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.

abu ali and his family fled their town, they say, because of the israeli shelling. they moved several times before settling here. translation: we moved four or five times before arriving here. _ do i expect to return home? god knows. but unfortunately, there are no signs on the horizon. nothing. if it wasn't for the war, fatima would have been now at school in grade six. translation: i was supposed to enroll for the school year i when the war started. my father came home one day and told us to prepare to leave. we were packing our stuff and crying at the same time. i miss everything back home. and this hotel turned into a displacement centre.

into a displacement centre. people refer to each other by the number of their rooms. and behind each door, there's a story of a border town. this is bintjbeil and so on. a different room, a different story. this woman doesn't even know if her house still stands. translation: no one has access to the village now l because of the situation there. the village has become empty. we do not care about the stone, but what matters to us are the memories. and they left us with very painful memories. this israeli strike took place just ten minutes from the hotel. it was days ago and sent shock waves across the south and beyond. people here do not feel shielded from the hostilities.

strikes are getting closer and closer. more people could be forced to flee their homes. there is no longer a single conflict. but the hostilities have expanded greatly. the further the situation escalates, the more the wave of displacement increases. it aggravates the burden on us and makes us worry about the future. it's not only about displacement for the families here, but also about the uncertainty. for the moment, this hotel is a good shelter, but they know they could be forced to be back on the move at any time and not in the direction of home or what is left of it. carine torbey, bbc news, southern lebanon.

just to let you know, rishi sunak is going to be making a statement outside downing street this evening in about an hour's time, around 514. the premise to's address will touch on recent events, including in parliament last week, and the need to protect our democratic processes. he is probably referring to the debate on the gaza conflict we saw in the commons last week. that is coming at around 17:40 uk time. richey snack making remarks outside downing street —— mecca rishi sunak making remarks outside downing street. —— rishi sunak making remarks outside downing street. in the coming month india is set to go to the polls, in what's expected to be the largest democratic elections in the world. in the lead up the bbc is looking into the issues facing india,

the bbc hasn't been able to report from iran in some years but we were given access to the capital of tehran. the pulse of opened in tehran. the pulse of opened in tehran. this is a community centre and religious community centre in tehran. you can see that people are waiting to get their id is checked and will be given their id papers. then they will pass their vote. this is a particularly significant election in iran because it is the first rate to be passed since we saw countrywide protests from 2022. that was after the death of a 22—year—old woman who had previously been arrested by iran's morality police, allegedly for not wearing the correct address. these very wide protests were according to human rights groups brutally put down. now, we are in one of the centres which is open to the media. you can see that there are camera crews here

from around the world, local and international, and amongst them are voters as well. there has been a major concern about voter apathy in this particular election. early polling suggested there could be a record low turnout, raising questions of legitimacy for the government here in iran. studio: a bill to outlaw conversion therapy will not become law after it ran out of parliamentary time. a bill to outlaw so—called conversion therapy... however, not enough mps attended the debate to force a vote, and so the debate ran out of time meaning it will not go on to become law. the government says it will bring forward its�*s own plans in the few weeks. 0ur lgbt and identity

reporterjosh parryjoins usthe members from across the house commended the lord on his collaborative approach to the bill. this has perhaps been credited for why this bill has got as far as it did. , , , , ., did. this is the furthest bill to ban conversion _ did. this is the furthest bill to ban conversion therapy - did. this is the furthest bill to ban conversion therapy has i did. this is the furthest bill to i ban conversion therapy has ever did. this is the furthest bill to - ban conversion therapy has ever got in the commons, but they were unable to reach a consensus, in any case, there is not enough mps there. there was not enough to win a majority which didn't happen. this airl has a majority which didn't happen. this girl has a complicated background, notjust girl has a complicated background, not just complicated girl has a complicated background, notjust complicated today. government promised to ban conversion therapy in 1918, and since then, this bill has had a bit of a chequered history, —— in 2018. there have been various u—turns from different conservative governments. 0ne different conservative governments. one that caused the disbandment of the government's and lgbt advisory panel a few years ago. this killer

