Plus, we take a first look at tomorrows front pages. Hello, good evening. The Prime Minister spoke outside Downing Street tonight in a hastily arranged address, claiming that forces in the uk were trying to tear us apart. It comes after the controversial politician George Galloway won the rochdale by election with a majority of more than 5,000. George galloway said his views have been endorsed by the electorate. Voters turned their backs on the traditional parties, with an independent candidate, david tully, taking second place. Labour had withdrawn support from its candidate, azhar ali, after he was recorded making remarks that the party considered anti semitic. George galloway said his victory in a part of Greater Manchester with a significant Muslim Population was for gaza but one organisation representing britishjews described it as dark day for the uks jewish community. From rochdale, heres our political editor, chris mason. Tonight, from the showroom of a Car Dealership in rochdale, another Victory Rally for George Galloway. Hugs and congratulation and Spitting Venom about rishi sunak. I was lucky, or unlucky, to watch the diminutive, diminished, degraded and soon to be departed Prime Minister, rishi sunak Question Notjust our election victory but, more significantly, question the right of the british people peacefully to protest against the slaughter in gaza. Moments before, the Prime Minister had used a stage only he could to say. There are forces here at home trying to tear us apart. Since October The 7th, there have been those trying to take advantage of the very human angst that we all feel about the terrible suffering that war brings to the innocent, to women and children. And, he added. Last night, the rochdale by election returned a candidate who dismisses the horror of what happened on October The 7th and is endorsed by nick griffin, the racist former leader of the bnp. Do you condemn what hamas did in israel, in october . You know, they did all this during an Election Campaign and i won. People are going to have to get used to it. Dont ask me questions that you asked me all through the campaign. And nick griffin . Were you happy to have Nick Griffins endorsement . Its a yes or a no, or you happy . No. From this evening to the early hours of this morning, and this moment. I do hereby declare that George Galloway is duly elected. Hed done it again. The fourth town or city in his third party that has led mr galloway to parliament. Keir starmer, this is for gaza. From crowd George Galloway, you want to burn our future punctuated by protest hes used to that. A Climate Campaigner is led away. Keir starmer and rishi sunak are two cheeks of the same backside. And they both got well and truly spanked tonight here in rochdale. George galloway isnt an overnight success, but a politician with decades of controversial heritage. A labour mp, until he wasnt. A tormentor of americas political establishment. Now, i know that standards have slipped over the last few years in washington. He met and praised the then iraqi president saddam hussein. Oh, and was an early reality tv star. Pussycat, yes. What was it about George Galloway that made you think, you know what, hes our man . Its his experience. Hes had 40 years of political experience, hasnt he, so hes seen it, hes worn the t shirt. I i thought it was disgusting, and im very disappointed in the voters of rochdale. I didnt vote this time, not because im not interested, but because ijust guess there was nobody really pulling along with the policies that i agreed with. What do you make of it . Quite a result. Astounding. | whilst politicians fear the word| genocide, i think, as a layman, l i can stick my neck out and say. Whats happening now is genocide. And so, today, questions for labours keir starmer in particular. Watch this he is so angry he wouldnt use George Galloway� s first name. Galloway only won because labour didnt stand a candidate. I regret that we had to withdraw our candidate and apologise to voters in rochdale. But i took that decision, it was the right decision. And when i say ive changed the labour party, i mean it. Mr galloway wasnt the only candidate that thrashed the big beasts of politics here. So did this guy, who runs a local garage and came second. Has it given you a taste for this politics malarkey . Yeah, again, ill come straight to it. Im going to have to reflect and see where we are. Im not politically minded, ive no political agenda, ijust wanted the best for my community and the people in it. Tonight, though, its George Galloway walking back towards westminster. Well be hearing plenty more from him. Chris is in rochdale, it has been an extraordinary day in politics but what do you make up where we are tonight . Pm what do you make up where we are toniaht . �. ,. ,. ,. , tonight . An extraordinary day, after ten consecutive tonight . An extraordinary day, after ten consecutive days tonight . An extraordinary day, after ten consecutive days at tonight . An extraordinary day, after ten consecutive days at least tonight . An extraordinary day, after ten consecutive days at least now i tonight . An extraordinary