rishi sunak is rossel by—election. rishi sunak is due to make a speech from downing street, we'll bring you that. calls for an independent investigation grow after more than 100 palestinians died during an aid delivery in northern gaza. and pint fit for a prince — william heads to wrexham football club to kick off wales national day. hello, i'm lucy grey, 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. or 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 maryino district, where navalny used to live. there was a heavy police presence outside the church. our 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 vitaly shevchenko, the russia editor at bbc monitoring. he's here with me in the studio. when i last spoke to you, we are talking about how notable it was that we hadn't heard of any arrests—

but in the last hour, we hear that there have been a number of arrests. across russia, it's believed that more than 50 people have been arrested. about six of them — the numbers of them are not clear — have been arrested in moscow. reports say that many of the detainees are being released. given the scale of today's eventin released. given the scale of today's event in moscow, the number is not that big. the event, the farewell event at the cemetery in moscow is still happening, people are still bringing flowers to navalny�*s grave — which is an act of defiance in itself, as well as an act of morning. the big question now is, of course, what's next for the opposition in russia? it's in

disarray, it's been all but destroyed within russia — key associates of navalny are abroad, in exile — and it'll be really difficult for them to affect change in russia. to his supporters, alexei navalny was everything that vladimir putin isn't — the way he spoke, the language used is something that is spoken by ordinary people, younger people in russia. he had a family and when it comes to vladimir putin, we don't even know what sort of family life he has, if any. with the loss of alexei navalny, for the people who wanted something different, those hopes have been —— to at least for the moment. find different, those hopes have been -- to at least for the moment.- to at least for the moment. and get we saw thousands _ to at least for the moment. and get we saw thousands of _ to at least for the moment. and get we saw thousands of people - to at least for the moment. and get we saw thousands of people defying the authorities, we saw in the images so many people daring to come out, despite what it might cost

them, even if they are not arrested today, some people may have lost theirjobs today, some people may have lost their jobs as today, some people may have lost theirjobs as a result of laying flowers immediately after his death. it is striking that so many people were willing to take that risk. still willing to take that risk, despite the general atmosphere of repression. there are different points of view as to why this event was allowed to happen — for example, the optics of arresting people at a funeral or not allowing the family of the late russian opposition leader to bury him would've been pretty bad for the kremlin. 0n the other hand, it is entirely possible that the kremlin did not really see this as a threat that was big enough. and the truth is that there is no organised force or political party within russia to which all these people can turn after

attending the funeral. so the kremlin will be hoping that they go home — the kremlin could forget that alexei navalny ever existed. thank ou ve alexei navalny ever existed. thank you very much- _ here in the uk, the left—wing maverick george galloway has swept to victory in the rochdale by—election. his campaign centred 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.

live now to rochdale — and our news correspondent rowan bridge, who is at the galloway headquaters for us. talk us through what the reaction has been there today. it’s has been there today. it's interesting _ has been there today. it's interesting - _ has been there today. it�*s interesting — george galloway is a colourful and controversial character over his career, which has spanned four decades. he's a politician who undoubtedly has a rhetorical flourish and an ability to fire up his base of support — but he's also quite a divisive character, in this campaign for example, people have accused him of focusing on issues in the middle east rather than the issues that affect the people of this town and greater manchester. you can probably see over my shoulder, one of his campaign posters for his headquarters— it's got a palestinian flag on it — that has certainly helped him in this campaign, in a

constituency where around 30% of the population is muslim. that has certainly attracted support away from what an orderly would've been traditional labour voters, and it was a 40% swing that got him the vote from labour. he's really been to ground today, we've not really seen him, but i've been out chatting to people on the streets and what you'll find is if you scratch the surface of talking to people, you'll find those divisions are really clear. amongst his supporters, they are delighted understandably that george galloway has captured in this seat and brought the focus on to the issue of gaza. he talks about going to the house of parliament and shaking the walls for gaza. but there are also those i've spoken to you today who were deeply disappointed in this decision — they feel he's a divisive character and felt they wanted somebody who was a local person who represented rochdale. it's worth noting that david talley, the candidate who came in second and took 20% of the vote,