storm has got the furthest so far. and, i think that the debate today shows that things are moving closer, there is more of a middle ground on this and there has previously been, and the government said today that they will table in their own bill in they will table in their own bill in the coming weeks.— they will table in their own bill in the coming weeks. thank you very much. the prince of wales has kicked off st david's day with a royal visit to the turf pub in wrexham... which is a popular venue for football fans of wrexham. while there, prince william met one of the club's hollywood owners — rob mcelhenney — to hear about the positive impact the historic club is having on the local community. its fortunes were turned around after it was bought by mcelhenney and fellow actor ryan reynolds in 2021. we feel like we have been invited into a fairy tale. the way that the community has opened their arms and welcomed

us, as outsiders, not only as an american and canadian, but also two people from hollywood. we expected a fair amount of scepticism, but what we really got was open arms and people who are willing to allow us to come into the community. what we are trying to do, from the very beginning, is listen more than we talk, and give them exactly what they need and they are asking for. it's not very often you get an invitation to come, you get a call from the palace. my plan was not to be here. i start shooting on monday, but when you get a call from the prince, you come, because it is a great honour. it is great honour for the club, especially with everything that he has got going on. sot when you think of winter sports you probably think of traditional destinations like val d'isere and kitzbuhel. but this is riyadh in saudi arabia which has been hosting its first ever skiing competition. it took place in an outdoor venue

with over 500 tonnes of artificial snow. dozens of elite freestyle skiers took part in the snow blast event. saudi arabia is hosting the 2029 asian winter games, and is reportedly eyeing a future bid to host the winter olympics. definitely the first of its kind. we are bringing snow to the desert. when i got the invite, i was like, no, this can't be real. how was it possible? we are 45 minutes away— from the desert, i'm sure many years ago this used to be a desert. around the world and across uk, this is bbc news. thousands of ribbons tied across the school gates. each one put there by children and their parents to represent each day of closure. following a report which said an old quarry tip could cause a landslide behind the school five years ago, the children were moved to temporary cabins three miles away, where they're still being taught. this is the beating heart of the village. it just really is.

and without it, it's just any street, anywhere. and i can't see me staying here. i really can't. my youngest has never experienced being in this school. she's never experienced being part of a community in the way that my older two children have. she has to go on a coach three miles away tomorrow. this site could look very different with neath port talbot council with neath port talbot council planning to start the work to demolish the building. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. you're live with bbc news. the world of dating is getting even more brutal apparently. and it's down to cost. single people are ending dates more quickly so they don't waste money on someone they don't feel an immediate spark with. joining me now are noor nanji our bbc culture reporter, relationship coach fahima mahomed and zoe pollard who is

dating in london. lovely to have your with me. noor, you've been looking into this, what have you found? if it wasn't tough enough, you basically have the time it takes to drink a glass of wine before you have to be on your way. exactly, as if it wasn't — have to be on your way. exactly, as if it wasn't tough _ have to be on your way. exactly, as if it wasn't tough enough _ have to be on your way. exactly, as if it wasn't tough enough already. l if it wasn't tough enough already. i've been looking at how they culture is changing in recent years, and i was particularly interested in the etiquette, how long do to stick around on a bad date if you feel things are not going well. should you stick around for a couple of drinks, may be dinner, to be polite? 0r, drinks, may be dinner, to be polite? or, should you make a run for it? as soon as you can. i was speaking to people for research on the story and i increasingly had a sense people were more likely to end things early now than before, and rather than wasting money on something when they thought it wasn't going anywhere. 0bviously, thought it wasn't going anywhere. obviously, the cost of living has gone up, so people have financial concerns and may not want to spend

money on someone on a first date when they think they might not see that person again. there is survey data to back this up, a survey on behalf of bbc news survey 4000 people almost and look at how their dating habits have changed —— 4000 people around. people so that they were more likely to end things with someone early than before the rise of the cost of living, two years ago. that went up even higher first gen z, younger people. zoe. ago. that went up even higher first gen 2, younger people. zoe, tellers, ou have gen z, younger people. zoe, tellers, you have been _ gen z, younger people. zoe, tellers, you have been dating _ gen z, younger people. zoe, tellers, you have been dating recently, - gen z, younger people. zoe, tellers, you have been dating recently, i - you have been dating recently, i think not currently, what is it like? i think not currently, what is it like? ., ., ., ., like? i have a feeling that we are all a little bit — like? i have a feeling that we are all a little bit strapped _ like? i have a feeling that we are all a little bit strapped for- like? i have a feeling that we are all a little bit strapped for cash, l all a little bit strapped for cash, so when — all a little bit strapped for cash, so when you add that element into the lip _ so when you add that element into the lip mix. — so when you add that element into the lip mix, you get people who are not willing — the lip mix, you get people who are not willing to overlook little things. _ not willing to overlook little things, may be. i think i very much