day, after ten consecutive days at least now of the contours of our politics being shaped by events in the middle east. If you have been immune, either by accident or design. Few have been immune point of the publicity, the Conservative Party, keir starmer, the labour party, the Scottish National party, the speaker of the House Of Commons and parliament. Then there is the question of the Prime Minister, this decision to give a speech at the lectern in the street in Downing Street, so very, very rare, and it comes with a certain expectation of gravity, and speaking to people tonight within the Conservative Party and beyond, some wonder if what he had to say matched the gravity of the place where he said it. People thinking that perhaps he was repeating what we had already heard from him, those around the Prime Minister saying it is important as the leader of the country to make that appeal for unity, to underline what should be regarded as normal. Then there are the questions for keir starmer, prompted by the result here in rochdale. And there is no doubt about it, this has been cruising for the labour party but kissed me will take some comfort i think cruising for the labour party but keir starmer will take some comfort, not from the fact that rochdale is exceptional, there are divinities like this with a substantial Muslim Community is a will no doubt remain angry at what is going on in gaza but he will hope it is George Galloway who is exceptional, that finding a politician with the potency and longevity and persuade ability that George Galloway has will be very hard for others who might seek to stand against labour in similar towns to this. So quite a day after quite a few days and George Galloway arrives in westminster on monday. Chris, thank ou. Now westminster on monday. Chris, thank yom now to westminster on monday. Chris, thank yom now to the westminster on monday. Chris, thank you. Now to the middle westminster on monday. Chris, thank you. Now to the middle east. Hamas has said tonight that seven hostages held in gaza had been killed as a result of israels military action. President biden has announced that the us is to begin humanitarian aid drops in gaza, including of food, and said he was working on a deal for an immediate ceasefire so that more aid could get through to the territory. It comes after the foreign secretary, lord cameron, called for an urgent investigation into how more than 100 palestinians were killed as they crowded round a convoy of supplies in Northern Gaza yesterday. The israeli army has acknowledged that its soldiers opened fire at one point, but says most of the deaths were caused by a crush, or lorries running people over. Our special correspondent fergal keane, working with bbc verify, has been piecing together more details of what happened. His report contains some distressing images. Although death is everywhere now in gaza, they had come thinking they would find aid to keep their families alive. Then shots ripped through the night. People start to move. Then ran to escape. In this section of the crowd, panic. As casualties streamed into local hospitals, the testimony of witnesses. Translation the situation was unimaginably crazy. If aid is going to come to us in this way, we dont want it. The israelis say that at 4 40am, the convoy left from here under Israeli Tank Escort and began to move towards the crowds waiting for food. The army supplied Drone Footage but there is no way of telling the sequence of the images because theres no timestamp. At 4 16, the israelis say crowds began to surge around the trucks. In this sequence, bodies can be seen lying on the ground. Also others can be seen crawling away. Here someone looks as if they are dragging themselves using their upper body. What we do not see is exactly what caused these casualties. In its first statements, the idf said people had been trampled rushing the trucks and also that Warning Shots were fired. This tank appears to be withdrawing. Later the military blamed people in the crowd for the chaos. Some began violently pushing and even trampling other gazans to death, looting the humanitarian supplies. The Israel Defence forces operate according to the Rules Of Engagement and international law. No idf strike was conducted towards the aid convoy. Earlier in the night, our cameraman met a local Doctor Waiting for food and this is what he said before the chaos. Translation i am and this is what he said before the chaos. Translation chaos. Translation i am here ust like any other chaos. Translation i am here ust like any other person in i chaos. Translation i am herejust like any other person in northern like any other person in Northern Gaza everyone is here to get flower and im not ashamed to say it, we have reached the point of starvation. Have reached the point of starvation. ,. ,. , ~ starvation. Today, back at work, althou. H starvation. Today, back at work, although wounded, starvation. Today, back at work, although wounded, he starvation. Today, back at work, although wounded, he told starvation. Today, back at work, although wounded, he told us i starvation. Today, back at work, although