for the former labour mp in the rochdale by—election. hello, welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. the russian opposition leader alexei navalny has been buried at a cemetery in moscow. he was laid to rest two weeks after his death was announced in the arctic penal colony where he was serving a 19—year sentence for extremism. his parents were there, but not his wife yulia and children, who are abroad. nor his brother, who has been put on a wanted list. earlier, a funeral ceremony was held on the other side of the moskva river, at the church of the icon of the mother of god, in the district where navalny used to live. there was a heavy police presence outside the church. eastern europe correspondent

sarah rainsford reports and a warning — some viewers may find some of the images in this 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 hid 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 in. 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 re—election this month. the kremlin wants all the talk to be of his power and popularity, not of protest. 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. let's speak to our correspondent from bbc russian olga ivshina. in the past minutes we have heard about the number of arrests. flan in the past minutes we have heard about the number of arrests. can you tell us about — about the number of arrests. can you tell us about that? _ about the number of arrests. can you tell us about that? yes, _ about the number of arrests. can you tell us about that? yes, it _ about the number of arrests. can you tell us about that? yes, it seems - tell us about that? yes, it seems that now a few people have been detained. a 2; people had been detained. a few people had been detained. a few people had been detained a few hours ago but now this descent into darkness, it seems

more detentions are taking place. from my experience of covering opposition rallies and events, that is the usual tactic russian police use. they tend not to do it in the broad light, rather doing it in side streets or when it gets darker. it seems that that pattern is being followed. it seems that that pattern is being followed. , , ~ ., , ., followed. it is striking to see how many peeple _ followed. it is striking to see how many people turned _ followed. it is striking to see how many people turned out - followed. it is striking to see how many people turned out when - followed. it is striking to see how many people turned out when it i followed. it is striking to see how- many people turned out when it comes with risks to themselves, in terms of being detained, things that may happen at a later date. do we know anything of the numbers? i happen at a later date. do we know anything of the numbers?- happen at a later date. do we know anything of the numbers? i guess it is too early — anything of the numbers? i guess it is too early to _ anything of the numbers? i guess it is too early to talk _ anything of the numbers? i guess it is too early to talk about _ anything of the numbers? i guess it is too early to talk about the - is too early to talk about the numbers. definitely thousands were present. they were taking significant personal risk. people who dared to lay flowers, when his death was announced, 400 people were

detained. several have lost their jobs since with a clear message being told to them that this is connected to their political position. despite the fact that today's funeral took place in the peaceful atmosphere, today's funeral took place in the peacefulatmosphere, up today's funeral took place in the peaceful atmosphere, up to now the police did not do many detentions, we do not know what will follow. all the people who were obviously seen and captured by the police in the previous hours. it is and captured by the police in the previous hours.— and captured by the police in the previous hours. it is an achievement itself the funeral _ previous hours. it is an achievement itself the funeral went _ previous hours. it is an achievement itself the funeral went ahead. - previous hours. it is an achievement itself the funeral went ahead. so - itself the funeral went ahead. so many difficulties in the run—up and evenin many difficulties in the run—up and even in the hours before in terms of the body being handed over. it is remarkable almost it went ahead with such numbers. the remarkable almost it went ahead with such numbers-— such numbers. the past two weeks must be painful— such numbers. the past two weeks must be painful for— such numbers. the past two weeks must be painful for his _ such numbers. the past two weeks must be painful for his mother- must be painfulfor his mother because she had to fly thousands of

kilometres from moscow to the colony and for nine days, she had to go around to different places, listening to different stories for different negotiations. trying to get her son back. eventually he was given to her. she said officials were trying to give certain directions but she stood hard on her line. the fact that today went on almost according to plan is remarkable. let's see what follows because for all those people who might have been captured by police cameras, it does not end today, unfortunately.— i'm joined now by david herszenhorn, russia, ukraine and east europe editor for washington post and author of dissident, a book on alexei navalny. hello. there was a huge police

