the rochdale by—election and says it's for gaza. keir starmer and rishi sunak are two cheeks of the same backside and they both got well and truly spanked tonight, here in rochdale. elections in iran — for the first time in five years, the bbc is allowed to report from inside the country. the polls are open here in iran, but the big question is, how many will vote? jailed for the rest of his life — marcus osborne, who stabbed to death his ex partner and her new boyfriend in a merciless knife attack. # won't you make me dizzy from your kisses. and unveiled today, the uk's entry for this year's eurovision song contest — dizzy by olly alexander.

and coming up on bbc news — the world indoors are underway in glasgow and home favourite jemma reekie is safely through to the semi—finals of the 800m after winning her heat. good afternoon. he was vladimir putin's arch enemy — the kremlin�*s most prominent opponent. the kremlin�*s most almost two weeks ago alexei navalny died in mysterious circumstances in the arcticjail where he'd been imprisoned. well, today, in a gesture of mass defiance, thousands of mr navalny�*s supporters attended his funeral in moscow. they knew they were risking arrest, but they chanted that they were not afraid. our eastern europe correspondent sarah rainsford reports — and some viewers may find some of the images in this report distressing.

they shouted his name. a final act of support for alexei navalny. as his coffin arrived at a moscow church. it's the name vladimir putin refused to utter. navalny, being buried today, was putin's greatest political rival. so, this funeral was a show of defiance too. by those who queued to say their last goodbye in their many thousands. for them, navalny was the hope of change. a chance for a different russia. supporting him is still dangerous, but that didn't stop this crowd. a woman said she was scared at first, even hit herflowers, but she couldn't stay away. this man

describes navalny�*s death as a personal loss. it's very hard, he says. western ambassadors came too, to pay their respects. those who have condemned navalny�*s treatment, the silencing of a critic. in life too, alexei navalny could bring out the crowds. charismatic, courageous, he was dangerous to the kremlin. the men he called crooks and thieves. in 2020, navalny was poisoned with a nerve agent and nearly died. but he recovered to fly back to moscow, saying he had to stand up for what he believed him. he was arrested on arrival. alexei navalny died in an arctic prison. much of his time there was spent in a punishment cell. his family claim he was killed. we don't know that, but we do know he was locked up for his politics. and russia's president

still hasn't commented. vladimir putin is up for real action this month. the kremlin once all the talk to the office power and popularity, not of protest. —— all the talk to be of his power and popularity. so, cameras were banned from church, but some images did get out. a last glimpse of a man once so vibrant, now in his open coffin and mourned by russians, for whom the prospect of political change now seems so remote. sarahjoins me sarah joins me now, sarahjoins me now, sarah who reported from moscow for many years. a lot of support for navalny and defiance for the russian authorities. what is the significance of what has happened in moscow today? the significance of what has happened in moscow today?— significance of what has happened in moscow today? the fact that so many eo - le moscow today? the fact that so many people came — moscow today? the fact that so many people came out. _ moscow today? the fact that so many people came out, despite _ moscow today? the fact that so many people came out, despite the - moscow today? the fact that so many people came out, despite the real- people came out, despite the real danger. people came and laid flowers after alexei navalny died in prison, we saw hundreds of people being

arrested. people would have known that coming out onto the streets for his funeral was not without risk. they came out anyway. some said they were afraid, some were clearly defiant, we heard the chanting, some were even chanting putin, killer, echoing the claim of navalny�*s family that he was killed in prison, and we have no evidence for that, but he was poisoned in the past and has died in prison after three years there. it's a significant moment, but one that the authorities are desperately trying to ignore. the kremlin spokesperson was asked today if mr putin had any comment for the family of alexei navalny on the day of his funeral, and the reply was, no, nothing at all. here, the veteran left—wing politician george galloway has swept to victory in the rochdale by—election, after a chaotic and divisive campaign, focused on the war in gaza. he won a majority of more than 5,500. labour had disowned its candidate after it was reported that he blamed jewish members of the media for fuelling criticism of a pro—palestinian mp. mr galloway, leader