wounded, he told us people panicked when shots were fired. Men if the citizens panicked when shots were fired. Lei if the citizens were injured because of the trucks and some because of the shooting. A bullet penetrated mifi and i provided cpr for myself and stabilised my situation. Penetrated my site. Iforgot and stabilised my situation. Penetrated my site. I forgot the reason i came, Iforgot The Food and the aide and i was doing first aid treatment for the injured and a doctor in another hospital said the dead and wounded there were all gunshot victims. Today, aid was dropped byjordans airforce into today, aid was dropped byjordans air force into northern today, aid was dropped byjordans airforce into Northern Gaza. The hungry rushed towards the food. But nearly five months into this conflict, there is still no operation to deliver aid on the scale needed come into place where 85 of the population is displaced. People are so desperate for food, for fresh water, for any supplies, that they risk their lives in getting any food any supplies to support their children, support themselves. Support their children, support themselves. ~. ,. ,. , themselves. Without a secure aid 0 eration themselves. Without a secure aid operation in themselves. Without a secure aid operation in the themselves. Without a secure aid operation in the midst themselves. Without a secure aid operation in the midst of themselves. Without a secure aid i operation in the midst of continuing war, the people of gaza wait for the next tragedy. Fergal keane, bbc news, jerusalem. Thousands of people gathered on the streets of moscow today, defying a heavy Police Presence and possible arrest, to pay their last respects to russias main opposition leader, Alexei Navalny. The crowds chanted his name as his Funeral Service was held, two weeks after he died in prison. Navalny� s mother was among the mourners allowed into the cemetary to see him buried but his wife decided not to travel to russia. Steve rosenberg, our russia editor, sent this report from moscow. They came to say goodbye to the man who had given them hope but died in prison. And outside the church, longer and longer, the queue of russians wanting to pay their last respects to Alexei Navalny. He was our hope, anna tells me. I feel like i am burying my own son. He is the only person i could trust, and i was dreaming of him to become our president , really, and its a huge tragedy for me and for my people. The kremlin had called mr navalny an extremist, a criminal, but listen to the reaction when his coffin arrived. Crowd navalny by now, the whole street was watching and chanting the name of Vladimir Putins fiercest opponent. Navalny navalny. We wont give in, they cried. And suddenly, the climate of fear that has descended on russia seemed to clear, for a time, despite all the police that were here. No to war, they chanted. In the church, Alexei Navalny� s parents sat by the open coffin as an orthodox priest recited prayers for the soul of their son. Mr navalny� s death, first and foremost, a family tragedy. When the service was over, the coffin was carried back to the hearse. Then, from his supporters, a spontaneous show of respect for the man who had challenged the kremlin. With carnations and roses, they sent him on his finaljourney. And the crowds followed. As they walked towards the cemetery, they chanted the kind of Anti Government slogans unheard on russian streets for two years. Freedom to Political Prisoners and russia will be free. The authorities did not want Alexei Navalny� s funeral to become a very public event, a Public Display of sympathy for the man who was a vocal critic of the kremlin. But that is what it is turning into. Lots of flowers, but one tribute today came in a message for mr navalny� s wife yulia. She is abroad and may risk arrest if she returns. She said farewell by posting, i dont know how to live without you, but i will try my best to make you up there happy for me and proud. As Alexei Navalny was laid to rest, a band played music from terminator 2 and the sinatra classic my way. His way had been to stand up to power and imagine a different russia he would not live to see. Steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. Here, a man who stabbed to death his former partner and her new boyfriend in what a judge called a Ferocious And Merciless Attack has been given a rare whole life prison term. Marcus osborne inflicted 99 knife wounds on katie higton in her home, before luring Steven Harnett to the house and murdering him. Just days earlier, katie higton had told West Yorkshire police she was worried that osborne would seriously hurt or kill her. Sanchia berg reports. Down, down, down the moment Marcus Osborne was arrested by West Yorkshire police for murder in may last year. Youre under arrest on suspicion of murder. Hed gone to the Police Station the evening after stabbing his ex partner, katie higton, nearly 100 times and then tricking her new boyfriend, Steven Harnett, to her home, where he killed him too, mutilating both their bodies. Children were in the house at the time, and another woman. Osborne raped her. He has been given