was an independent candidate and very much focused on this rochdale first agenda, if you like. he captured 20% of the vote — in fact 60% of the vote went to parties outside the three mainstream parties you'd normally expect to capture a seat like this.— you'd normally expect to capture a seat like this. that is a remarkable statistic and _ seat like this. that is a remarkable statistic and the _ seat like this. that is a remarkable statistic and the fact _ seat like this. that is a remarkable statistic and the fact that david - statistic and the fact that david tilly had only been in politics are a matter of weeks, hadn't he? in terms of what labour have been saying, they're saying galloway only one because labour didn't stand, and we are expecting to hear from rishi sunak i should mention in about half an hour's time to talk about it — but it wasn't a good night for labour or the tories, in terms of what you are saying — one in five people voting not voting for the two major parties, it's staggering. david tolini got a bigger vote than

labour in the conservatives combined, and certainly it was not a very good night for either party —— david tully. frankly it's not been a good campaign for labourfull stop, you had an instance where they disowned their own candidate but couldn't remove him from the ballot. so you had a candidate down on the ballot paper with labour by his name who had been disowned by the party itself. so it's perhaps not surprising this has been a nightmare over this past few weeks for keir starmer. liberals say this was traditionally a safely receipt, sir tony lloyd held it with a majority of 9500- tony lloyd held it with a majority of 9500— but george galloway is quite unique politician and he was a labour mp at one point. he's beaten his old party before in elections where he stood against labour — so without frankly rerunning the campaign with another labour candidate, it's virtually impossible to know whether labour would've one

in different circumstances. i think will be interesting is that we are due to a general election in this country in less than 12 months' time, and the campaign here has certainly put a focus on rochdale in a way that it hasn't been, and certainly will again come the general election.— certainly will again come the general election. thank you very much, rowan. _ 0ur political correspondent leila nathoojoins us now. shejoins us from she joins us from westminster — rishi sunak is due to make a statement in the next half—hour or so. just tell us what his officials have been saying and he will be talking about. is have been saying and he will be talking about.— talking about. is not quite clear what rishi _ talking about. is not quite clear what rishi sunak _ talking about. is not quite clear what rishi sunak will _ talking about. is not quite clear what rishi sunak will be - talking about. is not quite clear what rishi sunak will be saying| talking about. is not quite clear. what rishi sunak will be saying on the steps of downing street this evening. we've already heard from the prime minister today and his response to the by—election result, he said he was concerned about reports of intimidation during the campaign, he said he thought it was one of the divisive campaigns of a

by—election in recent memory. so he's made his views clear already on the vote democrat result today. we understand the prime minister will be making a statement or some remarks alluding and part of some of the recent events in parliament we saw last week when the speaker of the house defied parliamentary convention on that vote on gaza — he said it was because he wanted to protect mps safety and give mps a wide range of topics to vote on, and we know the prime minister has been quite critical of that, talking about how intimidation and threats shouldn't be allowed to change parliamentary process. so we understand the prime minister is keen to make some remarks in reference to that and the need to protect democratic processes from abuse and intimidation. we've heard already from the prime minister this week a very strong phrase he used, referring to the idea that "mob rule" had taken over democratic

rule, and reference to some of the recent protests we've seen over the gaza war. so we know the prime minister has strong feelings on the subject, but we don't know yet what he'll announce — obviously is very tantalising, seeing a podium in downing street on a friday evening. thank you very much, we'll probably come back to you, so do stay with us for that. we'll bring you that statement life when we expect it in around 25 minutes' time. 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 £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 marine creature was caught off the southwest of england by a research shift, it's only found in warmer waters off spain — it's thought it might be extending its habitat because of climate change. this is bbc news. 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.

