more than ”50,000 scramble for aid. more than 30,000 people have been killed, according to hamas. and tributes pour in for dave myers, best known as one half of the presenting duo — the hairy bikers, who has died at the age of 66. let's return to the news that the hamas—run health ministry in gaza says more than 30,000 palestinians have been killed since the beginning of israel's military offensive. in the latest violence, palestinian sources say dozens of people were killed while waiting for food aid. 0ur middle east correspondent yolande knell has with more on the 30,000—plus deaths — here's merlyn thomas from bbc verify. we've been covering this war from the very beginning. tracking the damage across gaza, from the israeli offensive following the hamas attacks on israel on the 7th of october, now, at the start of the war, the gaza strip was one of the most densely populated places on earth. it was home to over 2 million people. and today, the hamas—run health ministry has announced that

since the start of the war, more than 30,000 palestinians have been killed in gaza. now, several experts we've spoken to have said that the number of dead could actually be much higher than this. and that's because many hospitals in gaza where deaths are recorded are no longer operating. now, let's take a bit of a closer look at this. look at this graph — it's a breakdown of who exactly has been killed. and as you can see from this, the majority of those killed have been women and children. and how does this compare with previous conflicts in gaza? well, this chart shows deaths in 2008, and you can see that more men were killed than women and children. and it's a similar picture in the second war in 2014. now, have a look at this chart which shows the current war. now, the bars here for women and children show the deaths in red and purple and they're significantly higher than the one for men. keep in mind, this war has been going on for months, whereas the others lasted for weeks. so the death toll here is much higher. now, israel has questioned the death toll, but it hasn't provided its own figures on how many civilians in gaza have been killed.

so how are these casualty figures counted? well, counting the dead in any war zone is a challenge. and experts told the bbc that the real scale of those killed since then is likely to be significantly higher than 30,000. now, the figures only include bodies counted in hospitals like this one. so those buried under rubble aren't included in this tally. and the world health organization's regional emergency director, richard brennan, has previously said he considers these casualty figures to be trustworthy. now, since the beginning of the war, the israeli army has said it takes precautionary measures in order to avoid damage to the civilian population. israel also says that hamas uses gaza's civilian population as human shields. now, nearly five months into the war, this latest death toll will intensify the pressure to pause the fighting. britain's armed forces minister, james heappey, has offered to meet the family of a kenyan woman, who was allegedly killed

by a british soldier in 2012. agnes wanjiru's family have been calling forjustice and closure — after an inquest in 2019 concluded she was murdered by one or more british soldiers and found signs of a potential cover up. mr heappy told our correspondent barbara plett usher that the uk was helping the kenyan authorities with the investigation. if i were agnes�*s family, i would be deeply annoyed and angry at how long this is taking. the saying is thatjustice delayed isjustice denied. and it is now a very long time since agnes�*s death. but an investigation is ongoing. the uk government is working hard to... is supporting the kenyans in their investigation, whenever we are asked to do so. and we will support whatever requests are made of us in the future, up to and including charging and extradition. let's speak to barbara now — she's in nairobi.

we will get the reaction to the minister there and just a moment of the first of all, can you remind us what happened here? we the first of all, can you remind us what happened here?— the first of all, can you remind us what happened here? we are talking about something _ what happened here? we are talking about something that _ what happened here? we are talking about something that happened - what happened here? we are talking | about something that happened more than a decade ago in the kenyan town. this is where the british army has a base. agnes wanjiru had be at a hotel where british soldiers were partying with six workers and the last time they saw her she was leaving the hotel with a soldier. she disappeared in three months later, her body was found in the septic tank at the hotel, it had been beaten, it had been stabbed and so the police opened an investigation into that but i never really went anywhere until 2019, when an inquest was held and the judge concluded that one or more british soldiers were responsible for the killing and also that there was evidence of a potential cover—up, so the canyons reopened the case and britain has been