a whole life sentence. Im in no doubt this is a case of such exceptional seriousness that even a very long minimum term would not amount to just punishment. What you did that night was horrific. A statement was read on behalf of katies family. There is so much we could say about the monster who took katie away from us. A man if he can be called that whose name does not deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as hers. The court heard that, on 10th may, katie higton called police to say that Marcus Osborne was threatening to kill her and any new boyfriend. On 12th may, officers arrested osborne and released him the same day on condition he stay away from katie. On 15th may, the bbc has learned officers were in an urgent meeting to discuss protection for katie when the call came in her body had been found. Stevens twin says katie and his brother were failed. How does a man who had a history i of Domestic Violence and violent. Crimes get to walk free from a Police Station with no physical measures in place to ensure | that he stays away from the victim . | telling a violent criminal not to do something isnt enough. West Yorkshire Police say todays sentences will protect the public from this dangerous individual. Their own actions in this case are still subject to review, overseen by the independent office for police conduct. Sanchia berg, bbc news. Now a look at a few other stories making the news tonight more than 91,000 nhs appointments in england were rescheduled because of the five dayjunior doctors strike that ended on wednesday. Nhs england said the walkout meant at least 23,000 staff were absent, affecting critical care, neonatal care, maternity and trauma units. Union members want a 35 pay increase, which ministers have rejected. Thomas kingston, the husband of Lady Gabriella kingston, died from a traumatic head wound, an inquest has heard. A gun was found near his body at his parents home in the cotswolds on sunday. Mr kingston was the son in law of prince and princess michael of kent. Stamps are going to be 10p more expensive from 2nd april. A first class stamp will rise to £1. 35, second class to 85p. The royal mail is struggling with a decline in the number of letters being posted, and increased the price of stamps twice last year. People in iran have been voting in the first parliamentary elections since the wave of protests that swept the country in the wake of the death in custody of 22 year old mahsa amini. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged people to turn out in large numbers to the polls pre polling had suggested that it could be low. The bbc hasnt been allowed to report from inside iran for five years, but now our correspondent Caroline Davies has been given rare permission. The marks, made. The polls are closed, but the question is how many voted. At a Central Tehran polling station, a celebratory mood. This is one of the Polling Stations where both foreign and local media are directed to come, which means that for some, its also a place that they come to if they want to be seen to be voting. A newly married couple, former ministers and families like mr rouhanis, out to cast their votes here. Translation those who dont vote are cutting themselves off from their own fate. They are saying we dont want to decide the future of our country. For me, its not the right choice. Early polling suggested that this could be a record low turnout across iran, but officials are optimistic. Translation the presence of people today proves that all the threats to the country and all the negative propaganda of the foreign media has failed. Still, people have come out. Iran has suggested that failing to vote risks undermining the countrys security, but some have other reasons not to. Shoppers were nervous to speak to foreign media today. One woman agreed, but anonymously. Translation the economy is very bad. Everything has gone very expensive and the salary we get is very low. Even if i vote or not vote, my demands are not solvable. Some analysts think a lost turnout means lost faith. Low turnout means dissatisfaction dissatisfaction on cultural issues, on political issues, on economic issues. I feel that people have lost their interest in politics in general, and this low turnout will be another sign of that too. Final turnout is pending. Todays ballot comes at a sensitive time for iran abroad, as the authorities are counting their popularity at home. Caroline davies, bbc news, tehran. Its three years since two billionaire brothers from blackburn bought asda. Mohsin and zuber issa made their fortunes building a global petrol forecourt empire. They prefer to stay out of the limelight, but in his first broadcast interview, mohsin issa has been talking to our Business Correspondent emma simpson about his journey so far. Well, weve not done bad, to be honest. You can say that again. Mohsin issa and his brother transformed Petrol Stations into retail destinations, making billions, and now theyre in the driving seat at one of the uks biggest supermarkets. He was hungry from the start. My teacher asked me, what are you going to do, and i said, miss, i want to run