notice _ things, may be. i think i very much notice when — things, may be. i think i very much notice when other people don't really— notice when other people don't really feel like they want to spend the money to get me a drink, and i think— the money to get me a drink, and i think may— the money to get me a drink, and i think may be at ping—pong of each other~ _ think may be at ping—pong of each other~ you — think may be at ping—pong of each other. you sort of end up making a poor— other. you sort of end up making a poor impression. is other. you sort of end up making a poor impression.— other. you sort of end up making a poor impression. is there a, who was auoin to poor impression. is there a, who was going to buy — poor impression. is there a, who was going to buy the _ poor impression. is there a, who was going to buy the first _ poor impression. is there a, who was going to buy the first to _ poor impression. is there a, who was going to buy the first to drink? - poor impression. is there a, who was going to buy the first to drink? if- going to buy the first to drink? if they buy the first, you might not feel so bad about leaving straightaway if you haven't spent a penny. i straightaway if you haven't spent a enn . , , �* , penny. i suppose. but then there is still a sort of _ penny. i suppose. but then there is still a sort of guilt _ penny. i suppose. but then there is still a sort of guilt that _ penny. i suppose. but then there is still a sort of guilt that he - penny. i suppose. but then there is still a sort of guilt that he would . still a sort of guilt that he would feel about that. the one that gets me now is when you are letting the first round and you are not having a great time, you think that you could call it a day. great time, you think that you could call it a day-— call it a day. yes, you might want to stay and _ call it a day. yes, you might want to stay and get — call it a day. yes, you might want to stay and get your _ call it a day. yes, you might want to stay and get your money's - call it a day. yes, you might want i to stay and get your money's worth if you got the first one. it to stay and get your money's worth if you got the first one.— if you got the first one. it goes both ways- _ if you got the first one. it goes both ways- it _ if you got the first one. it goes both ways. it doesn't - if you got the first one. it goes both ways. it doesn't take - if you got the first one. it goes j both ways. it doesn't take long if you got the first one. it goes i both ways. it doesn't take long to have one drink, _ both ways. it doesn't take long to have one drink, quite _ both ways. it doesn't take long to have one drink, quite a _ both ways. it doesn't take long to have one drink, quite a short - both ways. it doesn't take long to . have one drink, quite a short amount of time to gauge somebody and you get an impression of somebody. what about a coffee and a walk or something, is that not good enough? no, i have done coffee and a walk as

well, but i think it really depends on the person. possibly. i think that what is nice about a drink is that what is nice about a drink is that there is then a more obvious end point, ithink, whereas a that there is then a more obvious end point, i think, whereas a walk could go on forever. hag? end point, i think, whereas a walk could go on forever.— end point, i think, whereas a walk could go on forever. how do you end it? fatima, — could go on forever. how do you end it? fatima, how— could go on forever. how do you end it? fatima, how does _ could go on forever. how do you end it? fatima, how does this _ could go on forever. how do you end it? fatima, how does this chime - could go on forever. how do you end| it? fatima, how does this chime with what you are seeing from people you are talking to?— are talking to? even with all of the research out _ are talking to? even with all of the research out there, _ are talking to? even with all of the research out there, and _ are talking to? even with all of the research out there, and i - are talking to? even with all of the research out there, and i talk - are talking to? even with all of the research out there, and i talk to i research out there, and i talk to people — research out there, and i talk to people from all walks of life and my experiences over the last few years, regardless _ experiences over the last few years, regardless of money, there is an expectation and also bad relationship advice out there, with expectations to be had, and the first instance. a lot of people have that overview of this is what we need _ that overview of this is what we need to— that overview of this is what we need to feel and protect, and to have, _ need to feel and protect, and to have, in— need to feel and protect, and to have, in such a brief amount of time, _ have, in such a brief amount of time, not — have, in such a brief amount of time, not actually giving themselves