it comes after a bbc investigation identified a ukrainian man selling a poisonous chemical, the same substance which has been previously linked to 130 deaths in the uk. as been revealed today that some buyers of the chemical died even after welfare checks from the police. 0ur correspondent angus crawford has this report. confronting a poison cellar. he told an undercover reporter who sends five parcels a week from the ukraine to british buyers. he sells the same chemical which has been linked to a more than 130 deaths in the uk. how do you live at yourself? 0ne more than 130 deaths in the uk. how do you live at yourself? one of those was david's son, tom, just 22 when he died. he bought from a different supplier, learned all about it on a pro—suicide website. the authorities here know about the

trade — but david wanted to test the system. trade - but david wanted to test the s stem. ., , trade - but david wanted to test the s stem. . , . , , trade - but david wanted to test the | system— see system. certainly well wrapped. see if he could buy _ system. certainly well wrapped. see if he could buy from _ system. certainly well wrapped. see if he could buy from him _ system. certainly well wrapped. see if he could buy from him and - system. certainly well wrapped. see if he could buy from him and get - system. certainly well wrapped. see if he could buy from him and get it l if he could buy from him and get it delivered. it’s if he could buy from him and get it delivered. �* , ., , ., if he could buy from him and get it delivered. �* , . , . ., if he could buy from him and get it delivered. �* , . , ., ., , delivered. it's really hard to see something _ delivered. it's really hard to see something my _ delivered. it's really hard to see something my son _ delivered. it's really hard to see something my son used - delivered. it's really hard to see something my son used to - delivered. it's really hard to see something my son used to take| delivered. it's really hard to see i something my son used to take his own life. it something my son used to take his own life. . . ., ., own life. it took almost a month for the arcel own life. it took almost a month for the parcel to _ own life. it took almost a month for the parcel to get — own life. it took almost a month for the parcel to get here _ own life. it took almost a month for the parcel to get here - but - own life. it took almost a month for the parcel to get here - but before l 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 people buying it, the poison itself is still getting through.— is still getting through. in many wa s, is still getting through. in many ways. i'm _ is still getting through. in many ways. i'm really _ is still getting through. in many ways, i'm really pleased - is still getting through. in many ways, i'm really pleased that i is still getting through. in many i ways, i'm really pleased that there are no welfare checks. but as angus just highlighted, it's completely ineffective. —— now welfare checks. the poison was still delivered to my own address, and we know as angus said, that unfortunately, welfare checks have taken place in the past and they've missed that somebody is

vulnerable. i and they've missed that somebody is vulnerable. ., ., . . vulnerable. i had two female local officers, vulnerable. i had two female local officers. police — vulnerable. i had two female local officers, police officers, _ vulnerable. i had two female local| officers, police officers, uniformed officers _ officers, police officers, uniformed officers turn up at my door — and they— officers turn up at my door — and they didn't — officers turn up at my door — and they didn't seem to know why they were there. it they didn't seem to know why they were there-— they didn't seem to know why they were there. , , , , . were there. it seems this is a wider roblem. were there. it seems this is a wider problem- mary _ were there. it seems this is a wider problem. mary also _ were there. it seems this is a wider problem. mary also bought - were there. it seems this is a wider problem. mary also bought the - 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 had no clue, i didn't get the impression they actually knew what they were _ impression they actually knew what they were looking for. i could have given _ they were looking for. i could have given them — they were looking for. i could have given them a wooden spoon and they wouldn't _ given them a wooden spoon and they wouldn't have known. they didn't know _ wouldn't have known. they didn't know it— wouldn't have known. they didn't know if they were looking for tablets — know if they were looking for tablets or chemicals, or anything. they— tablets or chemicals, or anything. they had — tablets or chemicals, or anything. they had no idea. the tablets or chemicals, or anything. they had no idea.— they had no idea. the case of kenneth lawler _ they had no idea. the case of kenneth lawler reveals - they had no idea. the case of kenneth lawler reveals the i they had no idea. the case of- kenneth lawler reveals the faults in the system. the canadian chef now faces 1a murder charges. he's accused of supplying the chemical to 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...