my own business. And she was, like, are you sure . And i said, yeah, absolutely. We are very fortunate, weve been very, very lucky on ourjourney. Weve been in the right place at the right time and taken advantage of some of them opportunities. The Issa Brothers are one of the most successful entrepreneurial stories of the last decade. From humble beginnings, theyve built a Global Business spanning ten countries, and nobody had really heard of them. That gave them the firepower to take control of asda, Catapulting Them into the spotlight. Theyve taken on a huge amount of debt on the way. Its how they bought asda. The brothers are under scrutiny now. Of course, youve got the debt, your costs are going up, and youve been losing market share. That is a pretty tight spot right now. Its challenging, as every other retailer finds it challenging, but at the same time, we feel were doing the long Term Investment that will help us regain some of that market share. So are you saying youre sort of trying to reset the business . We are absolutely in a reset plan. He and his Brother Zuber have been an amazing double act. He dismissed the rumours of a rift. Theres no parting of the ways . No, definitely not. We get on exceptionally well. I mean, weve been very, very privileged. As well as being brothers, weve been on a journey and we have got a long way still to go. More Business Deals . Never say never, is his response. Emma simpson, bbc news, stevenage. In formula 1, the Red Bull Team principal, christian horner, has again denied allegations of inappropriate behaviour after the leaking of a series of messages, allegedly written by him. Horner was cleared on wednesday by an internal investigation into his behaviour towards a female colleague. Red bull are preparing to defend their two world titles in the opening race of the season, tomorrow in bahrain. Our Sports News Correspondent laura scott reports. Greeting one of motorsport� s top officials earlier today, it might have looked like Business As Usual for christian horner, but, on a balmy day in bahrain, he remains at the centre of a storm which doesnt show signs of passing. The sport is still reeling after 149 people, including f1 bosses and team principals, received an anonymous email yesterday containing a link to a drive of messages purporting to involve horner. In a statement, he said, i wont comment on anonymous speculation but, to reiterate, i have always denied the allegations. But this doesnt just affect homer and his team. Its understood the bosses of formula 1 and the sports governing body, the fia, discussed the matter during a meeting today as it continues to dominate the headlines. It certainly has been the talk of the paddock. Everybody wants to talk to you about it and you want to talk to everyone about it as well. However, the atmosphere has changed now cars are on track. With horner at the helm, the team enjoyed record breaking success last season, but his position remains injeopardy despite maintaining his innocence. When you have someone in his position who is a business leader, who might often try and ride out the storm, and the weight of events, the fact that you are at the centre of the story, it becomes impossible to focus on what youre there for, which is to win races. It means, sometimes, that, if you dont think your position is unsustainable, there might be someone more senior in the business who does. In qualifying tonight, reigning World Champion Max Verstappen did his best to steer the focus back onto the track, finishing in pole position. But the sports leadership will be braced for another twist in the road ahead. Laura scott, bbc news. A new species of sea slug has been discovered in british waters by two marine researchers. The pair were on a routine survey off the South West Coast when they discovered the pleurobranchea britannica. One of the scientists shared his story with us. These were a serendipitous discovery, i think is the best word. It was a bit of a double take a moment where you have to challenge your own assumptions, and very quickly, and quite excitingly, we had encountered Something Different. At that time, we certainly didnt know that it was a new species, but we definitely knew that it was Something Different and something that we werent familiar with. On the right hand side of the animal, theres a very delicate, but very beautiful, actually, feathery like structure. It looks a bit like a canoe paddle. This is actually the gill of the sea slug, and that was the first thing we noticed, the presence of this gill on the side of the animal, which is quite unusual for sea slugs. The gills on sea slugs are normally in the middle of the animal on their back. Its taken us since 2018, when we first really challenged the identification of this animal. So its taken us a fair while to get to this point. So its really rewarding, and were really pleased to be at the stage where we can share this with notjust the wider scientific community, but with everyone. On the steps of Downing Street against what he called Extremists Undermining Democracy as George Galloway
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