supporting that case. but there has been a lot of anger against britain, generated by what happened and a great deal of scepticism, the belief that the swept —— the case was put under cardiff. he seemed very keen to reverse that, to meet herfamily and talk about what happened. find and talk about what happened. and what difference would that make, if any? it what difference would that make, if an ? ., �* ., ~ what difference would that make, if an? ., �* any? it wouldn't make practical difference _ any? it wouldn't make practical difference at _ any? it wouldn't make practical difference at this _ any? it wouldn't make practical difference at this moment - any? it wouldn't make practical difference at this moment for l difference at this moment for several reasons. one is that the investigation is ongoing and until charges are laid and until there is a conclusion to the trial, should one happen, the british will not sort of take any action and the family has been demanding an apology and compensation and so on, so it would be more an opportunity for britain to show a listening area, to

show and try and comfort the family, to try and push back against negative images of it. but it would be an important symbolic step to britain and perhaps also a step towards some kind of closure for the family. the family to tell us that they were hoping this would help to speed the path to justice although they are so armed with a dip that great deal of scepticism. nothing has been arranged yet, nothing has been arranged to happen, he was here in the region dealing with more security issues but he did make that offer and we will see where it goes and also whether it ties in with the investigation conclusion at some point. investigation conclusion at some oint. i, ., investigation conclusion at some oint. ., ., ~' ., investigation conclusion at some oint. ., ., ., ., paul popper is bad for football for four years. the former manchester united midfielder hasn't played for

his present club, juventus and italy in september. the ruling meant the french footballer can't play until august 2027. he is expected to appeal against the ban. let's find out what is going on. talk us through what we know? so out what is going on. talk us through what we know? 50 it out what is going on. talk us through what we know? so it was back in au . ust through what we know? so it was back in august last — through what we know? so it was back in august last year _ through what we know? so it was back in august last year that _ through what we know? so it was back in august last year that paul _ through what we know? so it was back in august last year that paul pogba - in august last year that paul pogba was taken for a random drug test. he was taken for a random drug test. he was an unused substitute for juventus. in september, he was banned after the a test came back positive for testosterone. he asked for the b sample to be tested, that came back positive in october. the prosecutors asked for them maximum than to be imposed for four years, today that has been imposed. he turns 31 next month, that takes him to 35 years old. so this ban, it is

not successful over time, may be the end of his career. just not successful over time, may be the end of his career.— end of his career. just give us a reminder— end of his career. just give us a reminder of— end of his career. just give us a reminder of who _ end of his career. just give us a reminder of who he _ end of his career. just give us a reminder of who he is? - end of his career. just give us a reminder of who he is? he - end of his career. just give us a| reminder of who he is? he came throu~h reminder of who he is? he came through the _ reminder of who he is? he came through the ranks _ reminder of who he is? he came through the ranks at _ reminder of who he is? he came through the ranks at manchester united, made and four senior appearances but left forjuventus appearances but left for juventus after appearances but left forjuventus after refusing to sign a contract with united and it was there that he started to really hit the heights. manchester united brought him back to old trafford for £89 million in 2016. it was then a record in english football. in 2018, he won the world cup with france and was a star player for his country but at manchester united, he showed flashes of brilliance but never was quite sustained at those levels throughout his manchester united career in the premier league. he left again for juventus in 2022 but he has had an injury plagued time there and now it looks like his time could have come to a sad end.

looks like his time could have come to a sad end-— looks like his time could have come to a sad end. looking ahead now, an a- eal, to a sad end. looking ahead now, an appeal. or — to a sad end. looking ahead now, an appeal. or talk _ to a sad end. looking ahead now, an appeal. or talk us — to a sad end. looking ahead now, an appeal, or talk us through _ to a sad end. looking ahead now, an appeal, or talk us through what - appeal, or talk us through what remains of the process? he has alwa s remains of the process? he has always pleaded _ remains of the process? he has always pleaded his _ remains of the process? he has always pleaded his innocence i remains of the process? he has always pleaded his innocence in remains of the process? he has - always pleaded his innocence in this case and his agent said that while he was suspended, he was training hard, expecting to be clear. he said that taking the substance was accidental and so we would assume that he will appeal. but he has failed a drugs test, the b sample was positive as well so unless he can actually prove that that was accidentally taken, his chances don't look great.— accidentally taken, his chances don't look areat. . ~' . don't look great. thank you so much for that. health experts have warned that children are "suffering needlessly" because fewer parents are taking up the offer for routine childhood vaccines. a public health campaign has now been launched, aiming to remind parents of the serious risks of diseases like measles — amid a rise in cases across england. 0ur reporter charlie rose has more.