he denies selling the chemical, but we've alerted the ukrainian authorities — maybe they can interrupt the deadly trade. angus crawford, bbc news. with me is david parfett — father of tom parfett, who took his own life. thank you very much, first of all, for coming in. we were seeing in that piece how you ordered some of this chemical — obviously we are not naming it, just to remind you, in the post — then you got this welfare check. can you explain how that came about? , ., check. can you explain how that came about? , . ., check. can you explain how that came about? , . . ., ., about? yes, and i have to say i was leased about? yes, and i have to say i was pleased to — about? yes, and i have to say i was pleased to get _ about? yes, and i have to say i was pleased to get the _ about? yes, and i have to say i was pleased to get the welfare - about? yes, and i have to say i was pleased to get the welfare check, l pleased to get the welfare check, because certainly that's a positive move. but as highlighted in the report, i think the issue is that really, nothing of any consequence

is being done as that welfare check is being done as that welfare check is carried out. so it's actually quite easy to go through that welfare check. and still retain this chemical. i welfare check. and still retain this chemical. , , chemical. ijust turned up unannounced _ chemical. ijust turned up unannounced at - chemical. ijust turned up unannounced at your - chemical. i just turned up i unannounced at your house? absolutely, two policeman wanting to talk to me because they knew that i was expecting a parcel that had been ordered by myself from the ukrainian man. 50 ordered by myself from the ukrainian man. y ordered by myself from the ukrainian man, , ., ordered by myself from the ukrainian man. , . . . , ., ., man. so they are clearly monitoring what's going — man. so they are clearly monitoring what's going on. — man. so they are clearly monitoring what's going on, they _ man. so they are clearly monitoring what's going on, they clearly - man. so they are clearly monitoring what's going on, they clearly knowl what's going on, they clearly know about it. you can't deny that if you're sending lisa around to be able's houses. what do you want to see happen? to able's houses. what do you want to see happen?— able's houses. what do you want to see hauen? ., . ., , see happen? to me, the heart of this is online forums _ see happen? to me, the heart of this is online forums that _ see happen? to me, the heart of this is online forums that unfortunately i is online forums that unfortunately prey on vulnerable people like my son. we know my son used that forum, he was encouraged by others to unfortunately take his own life, then there are people like the ukrainian man who are very willing to sell him something to take his own life — even to the extent that

there is instruction manuals about what you need to do. there's instruction manuals that tell you how likely it is by taking a chemical whether or not it'll kill you, and whether if for some reason it doesn't work, whether there be long term consequences. it'sjust vile. and i've called on the government to make use of the online safety act and make sure this form is taken down. it’s safety act and make sure this form is taken down.— is taken down. it's so blatant what the 're is taken down. it's so blatant what they're doing _ is taken down. it's so blatant what they're doing - — is taken down. it's so blatant what they're doing - that's _ is taken down. it's so blatant what they're doing - that's what - is taken down. it's so blatant what they're doing - that's what the i they're doing — that's what the government says when you ask them, saying the online safety act does cover this, saying the online safety act does coverthis, i saying the online safety act does cover this, i suppose it's up to 0fcom, the regulator, to implement that, and i suppose the question is whether you have trust in 0fcom to implement it. whether you have trust in 0fcom to implement it— whether you have trust in 0fcom to imlement it. , . . , , ., implement it. yes, and absolutely do have trust that _ implement it. yes, and absolutely do have trust that we _ implement it. yes, and absolutely do have trust that we will _ implement it. yes, and absolutely do have trust that we will get _ implement it. yes, and absolutely do have trust that we will get there, i have trust that we will get there, but it's taking too long, as we can see today. we have a number of deaths — bbc highlighted well over 100 today linked to this forum, to the two people who have supplied

chemicals, and unfortunately they are too many. and that continues. so the longer this takes to implement, the longer this takes to implement, the more people will lose their lives. figs the more people will lose their lives. �* , , , .,, , lives. as up with the problem is, if ou shut lives. as up with the problem is, if you shut down _ lives. as up with the problem is, if you shut down one _ lives. as up with the problem is, if you shut down one website, i lives. as up with the problem is, ifj you shut down one website, they'll find another way, as we've seen. what can you do about that? and also these forms can just pop up anywhere on social media — it's such a big thing to have to contain, isn't it? it absolutely is, but i would recommend that we at least try. 0ne recommend that we at least try. one of the main forums gets millions of users a month — it is that substantial — and if we started to block these sites, then i think we would learn enough how to keep them blocked. and again, that is part of what 0fcom are looking at the moment, that's part of the consultation of, how do you ensure that a block is effective?— consultation of, how do you ensure that a block is effective? thank you