of the workers party of britain, declared that his victory was for the palestinian cause in gaza. 0ur political correspondent hannah miller reports from rochdale. george galloway, workers party of britain candidate, 12 thousand... cheering a campaign that drowned out the mainstream parties. chanting: galloway, galloway. george galloway, basking in his win, and immediately claiming it as a victory for the palestinian people. keir starmer, this is for gaza. ever controversial... george galloway! you want to burn our future! his speech interrupted by environmentalists while the campaign against anti—semitism say they are extremely concerned by his inflammatory rhetoric, but george galloway will continue to define himself

in opposition to labour. this is going to spark a movement, a landslide, a shifting of the tectonic plates. labour is on notice that they have lost the confidence of millions of their voters. labour had effectively pulled out of the contest, withdrawing support for their candidate after a recording emerged of him apparently making anti—semitic remarks. after ending up in fourth place with less than 8% of the vote, the party claimed it could have won. galloway only won because labour didn't stand a candidate. i regret that we had to withdraw our candidate and apologise to voters in rochdale, but i took that decision. it was the right decision. and when i say i've changed to the labour party, i mean it. obviously we will put a first—class candidate, a unifier, before the voters of rochdale at the general election.

david anthony tully, _ independent candidate, 6000... both first and second place went to candidates not backed by the westminster parties, with local businessman david tully getting more votes than labour might the conservatives combined. to votes than labour might the conservatives combined. to have an independent — conservatives combined. to have an independent who _ conservatives combined. to have an independent who engages _ conservatives combined. to have an independent who engages with - conservatives combined. to have an independent who engages with the l independent who engages with the people in the town that he lives in is quite important, to keep showing up is quite important, to keep showing up and doing what they do. yes, it would be nice if there was a snowball effect and people did, in the community come in towns across the community come in towns across the country, stand up and do the same. , . , , the country, stand up and do the same. , ., , , ., the country, stand up and do the same. , .,, , ., ., ., ., , same. this has been an extraordinary by-election — same. this has been an extraordinary toy-election that _ same. this has been an extraordinary by-election that has _ same. this has been an extraordinary by-election that has produced - same. this has been an extraordinary by-election that has produced an - by—election that has produced an extraordinary result. and one that will do little to dampen down the divisions within our politics on israel and gaza. hannah miller, bbc news, rochdale. few politicians can whip up a crowd and generate controversy quite like george galloway can. the maverick politician, who once saluted the iraqi dictator saddam hussein,

has now represented four towns and cities in parliament and three political parties in his colourful ao—year career. our political correspondent helen catt has been looking back at his career. the obvious answer is... george galloway is _ the obvious answer is... george galloway is a — the obvious answer is... george galloway is a politician - the obvious answer is... george galloway is a politician with - the obvious answer is... george galloway is a politician with a i galloway is a politician with a knack for a spectacular win and for attracting controversy. a former trade unionist and head of a charity, he has been elected to parliament six times before. as a labour mp4 part of glasgow, he was an outspoken critic of war in iraq from the start.— from the start. sir, i salute your courage. — from the start. sir, i salute your courage. your— from the start. sir, i salute your courage, your strength, - from the start. sir, i salute your courage, your strength, your. from the start. sir, i salute your courage, your strength, your in | from the start. sir, i salute your i courage, your strength, your in the practicability. courage, your strength, your in the practicability-— practicability. these words to saddam hussein _ practicability. these words to saddam hussein in _ practicability. these words to saddam hussein in the - practicability. these words to saddam hussein in the 1990s practicability. these words to - saddam hussein in the 1990s drew heavy criticism. mr galloway was expeued heavy criticism. mr galloway was expelled from labour in 2003 after he said british troops should not obey orders in iraq. i5 he said british troops should not obey orders in iraq. is a he said british troops should not obey orders in iraq.— obey orders in iraq. is a very ainful obey orders in iraq. is a very painful day _ obey orders in iraq. is a very painful day for— obey orders in iraq. is a very