0ur generation's risk of illnesses... like measles and whooping cough is rising. if we're not vaccinated... we're not protected. a new campaign with a serious and urgent warning to parents to get children protected against a range of dangerous diseases. over the last decade, uptake of all childhood vaccines offered through the nhs programmes has been falling, including vaccines that offer protection from things like meningitis, measles, whooping cough and polio. so england no longer has the immunity levels recommended by the world health organization needed to prevent outbreaks. and this is why we're tragically seeing measles cases spreading around the country with far too many children becoming seriously ill and being hospitalised. since the beginning of october last year, the total number of confirmed cases of measles in england has now reached 650, including 183 newly confirmed cases

in the past four weeks. 43% of those have been reported from the west midlands, followed by 19% in the north west, 14% in london and 10% in the east midlands. and in each of those areas, vaccine uptake is below the crucial target of 95%, the level needed to stop measles from spreading. in many ways, vaccines are a victim of their own success. we know from the research that we've done in preparing for this campaign that parents may not feel that infection like measles is a real and present danger for their children because they're no longer common, because in general, vaccine uptake is high. so what we need to do is actually he needs his mmr. health officials say complacency, busy family lives and parents' lack of knowledge of the illnesses may also play a part. working with the nhs, they're now anxious to protect any

children who've missed out, such as these in peterborough. we really don't know when we might get the measles or any other invisible diseases, and i think all parents should make it a priority for their kids to have these immunizations. it is important because it prevents people from diseases. and those diseases can also kill young children and adults. that's why it's really important. but health officials say they know reversing this decline in vaccine uptake will take time and are planning to launch similar campaigns like this during the rest of the year. charlie rose, bbc news. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. bbc news, bringing you different stories from across the uk. lee's been running uniform boutique in washington for the past three years.

a shop where you can buy second—hand school wear in return for a small donation. 20p? yeah, that's fine. thank you very much. but he's determined that not only will kids in the area have access to a uniform, but they'll also look the part for the school prom. we've noticed that with the cost of living crisis and everything like that, people were not getting their prom. so we decided we were going to give it a go. and it's been absolutely brilliant. it's absolutely fantastic, the variety that we have. we should have a dress for everybody. there's that many different styles. i'm hoping that we can help a massive amount of kids get to prom this season. there will now be a number of open days for kids and their parents to come down and hopefully choose the outfit of their dreams. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. you're live with bbc news.

dave myers, best known as one half of the presenting duo the hairy bikers, has died at the age of 66. that's according to a statement from his co—star si king on social media. he had been living with cancer for a number of years. with more on this is our bbc media and arts correspondent david sillito. very sad news this morning. a statement on twitter from si king, his friend, co—host, coker, the more than 20 years and they had been friends for half a lifetime, he said, my best friend is on a journey that for now i cannot follow. for anyone who has been watching the latest series of the hairy bikers go west, it begins with them talking about dave myers and what he has

endured over the last two years, his cancer treatment, and i talk about the fact that he didn't think he was ever going to go back to filming, that he wouldn't be able to ride a bike and what looked like a recovery at the time. so just weeks after that being broadcast, very sad news indeed. and a much loved tv presenter. he never described himself as a professional cook. if you watch his first programme, you can tell they are slightly cautious about describing themselves as cooks. they are enthusiastic amateurs. he was a make—up artist. he worked way back in the 1980s, he did prophetic make up on big dramas, he met si king he also worked on tv sets in those days back in the 90s and the friendship developed. they shared a converted shipping containerfor a while, living