all the _ time, not actually giving themselves all the other person a chance to show— all the other person a chance to show up — all the other person a chance to show up for who and what they are. i think— show up for who and what they are. i think a _ show up for who and what they are. i think a lot _ show up for who and what they are. i think a lot of— show up for who and what they are. i think a lot of people are not actually— think a lot of people are not actually taught how to be themselves as well— actually taught how to be themselves as well as _ actually taught how to be themselves as well as show up in a particular way that— as well as show up in a particular way that they need to to actually gauge _ way that they need to to actually gauge if— way that they need to to actually gauge if they are actually a match for each _ gauge if they are actually a match for each other. so, regardless of the financial issues, we feel that we are _ the financial issues, we feel that we are lacking in regards of who we are, what— we are lacking in regards of who we are, what we expect? and are filtering — are, what we expect? and are filtering the emotions so that we can understand each other better and no it doesn't — can understand each other better and no it doesn't take a few moments or a few— no it doesn't take a few moments or a few walks, — no it doesn't take a few moments or a few walks, and it actually understands how to question and the kind of— understands how to question and the kind of questions and conversations that need _ kind of questions and conversations that need to be had in order to really— that need to be had in order to really understand that person and yourself — really understand that person and yourself. and it is fahima. and everything _ yourself. and it is fahima. and everything has _ yourself. and it is fahima. fific everything has been reduced yourself. and it is fahima. fific everything has been reduced down to a couple of lines on an app where you are trying to say everything great about yourself in one or two sentences. and then, the brief encounters people having... is

there... could you suggest something in the build—up? would it be better to talk on the phone beforehand? do wi—fi calls for free? to talk on the phone beforehand? do wi—fi calls forfree? i to talk on the phone beforehand? do wi-fi calls for free?— wi-fi calls for free? i think it is the anything — wi-fi calls for free? i think it is the anything you _ wi-fi calls for free? i think it is the anything you ask. _ wi-fi calls for free? i think it is the anything you ask. i - wi-fi calls for free? i think it is the anything you ask. i think i wi-fi calls for free? i think it is | the anything you ask. i think we wi-fi calls for free? i think it is i the anything you ask. i think we ask surface _ the anything you ask. i think we ask surface space questions and that doesn't — surface space questions and that doesn't really align with what we are looking for in a partnership. i think— are looking for in a partnership. i think asking what you do and what your hobbies are is a great thing to talk about— your hobbies are is a great thing to talk about but at the same time, how do you _ talk about but at the same time, how do you respond to conflict, what are you like _ do you respond to conflict, what are you like when things don't work out for you? _ you like when things don't work out for you? and gauging that response, that reaction, these are the things you learn— that reaction, these are the things you learn in— that reaction, these are the things you learn in psychology about human mind and _ you learn in psychology about human mind and behaviour so that when you are entering— mind and behaviour so that when you are entering into that relationship, you understand. it may not be the first conversation, but giving it some — first conversation, but giving it some time to build up to those questions _ some time to build up to those questions is really important and relevant — questions is really important and relevant to really gauge and understand each other better so that you can _ understand each other better so that you can know that this person is