presence today. we were talking about difficulties in terms of trying to stage this funeral. what are your reflections on how i suppose how strong the presents was in terms of police and the fact it was going ahead. i do in terms of police and the fact it was going ahead.— in terms of police and the fact it was going ahead. i do not think... alwa s was going ahead. i do not think... always telling _ was going ahead. i do not think... always telling followers _ was going ahead. i do not think... always telling followers not - was going ahead. i do not think... always telling followers not to - was going ahead. i do not think... always telling followers not to be | always telling followers not to be afraid. , , , ., always telling followers not to be afraid. , , . . . always telling followers not to be afraid. , ., ., , , always telling followers not to be afraid. , ., ., , afraid. just start again because you hrase for afraid. just start again because you phrase for a _ afraid. just start again because you phrase for a second. _ afraid. just start again because you phrase for a second. this _ afraid. just start again because you phrase for a second. this was - phrase for a second. this was classic navalny. _ phrase for a second. this was classic navalny. in _ phrase for a second. this was classic navalny. in his - phrase for a second. this was classic navalny. in his life - phrase for a second. this was classic navalny. in his life he| classic navalny. in his life he urged followers not to be afraid and thousands came out, defying the kremlin, risking arrest. navalny did it countless times and in many ways this is his last unauthorised rally, gathering. you did many of these in moscow. arrested many times, defying efforts to squash his message. his

wife, his children not there. tragic they are not able to be there because of fearing for their lives. and even in death, a show of weakness from the kremlin in putin that they need to repress his followers. we know putin will win another term in elections coming up. sending out police and not giving people the opportunity to say goodbye, someone who symbolised the possibility of democracy and a different future in russia and that dream for the moment seems dead. his wife has said she will keep on his work but operating in exile. the climate in russia as repressive as ever. , ., , ., , ever. the question is where does this leave — ever. the question is where does this leave the _ ever. the question is where does this leave the opposition - ever. the question is where does this leave the opposition now - ever. the question is where does this leave the opposition now in l this leave the opposition now in russia in terms of it is virtually impossible to organise gatherings and come together. the

impossible to organise gatherings and come together.— and come together. the leader of navaln 's and come together. the leader of navalny's foundation, _ and come together. the leader of navalny's foundation, who - and come together. the leader of navalny's foundation, who is - and come together. the leader of navalny's foundation, who is in i navalny's foundation, who is in exile, tweeted a photo saying you will be proud of us. his long—time chief of staff and advisers said in the three years they were working while he was in prison, they learned how to operate without him and know how to operate without him and know how to operate without him and know how to do this work. his wife committed to carrying on the message and these thousands of people show the message resonates and there are people hoping despite the war in ukraine and repression by the putin regime that they will be changed but as you point out, right now it seems tough. the opposition seems either tough. the opposition seems either to be exiled, imprison or like navalny, dead.— to be exiled, imprison or like navalny, dead. could that change ha en in navalny, dead. could that change happen in putin's _ navalny, dead. could that change happen in putin's lifetime - navalny, dead. could that change happen in putin's lifetime or - navalny, dead. could that change happen in putin's lifetime or is i navalny, dead. could that change happen in putin's lifetime or is it| happen in putin's lifetime or is it a longer waiting game? it happen in putin's lifetime or is it a longer waiting game? it seems like it could be a — a longer waiting game? it seems like it could be a longer _ a longer waiting game? it seems like it could be a longer waiting _ a longer waiting game? it seems like it could be a longer waiting game. i it could be a longer waiting game. this funeral took place people say in the outskirts of moscow but it