painful day for me _ obey orders in iraq. is a very painful day for me to - obey orders in iraq. is a very painful day for me to be - obey orders in iraq. is a very i painful day for me to be placed obey orders in iraq. is a very - painful day for me to be placed in what is a show trial.— what is a show trial. two years later, what is a show trial. two years later. he _ what is a show trial. two years later. he was _ what is a show trial. two years later, he was back, _ what is a show trial. two years later, he was back, beating . what is a show trial. two years later, he was back, beating a i what is a show trial. two years - later, he was back, beating a labour mp to win bethnal green and bow for the respect party. he lost it in 2010, but returned again in a by—election in 2012, this time for bradford west. some supporters feel his finest moment came in the us senate, when he took on accusations he had profited from illicit oil deals. i he had profited from illicit oil deals. ., ., ._ he had profited from illicit oil deals. ., ., , ., , deals. i am here today, but last week you _ deals. i am here today, but last week you already _ deals. i am here today, but last week you already found - deals. i am here today, but last week you already found me - deals. i am here today, but last. week you already found me guilty. you traduced my name around the world without ever having asked me a single question. why not on celebrity big brother while an mp, here pretending to be a cat, provided a memorable moment of a different kind.— provided a memorable moment of a different kind._ in - provided a memorable moment of a different kind._ in 2019, i different kind. delicious. in 2019, who was sacked _ different kind. delicious. in 2019, who was sacked as _ different kind. delicious. in 2019, who was sacked as a _ different kind. delicious. in 2019, who was sacked as a presenter. different kind. delicious. in 2019,| who was sacked as a presenter on talk radio over anti—semitism allegations and joined the kremlin backed tv channel, russia today.

george galloway is undoubtedly a powerful public speaker. but he is one who his critics say arouses division. well, our political correspondent hannah millerjoins us from rochdale now. what is your analysis, how do you think this victory for george galloway will affect our politics? well, george galloway is combative, he is controversial. there is no doubt he will use his time on the back benches to make life difficult, particularly for keir starmer. in that sense, this victory has the potential to affect the mood and tone of our politics in the run—up tone of our politics in the run—up to a general election. though not necessarily afterwards. he has said that he will stand candidates in constituencies across the country, but it's difficult to imagine another candidate with the name recognition, the campaigning history of george galloway himself. in that sense, it might be difficult for him to replicate the victory that we

have seen here in rochdale. a general election is also a very different scenario. the mainstream parties will ratchet up their campaigning, and people think about who they want to be prime minister. i think the election here does tell us something about people also wanting to hear from candidates who really represent their local community, and that kind of sense of disillusionment with the party politics you get in westminster. thank you very much indeed. the uk will pay at least £370 million to rwanda, even if no migrants are sent there, according to a report by the government's spending watchdog. the policy to deter small boats, first announced in 2022, has faced a series of legal setbacks. labour says the new figures are a "national scandal". but the home office insists that if action is not taken then the cost of housing asylum seekers in the uk will far exceed the cost of sending them to rwanda. israel faces growing international

criticism over reports that more than 100 palestinians were killed as they crowded around aid trucks in northern gaza yesterday. israel says most of the victims died in a crush after its troops fired warning shots. but the united nations secretary—general has called for an independent investigation into what happened. from jerusalem, our middle east correspondent yolande knell reports. what is starkly clear from yesterday's scenes of thousands surging around aid lorries, palestinians in northern gaza are increasingly starving, desperate. aid hasn't been reaching them. with some casualties rushed to this hospital, witnesses accused israeli forces of randomly opening fire. they say young men were killed or wounded simply for trying to provide for their families. translation: the situation was unimaginably crazy. - if aid is going to come to us

