, we will do it anyway. it has to be done because total victory is our goal, and total victory is within reach. if israel and hamas do strike a deal on hostages, which families and friends so desperately need, the shooting could stop before the start of ramadan in two weeks' time. it would be the first respite since the end of november. a chance for everyone to draw breath and figure out what happens next. paul adams, bbc news, jerusalem. what would a ground invasion in rafah mean for the million and a half palestinians sheltering in the region, with growing reports of malnutrition? our special correspondent fergal keane sent this report. you may find some of it distressing. it is mostly a story of exhausted waiting. each long minute, the children seek anything to fight the pain of hunger.

and when it is served, the thin soup is eagerly gathered up. hunger, along with so much else. two—month—old mahmoud is one of the vulnerable victims. the doctor examining him told us how he had died. israel says it allows aid into northern gaza and that the un is failing to organise distribution. but the un says law and order has collapsed with the war. drivers are terrified of being attacked and aid looted. in israel, opinion polls suggest many support the views of this man,

whose son is a hostage in gaza, and who opposes any aid being sent without the return of the hostages. that sounds very, very harsh, when you are talking about civilians, babies, children dying. yes, but we have babies and women and the elders, 0k? it's very, very simple. give us our people, and we will give you food and medicines. the un is warning of famine. this is rafah at the southern end of the gaza strip, where11—year—old mohammed spends every day seeking food for his family. when i go back to my family with this food, he says, they are happy, and we all eat together. there is also sickness at home. mohammed's mother has bone cancer.

this is a family stranded, where history and hunger have trapped them. we will leave you with the live pictures from sao paulo where thousands of demonstrators have come up thousands of demonstrators have come up in support of the former president, jair bolsanaro. addressing the crowd, he said he was the victim of tireless political persecution. he is being investigated for his alleged involvement in plotting a military coup after losing an election. two weeks ago there was another big rally against mr bolsanaro. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. sunday was a fine day for much of the country. some good sunny spells around after that very cold start. it was a chilly afternoon, but at least there was

the sunshine to compensate. southern parts of the uk continued to stay wet and windy as that area of low pressure to the south of the uk continues to push towards france. so it stays at wet and windy here through the night for central, southern and southeastern parts of england. further north, a few showers will drift southwards into central northern scotland, a few along some north sea coast of england. these will be wintry, certainly over any higher ground. but a chilly night to come, northern and western areas, some frost around, once again. less cold in the southeast because of the wind and the rain. now, as we head into monday, we've got a ridge of high pressure toppling overfrom the north, that'll spread southwards. that area of low pressure will continue to pull away to the near continent, taking the wind and rain with it. but we'll be in a colder air mass once again on monday, so another chilly day to come, turns windier later in the day across the north and the west of scotland. so we start off rather windy, grey across the far south east. the rain eventually clearing away from sussex and kent, but it does stay quite cold and windy across large parts of england and wales. a few showers running into the north and the east.

otherwise, it's a fine, sunny day thanks to that ridge of high pressure, lighter winds in the north, brisk in the south. and that really will take the edge off the temperatures. 0n the thermometer, we're looking at around 6—9 celsius, but it'll feel more like 2—3 celsius across the southeast when you factor in the cold northeasterly wind. through monday night, it looks like it turns drier under that ridge of high pressure. many of the showers die off. so, it's going to be a cold one, i think, for england and wales where we have the clear skies, light winds, because the weather front will be pushing into scotland, northern ireland with increasing winds. so not quite as cold here as what we'll have further south. and with light winds, there could be some mist and fog to start tuesday. this weather front will be moving southwards and eastwards on tuesday, but as it bumps into the...moves into the area of high pressure, it will weaken quite rapidly. so some pretty heavy rain for scotland, northern ireland at first, some snow on the hills, then it weakens as it pushes across england and wales, bringing a lot of cloud here. skies will brighten up for scotland, northern ireland into the afternoon, but there will be some blustery

showers, wintry on the hills. temperature wise, we're looking around 7—10 celsius. around the middle part of the week, and to end february, it looks like it's going to turn a little bit milder. it stays very unsettled. and then as we head into the first part of march, it looks like the temperatures cool down again.

this is bbc news, the headlines the conservative party is under increasing pressure after suspending an mp over claims of racism.

lee anderson said "islamists" had "got control" of the mayor of london. but the deputy prime minister won't say whether he considered the comments to be islamophobic. israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu has told us television that his country's forces are "weeks" away from a total victory in gaza president zelensky reveals 31,000 ukrainian soldiers — and tens of thousands of civilians — have been killed in the two years of war with russia. the former brazilian president, jair bolsonaro, is addressing tens of thousands of his supporters, in the biggest opposition rally since leaving office just over a year ago. now on bbc news.. the travel show look at this. simply stunning.