was in the neighbourhood where navalny lived and he was a regular russian guy and this was part of his power, he loved his country and wanted it to be free and democratic, the legacy he hoped to pass on to his two children. from the church where the ceremony took place, cut off apparently when people move to be closer to the coffin and barricades set up by police and at the local cemetery where he was laid into the ground partly to the soundtrack of terminator two, featuring arnold schwarzenegger, who was a hero of navalny's. as a teenager he had a poster of him on his wall and later arnold schwarzenegger went into politics and they had more in common but navalny like young russian boys looked up to what was then the austrian body—builder. mr olympia. that regular russian guy with regular russian dream will continue in the hearts and minds of thousands

of followers who use or saying farewell today.— of followers who use or saying farewell today. of followers who use or saying farewell toda . ., ~ , ., , . farewell today. thank you very much for that insight. _ 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. i spoke to our diplomatic correspondent paul adams about the growing international pressure for an independent investigation. ido i do not think the israeli government is minded to pay much attention to that. it will proceed as it sees fit. 0ne attention to that. it will proceed as it sees fit. one of those countries demanding an independent investigation is the us which is significant, that is israel's closest friend. the israeli statement yesterday, the earliest i heard in the afternoon did say there

had been a firing first of all in the air and had been a firing first of all in the airand then had been a firing first of all in the air and then at the crowd that the air and then at the crowd that the israeli soldiers believed posed a threat. the big question not answered is how did these people die? first of all how many died. the palestinians say over 112. we do not have independent confirmation of that, and then the question is how did they die? did they die as a result of gunshots? we spoke to a hospital director who said overwhelmingly the patients they saw and treated died or suffered gunshot injuries. 0r, and treated died or suffered gunshot injuries. or, as the israelis argue, and as one palestinian we spoke to yesterday he was on the scene was also saying, that this was the result of the crash and people being run over by the trucks as the tracks tried to leave the scene. that is the unanswered question. moving on to the talks, — the unanswered question. moving on to the talks, and _ the unanswered question. moving on to the talks, and where _ the unanswered question. moving on to the talks, and where we _ the unanswered question. moving on to the talks, and where we are - the unanswered question. moving on to the talks, and where we are with i to the talks, and where we are with them. what is your assessment, where

our things at the moment? jae them. what is your assessment, where our things at the moment?— our things at the moment? joe biden said yesterday _ our things at the moment? joe biden said yesterday that _ our things at the moment? joe biden said yesterday that this _ our things at the moment? joe biden said yesterday that this could - our things at the moment? joe biden said yesterday that this could not - said yesterday that this could not help. that he thought that having been initially optimistic about a deal at the end of the weekend, perhaps by monday, he yesterday suggested that looked less likely. we have not had an update from talks in qatar in the last couple of days. the israeli delegation i think is back here, which does not mean the talks have stopped. but everything has gone i have to say rather quiet. 0n the question of a ceasefire deal, while this whole story of the convoy in gaza has erupted and is being endlessly poured over. paul adams in jerusalem. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news here in the uk. a man who murdered his ex—partner and her new boyfriend after lying

in wait for them at a house in huddersfield has been told he will never be released from prison. marcus 0sborne was handed a whole life order for the killings of katie higton and steven harnett in may last year. the government's spending watchdog says the uk will pay at least £370 million to rwanda as part of its plan to relocate asylum seekers there. up to a £150,000 will also be paid for each person sent to the east african country over a five—year period. labour says the new figures are a national scandal. scientists have discovered a new species of sea slug in uk waters. the tiny marine creature — named pleurobranchaea britannica — was caught off the south—west of england by a research ship. it is normally found in the warmer waters of spain and it is thought it might have extended its habitat because of climate change. you're live with bbc news.

here in the uk the left—wing maverick, george galloway has won the rochdale by—election. he campaigned on his support for the palestinian cause in a town in greater manchester that has a large asian muslim community. keir starmer, this is for gaza. you have paid and you will pay a high price for the role that you have played in enabling, encouraging and covering for the catastrophe presently going on in occupied palestine in the gaza strip. electing george galloway comes as a huge concern to thejewish community — that's what mark levy, chief executive of the jewish representative council of greater manchester told 5live presenter nicky campbell this morning.