in this way, we don't want it. we don't want to live on the blood of our children. but israel says the aid lorries were looted and most of those killed were crushed or run over. it says its soldiers and tanks fired only warning gunshots to drive people back. the trucks were overwhelmed and the people driving the trucks, which are gazan civilian drivers, ploughed into the crowds of people. internationally, there has been shock and condemnation. the latest events in gaza show the extent of the humanitarian crisis and they've led to renewed calls to stop the fighting. but at the same time, a senior hamas official has warned that the latest truce talks could now be derailed. about to board his helicopter, the us presidentjoe biden was asked if what has happened could complicate

a new ceasefire deal. i know it will. for now, the fighting rages on in gaza and the suffering of civilians continues. yolande knell, bbc news, jerusalem. the time is 13:15. our top story this afternoon... big crowds in moscow defy the authorities and turn out for the funeral of the russian opposition leader alexei navalny it's been the wettest february on record. the met office says it's been a mild winter with fewer frosty nights than normal. coming up on bbc news — jack draper continued his fine form at the mexican open. he beat miomir kecmanovic to reach the semifinal, where he will face defending champion alex de minaur. people in iran are voting

in elections for a new parliament today — the first test of opinion there since a series of protests against the hard—line islamic regime. but turnout is expected to be low — several blocs of reformist politicians have boycotted the election altogether. iran has been badly hit by international sanctions, widespread hardship and violent unrest prompted by the death in custody of a young woman, detained by the morality police for allegedly violating rules of the wearing of a headscarf. well, the bbc hasn't been allowed to report from iran for five years, but now our correspondent caroline davies has been given rare permission to report from there. lets go to caroline live now. caroline, this is a big test for the iranian authorities after the protests two years ago?

ben, historically turnout has been connected to legitimacy for the authorities here in iran. in the capital tehran we are expecting turn out to be lower than in the rest of the country, which is likely to be higher. some of the early polling has suggested it could be historically low, but we don't have official figures yet. we've a concerted effort by the authorities to frame this particular election around having a strong the supreme leader urged citizens on wednesday to come out and vote and said that failure to do so in large numbers would mean that iran puts my enemies will threaten your security in one way or another. at the polls this morning when we were speaking to voters, quite a few of those echoed those sentiments and said the reason they had come out was because of statements from the supreme leader and because they felt it was their duty to do so. not everybody feels the same way. there are concerns about things like the economy here in iran. inflation, and of course as you mention, those lingering feeling after the protests too. all of those

together will be the big question when we do finally see what voter turnout has been, how much has that affected the way people have felt about the authorities here and whether they have wanted to come out and vote for spike caroline davies, many thanks, reporting live from tehran. the samaritans say more must be done to shut down pro—suicide websites, saying they are vile. it comes after a bbc investigation identified a ukrainian man selling a poisonous chemical — the same substance which has previously been linked to at least 130 deaths in the uk. it's been revealed today that some buyers of the chemical died even after welfare checks from the police. angus crawford has this report. what were you posting in the post office? i know what you were posting. it's a poisonous chemical. confronting a poison seller. leonid zakutenko told an undercover reporter he sends five parcels a week from ukraine to british buyers. he sells the same chemical which has been linked to more than 130 deaths in the uk.

how do you live with yourself? one of those was david parfett�*s son tom, who was just 22 when he died. he bought from a different supplier, learnt all about it on a pro—suicide website. the authorities here know about the trade, but david wanted to test the system... it's certainly well wrapped. ..see if he could buy from zakutenko and get it delivered. it's really hard to see something my son used to take his own life. it took almost a month for the parcel to get here. but before it arrived, police officers went to david's house and carried out a welfare check. so even though the authorities do seem to be monitoring people buying it, the poison itself is still getting through. in many ways, i'm really pleased that there are now welfare checks, but as angus just highlighted,