together when they first started out selling together. a long relationship, long friendship and that's what made the programme is so important for so many people. what we were seeing was a real relationship on screen. that was art of relationship on screen. that was part of the _ relationship on screen. that was part of the magically _ relationship on screen. that was part of the magically made - relationship on screen. that was part of the magically made it - relationship on screen. that was i part of the magically made it work. we saw scenes on their of him on so come dancing. people can help but warm to him. come dancing. people can help but warm to him-— come dancing. people can help but warm to him. yes, 2013 on strictly. put it this way. _ warm to him. yes, 2013 on strictly. put it this way, he _ warm to him. yes, 2013 on strictly. put it this way, he wasn't _ warm to him. yes, 2013 on strictly. put it this way, he wasn't built - warm to him. yes, 2013 on strictly. put it this way, he wasn't built for i put it this way, he wasn't built for dancing and the fact that he was game enough to have a go is what endeared people to him. so many people, you do see what they do on screen is a very professional, cooking or whatever, we saw them with their ups and downs, their struggles, their dieting as well, dealing with their health problems, si king also had health problems at one point. so dave myers did a

programme in egypt on his own. so we got to know them rather better than we do an awful lot more the media other tv presenters. he had also had ups and downs in his life. he lost both his parents before he was 20, his mother was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when he was eight and he learnt to cope because he was helping his dad, keeping everything together —— learnt to cook. his dad died when, i think, he was 19. star off as a make—up artist in the bbc, he said he was the only male make—up artist at the time. he had gone through a great deal at that point. he had had a long career before he came up with the idea with si king, that we could do tv with a bit of comedy, a bit of travel. they were given 1200 for a pilot and they said

the deal is done.— the deal is done. thank you very much for that. _ today is february the 29th, a date that only comes around every four years in a leap year. for many, it s just another day but for others, there are some traditions and quirks to be celebrated, as grace harbage reports. if you were born on february the 29th, you are known as a leapling or a leaper. typically celebrating your birthday yesterday on february 28 or tomorrow on march the 1st. the most famous leap year tradition is that women can propose to men. 0bviously attitudes have now changed but the tradition originates in ireland and the fifth century when saint brigid and saint patrick made a deal. in the small town of anthony in texas, a two—day festival is held in honour of leaplings and the entire year. so why do we have this extra day? it's science, of course. the earth completes a full rotation around the sun approximately 365.2

days, so each year we lose about six hours. these lost hours are compensated for every four years by adding the extra day. but not every four years is a leap year. the rule is if the year is divisible by 100, but not divisible by 400, then a leap year is kept. but not divisible by 400, then a leap year is skipped. i want to show you this satirical newspaper in france, the sapper�*s candle. it's the world's only quadrennial or four yearly newspaper. it was first published in 1980 so today's issue is just the 12th edition. you can only buy this newspaper at newsagents as a physical paper. it was founded by friends who said they wanted to have a laugh and provide a bit of fresh air. in london, the leap year cocktail was created by the head bartender at the savoy hotel's american bar in 1928. it is a gin—based cocktail that

people can try at home and hopefully enjoy more than once every four years. but in the cultural arena at least — at the oscars — ukraine is considered the likely victor in the best documentary feature race as tom brook now reports. 39—year—old mstyslav chernov could bring ukraine an oscar. his film 20 days in mariupol considered to be the favourite to take home the best documentary feature trophy. it starts with explosions... they start with silence. 20 days in mariupol is not easy to watch. it is not a sanitised view of war, it is footage shot by mstyslav chernov, a journalist for the united press in 2022 as russian forces began circling the port city.

it tells the story of the first 20 days of the 86 day siege of mariupol. those 20 days became a symbol of our russia attacked ukraine, how russia killed the civilians, what tactics russia uses to take every single city right now in ukraine. 20 days in mariupol is in many ways a story of a city on the edge, in its death throes. it captures the citizens of mariupol in the worst moments of their lives. he seemed to have the trust of those he documented. how did you decide what images to include, because some are unbelievably difficult to watch? it is difficult to watch, but there is a fine balance and it was one of the most challenging parts of making this film — how do you treat a story, how do you treat the visuals so that you pay respects to victims?