last night is going to come as a huge concern to the jewish community. george galloway was challenged in the immediate aftermath of his victory live on television, when he was questioned about how his victory will resonate withjewish people across the uk and how it made them uneasy. i think his response was a flippant, "well, they would say that, wouldn't they?" i mean, at a time when we are dealing with record levels of anti—jewish racism, the fact that i am having to comment so frequently on a by—election wherejewish people have never really lived in rochdale will come as a huge concern to everyone. this is selina, another call in to the nicky campbell show this morning — with a very different opinion of george galloway.

having a good team behind him. and getting away from the labour stance in rochdale, there needs stance in rochdale, that needs to be changed here in rochdale. he did promise and he said that he will be working towards the nhs, improving the deprivation of the town, the marketplace, the town centre. i feel like these issues also need to be addressed. without a doubt, george is going to move forward in parliament. joining me now is polling expertjoe twyman — co—founder of deltapoll, a public opinion consultancy. hello. i suppose the question is whether this is a one off under unique circumstances or if there are wider implications in this election year. wider implications in this election ear. ., . . wider implications in this election ear. ., ., ., ., wider implications in this election ear. ., ., ., year. you always have to be careful when it comes _ year. you always have to be careful when it comes to _ year. you always have to be careful when it comes to by-elections - year. you always have to be careful when it comes to by-elections not l year. you always have to be careful. when it comes to by-elections not to when it comes to by—elections not to read too much into it because they are always unusual and they have specific circumstances that make them different from a general election. that was particularly the case in rochdale. it was not only unusual, it was unique. the

combination of circumstances is something we have never seen before, particularly the disavowing of the labour candidate by the party meant there was really no established campaigning alternative to george galloway. that is perhaps at least one reason why we saw his victory and then a second place for the independent candidate david talley. you would have to go back a long way to find in british history an example of something like this happening before. you example of something like this happening before.— example of something like this ha enin: before. ., . , ., happening before. you heard george gallowa is happening before. you heard george galloway is saying — happening before. you heard george galloway is saying keir— happening before. you heard george galloway is saying keir starmer, - galloway is saying keir starmer, this is for gaza. the question is whether this will have an effect on the labour party in terms of its position on gaza. keir starmer facing a lot of issues within his they may be concerned independent candidates are coming for them at the election. in candidates are coming for them at the election-— the election. in a sense there was no aood the election. in a sense there was no good outcome from rochdale i

the election. in a sense there was l no good outcome from rochdale for the labour party but george galloway�*s particularly convincing victory could be seen the worst of those possible outcomes. i am sure keir starmer will be frustrated by what happened. we do not know what the result would have been if labour had fielded a candidate they consistently supported and campaigned for. i think there is a good chance that candidate if not had won then would have run george galloway close, but we do not know. george galloway is now going to be an mp and his greatest potential influence and impact will be over the next couple of days as he basks in the publicity of his victory. iie in the publicity of his victory. he is claiming it will spark a movement in constituencies across the country. is he a one—man band or could it go further? to country. is he a one-man band or could it go further?— could it go further? to quote mr galloway. _ could it go further? to quote mr galloway. he — could it go further? to quote mr galloway, he would _ galloway, he would say that, wouldn't he? i think he likes to put

across the idea this could be a national movement but the idea that the campaigning platform and campaigning approach used in rochdale could be replicated widely across the country is... i think thatis across the country is... i think that is unlikely. you have to have a specific set of circumstances, you could argue a particular set of demographics in the constituency, and also, crucially, you have to have someone as good a campaigner and orator as george galloway. you also need to ideally have a labour candidate who is disavowed by the party. the likelihood of that replicated in the country is small but that is not to say in certain constituencies, a certain platform could get some votes from voters in that constituency. i think the idea this could be a significant new political movement is just not borne