it's completely ineffective. the poison was still delivered to my home address and we know, as angus said, that unfortunately welfare checks have taken place in the past and they have missed that somebody is vulnerable. i had two female local officers, police officers, uniformed officers, turn up at my door and they didn't seem to know exactly why they were there. it seems this is a wider problem. mary also bought the chemical and had a visit from the police, who didn't take it away. they had no clue. i didn't get the impression they actually knew what they were looking for. i could have given them a wooden spoon and they wouldn't have known. they didn't know if they were looking for tablets or chemicals or anything. so they had no idea. the case of kenneth law reveals the faults in the system. the canadian chef now faces 14 murder charges. he's accused of supplying the chemical to hundreds

of people in the uk. more than 90 are dead. now the national crime agency admits some people have died after a police visit. in a statement, the nca said, "there are cases of individuals who have sadly died following a safe and well check. this would be addressed by police forces in line with their policies and national guidelines." zakutenko denies selling the chemical, but we've alerted the ukrainian authorities. maybe they can interrupt the deadly trade. angus crawford, bbc news. border security at uk airports is neither "effective nor efficient". that was the warning from the immigration watchdog in a series of reports produced before he was fired. david neal describes a home office "culture of defensiveness" and "reluctance to engage" with recommendations. the reports have just been published by the government

after months of delays. mr neal was sacked after details of the reports appeared in newspapers. a man who killed his ex partner and her new boyfriend in what's been described as a ferocious and merciless knife attack has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison. leeds crown court heard that marcus osborne lay in wait for katie higton, before attacking her as soon as she came through the door. he then then lured steven harnett to the house and brutally murdered him as well. sanchia berg has the latest for us from leeds. yes, thejudge said yes, the judge said this was a case of exceptional seriousness and aren't what marcus osborne had done was horrific. he had forced his way into katie higton's home when she was out. there was another woman there and also several children.

when katie higton returned home, he attacked her, stabbing her with a bread knife, almost 100 times. then he used her own phone to trick steven harnett into coming to the house, where he killed him as well. now, we've been hearing this afternoon from the families of both victims and we heard steven harnett�*s twin brother say he thought west yorkshire police had failed the two people who were killed, the two victims, and that is because as we reported earlier this week, katie higton had been to west yorkshire police a few days before the murder and she had told them that marcus osborne had explicitly threatened to kill her and any new boyfriend. now, west yorkshire police said they can't discuss that in detail because reviews into the case are still under way by their own directorate of professional standards and also by the

independent office for police conduct. thank you.- independent office for police conduct. thank you. sanchia berg, thank you. — conduct. thank you. sanchia berg, thank you, reporting _ conduct. thank you. sanchia berg, thank you, reporting there - conduct. thank you. sanchia berg, thank you, reporting there from i thank you, reporting there from leeds. in formula one, red bull team principal christian horner has again denied allegations of inappropriate behaviour, after the leaking of a series of alleged messages. horner was cleared on wednesday after an internal investigation into his behaviour towards a female colleague. it comes as red bull prepare to defend their two world titles in the opening race of the season tomorrow. our sports news correspondent laura scottjoins me now. bring is up—to—date on what has happened today on this. just bring is up-to-date on what has happened today on this.- happened today on this. just to reca on happened today on this. just to recap on what _ happened today on this. just to recap on what happened - happened today on this. just to - recap on what happened yesterday, 149 people involved in formula one, including top officials and team principals, received an anonymous e—mail containing a link to a drive of messages purporting to involve christian horner. in response, horner said i won't comment on anonymous speculation but to reiterate i have always denied the

allegations. on wednesday, he was cleared of wrongdoing by his team's parent company red bull after an investigation carried out by an external barrister into allegations surrounding his behaviour towards a female colleague. last night a spokesperson for red bull responded to the leak of alleged messages, saying this is a private matter between mr horner saying this is a private matter between mr homer and another and it would be inappropriate for red bull to comment on this. horner is in bahrain at the moment where currently a practice session is ongoing ahead of qualifying later today, and the first race of the season tomorrow. the bosses of formula one and the governing body the fia are due to meet today, as they would at every race, but we understand the situation regarding christian horner will be raised, so this matter isn't going away as it continues to dominate the build—up and the start of the season. continues to dominate the build-up and the start of the season.- and the start of the season. laura, thank ou and the start of the season. laura, thank you very _ and the start of the season. laura, thank you very much _ and the start of the season. laura, thank you very much for _ and the start of the season. laura, thank you very much for that. - this year's uk entry for the eurovision song contest has been unveiled. olly alexander, former frontman of the group years & years,