because this is very important to always respect victims of the violence, and at the same time how to not the same time how to not sanitise the footage, how to keep the audience invested and feeling what it is really like to be there. in recent days in the run—up to the oscars, mstyslav chernov has been in the us, new york and la attending screenings of his film. this made the film part of the academy award conversation. academy members may also been inclined to vote for the film because it shows support at a time when it is experiencing struggles on the battlefield and also issues with congress. he hopes at least one legacy of the film is it will provide audiences with lasting proof of the wrongs committed by russia against his

people, that it represents something more enduring than daily news reports from ukraine. one of the reasons why it was important for me to make 20 days in mariupol is when you watch the film, it gives you enough context to make your own informed decision on what it means. you have enough context to decide how to interpret the images and not to be told how to interpret them, and that is why long form films are so important right now. mstyslav chernov says he wants his documentary to show the world the suffering and destruction as the war in ukraine wages on. the oscar nomination has certainly been bringing attention to his country's plight, as critical today as it was two years ago when he first started documenting 20 days in mariupol. tom brook, bbc news.

the first commercial firm to land a spacecraft on the moon has given new details about why there was a difficult landing and limited communications after it touched down last week. after a successful ta ke—off of the uncrewed 0dysseus, it emerged that the lasers that were supposed to measure the distance to the lunar surface were not working. the firm behind the mission says that despite efforts to make corrections, the craft had hit the ground harder than planned. one of its legs broke, making the craft tilt with its main solar panel facing the ground. just to bring you these pictures that are coming into us at bbc news. this is prince william making a public appearance. the reason we are focusing on it is because prince william unexpectedly pulled out of attending a public appearance earlier this week. it was a royal

service for the late former king of greece. he was due to be giving a reading at that event but then at relatively last—minute, he pulled out and sent his apologies instead. we were told just that it was a personal matter. that meant that the prince of wales couldn't be there. that was tuesday morning. royal sources at the time did indicate that there was no cause for alarm and as you can see, he is back out in public duties again. this is bbc news. further north—west, we have heavy showers. some of these will have thunder and hail mixed in.

particularly wet weather here. showers in northern ireland aren't just going to save the western counties, they will sweep right the way across. also hail and thunder and showers across areas of scotland. top temperatures ranging from 8 degrees for most. 0vernight, new area of low pressure set to develop with a band of rain starting to push in through the night. ahead of that feature, it will be cold with quite a widespread frost developing across scotland and northern england. as we result of friday morning, we may well see some of this rain turned to snow. the greatest risk of snow is on the weather front that stretches across the peak district, the pennines and on into part of northern ireland. it is hills know that we are talking about and there could be some areas that see around five centimetres of snow but others are seeing very little. temperature is really struggling underneath this front,

probably just two struggling underneath this front, probablyjust two or struggling underneath this front, probably just two or three struggling underneath this front, probablyjust two or three celsius for a good chunk of the day. away from that, we'll see some blustery conditions and showers spreading across wales and southern england. temperatures generally a little bit below average for the time of year. on into the weekend, the same area 0n into the weekend, the same area of low pressure is going to be loitering. it will be weakening but it will be bringing showers and the showers will be particularly widespread as we start the weekend. saturday, heavy showers with hail and find mixed in. it should be impactful snow but temperatures around 68 celsius. so still feeling around 68 celsius. so still feeling a little on the cold side. sunday, the same low pressure is with us but it is weakening so there will be fewer showers around and a majority of these will be across scotland and northern ireland with their fierce showers generally across more southern areas of the country. that

is the latest.

at 1:00, sarah everard's killer should never have been a police officer — the damning finding of an independent report. wayne couzens raped and murdered sarah after kidnapping her, pretending it was an arrest. the inquiry warns it could happen again. without a significant overhaul, there is nothing to stop another wayne couzens operating

in plain sight. a terrible milestone is reached, as more than 30,000 d people have now died in gaza. that's according to the hamas run health authority. nearly 4,000 people were seen rough sleeping on a single night last autumn in england, up 27%, on the previous year. prince william makes his first public appearance, since missing an engagement, earlier this week. i mean, where else could you get a sausage bap and some chinese dumplings? and dave myers, one half of the tv cooking duo, the hairy bikers, has died. he was 66. and coming up on bbc news — formula 0ne's longest—ever season is under way. it's practice in bahrain ahead of saturday's opening race — the first of 24 grands prix.