out by historical precedent or indeed the data.— an inquest has heard that thomas kingston, lady gabriella kingston's husband, died from a traumatic head wound. here he is with his wife lady gabriella kingston. a gun was found near to his body in an outbuilding at his parent's in an outbuilding at his parents�* home in the cotswolds. he died on 25 of february, aged 45. in a family statement he had been described as an exceptional man who lit up the lives of all who knew him. with more on this royal correspondent sean coughlan joins us from the newsroom. we heard a little bit there from the beginnings of the inquest. it is the opening phase of the inquest and we heard about what happened to thomas kingston, a 45—year—old man. best known publicly because of his connections with the royal family. he was married to lady gabriella

kingston, the daughter of prince and princess michael of kent. although she was not a working world, she is part of the royal family. 0n she was not a working world, she is part of the royalfamily. 0n hearing of his death, the king and queen sent heartfelt sadness. it is a very sad thing. the details so far are fairly slight. it will go to a bigger process later but we learned today that he had died from a head wound. a gun had been found nearby. this took place at his parents�* home in the cotswolds in an outbuilding near to their house.— there is plenty more on the stories we are covering on the website and full coverage of the funeral proceedings in moscow for alexei navalny. thousands of people turned up, defying the russian government

and showing support for the opposition leader and as we have heard, around 45 people have been detained outside that funeral. across russia, actually, the reports we have heard. plenty more on the website and on bbc news. please stay with us. you are watching bbc news. hello, february in england and wales was the mildest on record. the 1st of march brought something cold. and showers in england and wales and in norfolk we had hail. we have seen more snow over higher hills in derbyshire. a slushy mix earlier today. we have cold air across the

uk. staying told through the weekend. with that we have low pressure in charge which is why we are seeing wet weather with wintry weather over the hills. the weather front has taken rain and snow across northern england. heading its way into scotland overnight. at the same time a northerly wind brings showers to northern ireland in wet weather in the south—east of england into the midlands and eastern england that could keep temperatures above freezing. it will be a cold and frosty start for many on saturday. especially where we have clear skies. through the weekend, staying in the cold air. 0n skies. through the weekend, staying in the cold air. on saturday we will see most of the showers. a dry picture on sunday but some fog around and frosty mornings as we have seen. the wet weather on saturday in the south—east of england moving through east anglia, midlands, northern england. wet weather and hill snow in northern

scotland. the northerly wind keeping cold showers in northern ireland, wales and the south—west. the midlands and south—east should improve in the afternoon. temperatures will not improve from today. around 7—8 widely. low pressure is tending to drift northwards. hence something drier. the weather front is not far away and at the moment is bringing rain in the north sea and towards the northern isles. more fog in central and southern england, lifting and brightening with sunshine. cloudy in scotland with the odd shower in western areas. many places will have a dry day on sunday. some fog. temperatures struggling, below par for this time of year. next week, we start with rain particularly in western areas but it does become drier and it becomes less cold.

this is bbc news, the headlines: thousands of mourners defy the russian authorities to turn out for the funeral of alexei navalny. the opposition leader, who died in prison two weeks ago — was buried at a cemetery on the outskirts of moscow. over a billion people are now living with obesity, with rates for children and adolescents soaring across the world.

and, speed dating gets real, we'll find out why young people counting the cost of romance, and ditching potentual partners. in southern lebanon, around 90,000 people have been forced from their homes since intense military strikes between israel and hezbollah started after the hamas attacks on october 7th. the overwhelming majority are staying with relatives or in rented houses, but many are taking shelter in schools and hotels. as the strikes reach further and further into lebanon, bbc arabic�*s carine torbey has been to one derelict hotel in the south, sheltering families who face uncertainty over if and when they can go home. moments of normality amid gloomy times. in this abandoned hotel, dozens of families from different parts of southern lebanon unite in displacement. they've found here the safety they have been denied at home for months now.