will perform a song called dizzy at the event in sweden in may. charlotte gallagher reports. # won't you make me dizzy for your kisses...# the uk's eurovision hopes rest on this song. dizzy by olly alexander. he'll be heading to malmo in sweden in may to fly the flag. the song is about being dizzy! it's like an overwhelming dizziness from, like, how much you just love someone. of course, we did get a few hints about the song when olly made his bbc weather debut with breakfast�*s very own carol kirkwood. olly alexander, take it away, olly. it appears there is a rare phenomena of dizzy spells running towards our dear island, and it looks like they're coming all the way from sweden. so, what do eurovision fans think of dizzy? i would kind of describe it as like a chart hit, like a radio hit. just a very kind of modern, fresh, current kind of sound.

# ooh, aah, just a little bit... last year's eurovision was massive. it brought hundreds of thousands of people to liverpool. but when it came to the uk's entry, mae muller, we weren't able to repeat the success of 2022 and sam ryder. but how do experts rate our chances this year? i think olly is brilliant. i think he's going to be great on the night. fingers crossed he knows how to handle that crowd, handle that pressure. he'll be brilliant. and i feel really buzzed, the fact that we've got a song that we're talking about. so olly alexander's got the backing of uk eurovision fans. now to the harder task of impressing the rest of europe and getting those votes. charlotte gallagher, bbc news. good look to him. now, believe it or not,

it's the first day of spring today. but new figures from the met office show that parts of the uk have had their wettest february on record. a full weather forecast coming up, but first our bbc weather presenter ben rich has been finding out what the ups and downs of our winter weather can tell us about our changing climate. it's been wet — and mild, too. one magnolia in bloom isn't surprising in february, but seeing so many different varieties blooming early here at kew gardens is unusual. we've seen a lot less frost than normal this winter. good news for some, but not for trees like apples and pears that need their cold winter sleep. they need more of those chill hours. if they don't get enough, they can produce less fruit buds, which later in the year will lead to less fruit, or perhaps even not fruit at all. here we are at the bbc weather centre, where it has been a really hectic winter for all of us.

we've had so many different changes to contend with. the weather has thrown so much at us. a series of named storms. yes, a little bit of frost and snow, but also an awful lot of rain. overall, though, it's been a mild winter, which means there hasn't been much frost. we can see the least frosty winters all clustered in the recent decades and the most frosty ones through the �*60s and �*70s. here at the met office in exeter, they collect data every hour of every day, crunching the numbers to work out what the ups and downs of our weather can tell us about our changing climate. our climate has warmed by about a degree in the last 50 or 60 years. one degree in the average winter temperature can have quite significant impacts. and if we're talking about frosts, that one degree warming is equivalent to about three weeks fewer frosts over the course of a year. for the scientists at kew, this means they're having to assess all their big plants, working out which ones are at risk as the climate warms.

we know which ones are vulnerable in certain scenarios and which ones we've got that actually might be resilient in certain scenarios. so we can then make a plan. it's been a real mixed bag across the uk this winter with all sorts of weather extremes, but overall we've seen more mild wet days than cold snowy ones and that's something we'll have to learn to live with as the climate continues to warm. ben rich, bbc news. ben rich looking back at some of our recent weather. let's look ahead at what's coming next, the forecast from darren bett. the first day of march has brought some snow to some parts of the country. this was the christmas card scene we had in northern ireland first thing this morning, the snow is boring but it's cloudy and dry in northern ireland and its cold across the uk, we have this pool of cold air over is and

that can