more _ you can know that this person is more than — you can know that this person is more than what i have just seen. you cannot— more than what i have just seen. you cannotiust _ more than what i have just seen. you cannotjust gauge in one or two interactions. you do need to give it time _ interactions. you do need to give it time. ., , ., interactions. you do need to give it time. ., ,. . interactions. you do need to give it time. ., . , interactions. you do need to give it time. ., ., , time. zoe, you are smiling as you listen to fahima _ time. zoe, you are smiling as you listen to fahima there. _ time. zoe, you are smiling as you listen to fahima there. people i time. zoe, you are smiling as you listen to fahima there. people doj listen to fahima there. people do not have much time, do they? and people talk about the pressure of people talk about the pressure of people since a pandemic feeling like they have wasted years on the dating scene proper and want to get on with it. , ,., ., , it. there is something to be said about the fact _ it. there is something to be said about the fact that _ it. there is something to be said about the fact that in _ it. there is something to be said about the fact that in bigger i about the fact that in bigger cities, — about the fact that in bigger cities, you _ about the fact that in bigger cities, you feel— about the fact that in bigger cities, you feel like - about the fact that in bigger cities, you feel like the i about the fact that in bigger. cities, you feel like the dating market— cities, you feel like the dating market is— cities, you feel like the dating market is so— cities, you feel like the dating market is so saturated - cities, you feel like the dating market is so saturated with i cities, you feel like the dating i market is so saturated with people that people — market is so saturated with people that people think, _ market is so saturated with people that people think, i— market is so saturated with people that people think, i will— market is so saturated with people that people think, i willjust - market is so saturated with people that people think, i willjust movei that people think, i willjust move on that people think, iwilljust move on to— that people think, i willjust move on to the — that people think, iwilljust move on to the hekt— that people think, i willjust move on to the next person _ that people think, i willjust move on to the next person if _ that people think, i willjust move on to the next person if i - that people think, i willjust move on to the next person if i don't i on to the next person if i don't have _ on to the next person if i don't have that _ on to the next person if i don't have that instant _ on to the next person if i don't have that instant click. - on to the next person if i don't have that instant click. and i have that instant click. and regardless _ have that instant click. and regardless of _ have that instant click. and regardless of may- have that instant click. and regardless of may be - have that instant click. and regardless of may be those have that instant click. and - regardless of may be those deeper connections, — regardless of may be those deeper connections, you _ regardless of may be those deeper connections, you are _ regardless of may be those deeper connections, you are sort - regardless of may be those deeper connections, you are sort of- regardless of may be those deeperl connections, you are sort of looking at those _ connections, you are sort of looking at those basic— connections, you are sort of looking at those basic tick _ connections, you are sort of looking at those basic tick boxes, _ connections, you are sort of looking at those basic tick boxes, and - connections, you are sort of looking at those basic tick boxes, and very. at those basic tick boxes, and very quickly— at those basic tick boxes, and very quickly change _ at those basic tick boxes, and very quickly change your— at those basic tick boxes, and very quickly change your mind - at those basic tick boxes, and very quickly change your mind and i at those basic tick boxes, and very quickly change your mind and say, j quickly change your mind and say, actually, _ quickly change your mind and say, actually, i— quickly change your mind and say, actually, i will— quickly change your mind and say, actually, i will try— quickly change your mind and say, actually, i will try something - quickly change your mind and say, actually, i will try something else. you want — actually, i will try something else. you want to— actually, i will try something else. you want to give _ actually, i will try something else. you want to give us _ actually, i will try something else. you want to give us some - actually, i will try something else. you want to give us some gossip i actually, i will try something else. i you want to give us some gossip in terms of your experiences? tell us the sorts of things and maybe put you off somebody recently? you thought, i am off.—