so much for — that a block is effective? thank you so much for coming _ that a block is effective? thank you so much for coming in _ that a block is effective? thank you so much for coming in to _ that a block is effective? thank you so much for coming in to talk- that a block is effective? thank you so much for coming in to talk to i that a block is effective? thank you so much for coming in to talk to us | so much for coming in to talk to us about it, we really do appreciate it. david, whose son, tom, took his own life. if you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this interview, help is available on the bbc action line website — just visit bbc.co.uk/actionline. lines are open 2a hours a day. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. february in england and wales was the mildest on record, but the first day of march has brought something quite chilly. a lot of showers, too, for england and wales. and in norfolk, we had some hail in those showers as well. and again, we've seen a bit more snow over some of the higher hills — here in derbyshire, a very slushy mix earlier on today. we've got cold air in place right the way across the uk. we're going to stay in cold air through the weekend as well.

and with that cold air, we've got low pressure in charge, which is why we're seeing this wet weather with some winteryness over the hills. that weather front has been taking some rain and hail, snow across northern england. that's moving away, but heading its way into scotland overnight tonight. the same time, we'll see a northerly wind bringing showers into northern ireland and some wet weather developing in the south east of england, pushing into the midlands and other eastern parts of england. that could keep temperatures just above freezing. but it's touch and go. it will be a cold and frosty start for many, i think, on saturday morning, especially where we have the clearer skies. but through the weekend, we do stay in this cold air, and it's on saturday that will see most of the showers or longer spells of rain. drier picture on sunday, but more mist and fog around. and there will be some frosty mornings, as we've seen already. we've got this wetter weather on saturday across the south east of england, moving through east anglia, the midlands, up into northern england. also some wet weather and some hill snow for northern parts of scotland. that northerly wind keeps those cold showers across northern ireland, wales in the southwest, the midlands and the south east

of england should improve during the afternoon with some sunshine, but those temperatures aren't really improving from today. again, we're going to be around 7—8 degrees fairly widely. that low pressure is still with us. it's tending to drift northwards and weakening, hence something a bit drier. but this weather front is not far away. it looks like at the moment it's bringing rain through the north sea and up towards the northern isles. we're going to start with a bit more mist and fog, central, southern england, the midlands and northern england lifting and brightening up with some sunshine. a bit cloudy though, i think, for scotland and the odd shower out across these western areas. but many places will have a dry day, i think, on sunday with some light winds, hence the mist and fog. those temperatures still struggling to seven or eight degrees — below par for this time of the year. now, heading into next week, we start with a bit of rain around, particularly towards western areas. but crucially, it does become drier, but it also becomes less cold as well.

this is bbc news, the headlines. thousands of mourners defy the russian authorities to turn out for the funeral of opposition leader alexei navalny. george galloway is returning to parliament after a resounding win for the former labour mp in the rochdale by—election.

prime minister rishi sunak is due to make a statement surely die from downing street. for he was the warmest on record in england and wales on one of the wetness. ah, england and wales on one of the wetness. �* , , . ., england and wales on one of the wetness. �* ,, h, , , , england and wales on one of the wetness. �* ,, u, , , , ., wetness. a special surprise for one brave nine-year-old, _ wetness. a special surprise for one brave nine-year-old, tony - wetness. a special surprise for one brave nine-year-old, tony hudgellj wetness. a special surprise for one l brave nine-year-old, tony hudgell is brave nine—year—old, tony hudgell is celebrated by the hospital that say this life. sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's gabbing. redwood max verstappen picked up where he left off last year, the three—time worship and has taken poor position for the bahrain grand prix, he finished ahead of charlotte claire in his fairy. george russell was third process in mercedes and lewis hamilton could only finish ninth fastest, who places behind another dish driver, lando norris.

meanwhile red bull team principal christian horner,