you off somebody recently? you thought, i am off. one of my worst ones was a — thought, i am off. one of my worst ones was a couple _ thought, i am off. one of my worst ones was a couple of _ thought, i am off. one of my worst ones was a couple of months i thought, i am off. one of my worst ones was a couple of months ago l thought, i am off. one of my worst i ones was a couple of months ago when i was ones was a couple of months ago when i was left _ ones was a couple of months ago when i was left waiting — ones was a couple of months ago when i was left waiting for— ones was a couple of months ago when i was left waiting for about _ ones was a couple of months ago when i was left waiting for about half - ones was a couple of months ago when i was left waiting for about half an i i was left waiting for about half an hour in— i was left waiting for about half an hour in the — i was left waiting for about half an hour in the cold _ i was left waiting for about half an hour in the cold to _ i was left waiting for about half an hour in the cold to go _ i was left waiting for about half an hour in the cold to go to _ i was left waiting for about half an hour in the cold to go to a - i was left waiting for about half an hour in the cold to go to a flower. hour in the cold to go to a flower market. — hour in the cold to go to a flower market. and _ hour in the cold to go to a flower market, and then, _ hour in the cold to go to a flower market, and then, at _ hour in the cold to go to a flower market, and then, at the - hour in the cold to go to a flower market, and then, at the flowerl market, and then, at the flower market. — market, and then, at the flower market. head _ market, and then, at the flower market, head expectations- market, and then, at the flower market, head expectations that| market, and then, at the flower- market, head expectations that may be some _ market, head expectations that may be some flowers _ market, head expectations that may be some flowers would _ market, head expectations that may be some flowers would be _ market, head expectations that may be some flowers would be bought i market, head expectations that mayl be some flowers would be bought for me, be some flowers would be bought for me. maybe _ be some flowers would be bought for me. maybe that— be some flowers would be bought for me, maybe that is— be some flowers would be bought for me, maybe that is a _ be some flowers would be bought for me, maybe that is a bit— be some flowers would be bought for me, maybe that is a bit presumptivel me, maybe that is a bit presumptive of m3, _ me, maybe that is a bit presumptive of me. lfut— me, maybe that is a bit presumptive of me. but none _ me, maybe that is a bit presumptive of me, but none of— me, maybe that is a bit presumptive of me, but none of that _ me, maybe that is a bit presumptive of me, but none of that happened i me, maybe that is a bit presumptive i of me, but none of that happened and ijust went home — of me, but none of that happened and ijust went home empty—handed - of me, but none of that happened andl ijust went home empty—handed having had a sort _ ijust went home empty—handed having had a sort of— ijust went home empty—handed having had a sort of mediocre _ ijust went home empty—handed having had a sort of mediocre time. _ ijust went home empty—handed having had a sort of mediocre time. maybe i had a sort of mediocre time. maybe that it your— had a sort of mediocre time. maybe that it your lady, — had a sort of mediocre time. maybe that it your lady, may _ had a sort of mediocre time. maybe that it your lady, may be... - had a sort of mediocre time. maybe that it your lady, may be... is i had a sort of mediocre time. maybe that it your lady, may be... is that i that it your lady, may be... is that a factor in this? did you hear about that? a pandemic having an impact? definitely. i think it is exactly as you are saying, the sense of wasting time. you had to three years taken out through lockdown where you are unable to meet people, you are doing zoom dates, or walks in supermarkets, and all sorts of things people were coming up with and finding ways to still connect people. this when you emerge with something like that if you are in

your 20s or 30s or whatever it is, that couple of years, your private dating years, they have been taken up dating years, they have been taken up in a way you didn't foresee —— your primate dating years will stop when you can do it now, you feel that he wasted the time. when you are out on the dating market, on the scene, you sort of want to be more ruthless and more conscious of the decisions you are making because you have so much less time.— have so much less time. thank you very much- — have so much less time. thank you very much. thank _ have so much less time. thank you very much. thank you _ have so much less time. thank you very much. thank you all. - have so much less time. thank you very much. thank you all. you i have so much less time. thank you very much. thank you all. you are| very much. thank you all. you are watching bbc news. you are watching bbc news with me. now, we can hear now... i think that we are going to talk about the weather. today is a meteorological first day of spring, and after what was the wettest february on record for parts of the uk, according to new figures from the uk, it has been a mild winter with fewer frosty

nights than normal, ben rich has been finding out what the ups and downs of our winter weather could tell us about our changing climate. it's been wet and mild too. 0ne 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. 0ur climate has warmed by about a degree in the last 50 or 60 years. 0ne 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. 0ne magnolia in bloom isn't surprising in february, 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. eurovision fans: the countdown is on. there are just 10 weeks to go until this year's big event — and the uk's entry has now been unveiled. the singer 0lly alexander will take to the stage in sweden to perform �*dizzy�* — and our culture correspondent charlotte gallagher has been taking a listen. # won't you make me dizzy for your kisses...# the uk's eurovision hopes rest on this song. dizzy by 0lly 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 0lly made his bbc weather debut with breakfast�*s very own carol kirkwood. 0lly 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. # 0oh, 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 0lly 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 0lly 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. a reminder that rishi sunak will be making a statement outside downing street at around —— in around 45 minutes. the premise is mac address will tighten recent events including in parliament last week —— macular tjy in parliament last week —— macular by minister's address will tighten refer to events including in parliament last week. that will be outside downing street in around 45 minutes. now, time for a look at the weather.

the first day of march was quite chilly. in norfolk we had hail in those showers. 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.

live from london, this is bbc news. thousands of mourners defy the russian authorities to turn out for the funeral of opposition leader alexei navalny. george galloway is returning to parliament, —— george galloway says "this is for gaza" after a resounding win at the 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. 0r 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