hello you're watching bbc world news. i'm james menendez. our top tory this hour: president trump accuses his critics of a "witch hunt" against his attorney general. butjeff sessions has bowed to pressure, removing himself from the investigation into alleged russian meddling in the us election. welcome to the programme. our other main stories this hour: freed from is for the second time — russia and syria say their forces have reta ke n the ancient city of palmyra. fighting corruption from the air — why campaigners in ukraine are turning to drones. "oh, the places you'll go!" first lady melania trump reads her favourite book to sick children in new york. i'm ben bland. in business: is it a console or is it a mobile? nintendo's new device goes on sale around the world

but can it convince gamers to switch? plus, the gadgets google wants every home to have. we hear from the company's hardware boss. one of president trump's closest allies, us attorney generaljeff sessions, is under intense pressure after allegations that he lied under oath about his contacts with russian officials during the presidential election campaign. mr sessions has denied any improper conduct but he has withdrawn from the official investigation into claims of russian interference in the election. president trump has accused the democrats of leading a "witch hunt". tulip mazumder reports from washington. he is the country ‘s most senior prosecutor butjeff sessions stands accused by senior democrats of lying under a over meetings with the russian ambassador during the

election campaign. with pressure mounting on the attorney general to stand down he hastily set up a news conference to categorically deny the claims. i never had a meeting with russian operatives or russian intermediaries about the trump campaigns and the idea that i was pa rt campaigns and the idea that i was part of a quote continuing exchange of information during the campaign between trump ‘s arrogance and any intermediaries for the russian government is totally false. he said he would however set aside from overseeing any investigation into alleged russian meddling in the election. it has emerged senator sessions met the russian ambassador at the republican convention injuly and again in september but at his confirmation hearing he denied any contact with the russians. the fact that the attorney general, the top

cop in our country, lied under oath to the american people is grounds for him to resign. bless the usa. the president was in virginia touring and new aircraft carrier and was keen to keep the agenda on his vision for the arms forces rather than another russian controversy. after yea rs of than another russian controversy. after years of budget cuts that have impaired our defences, i am calling for one of the largest spending increases in history. he later tweeted. .. all of this increases in history. he later tweeted... all of this is yet another unwelcome distraction from the key issues voters want to see the key issues voters want to see the president taking action on, jobs, wealth care and defence. let's round—up some of the other main stories: counting will begin this morning in the northern ireland assembly

election. the snap poll was called when the power—sharing executive, led by the democratic unionist party and sinn fein, collapsed injanuary. 228 candidates are competing for 90 seats across 18 constituencies. it's the second time the electorate has had to choose a government in the space of 10 months. scientists in britain have created artificial embryos using two types of stem cells from mice, in what they say is a world first. the researchers at cambridge university say their artificial embryo is unlikely to develop into a healthy foetus but they hope it will lead to improving fertility treatments. a north korean man detained in malaysia in connection with the death of kim jong—nam has been released and deported. the attorney—general said there was insufficient evidence to charge rijong chol. kimjong—nam died after being poisoned with vx nerve agent. meanwhile, malaysia's foreign ministry says it is greatly concerned as the use of a toxic chemical at an airport endangered the general public. the two accountants responsible

for the wrong film being announced as winner of best picture at the oscars have been given bodyguards, following reports that they've received death threats on social media. they've been told they will not be employed to do the oscars job again, after they muddled up the envelopes naming the winners. the syrian army says it has seized back control of the city of palmyra from militants of so—called islamic state. is has twice held palmyra, which is famous for its ancient ruins, during the six year syrian conflict. during that time they've destroyed some of the city's greatest monuments. sarah corker reports across the ancient sands of palmyra, syrian troops backed by russian jets enter the city's western districts. for weeks they've battled through the desert to reach the unesco world heritage site. this video released by the syrian government shows heavy shelling across an almost deserted city. is fighters have now fled. translation: counter-terrorism

operations will continue until the last of our territory is liberated from the hands of these foreign terrorist organisations which are wreaking havoc in our country. but the syrian opposition, in switzerland for peace talks, declined to congratulate president assad on retaking the city. translation: this is the second time that we have seen this handover and this is obviously being used for political reasons. if we want to follow the game of assad and palmyra, it will be like watching tom and gerry. the historic city of palmyra has changed hands several times during syria's six—year civil war. is held the ruins for ten months after seizing them for the first time in may 2015. it blew up temples and destroyed burial towers. the militants were forced out in march 2016 — russia celebrated by bringing an orchestra to the amphitheatre where the militants

once staged beheadings. but by december, is had retaken control as pro—government forces were focused on the battle for aleppo. now those syrian troops are back inside the city. these were once amongst the best—preserved classical monuments in the middle east. the destruction here now a symbol perhaps of the civil war that continues to consume syria. sarah corker, bbc news. and ben is here with all the business news. we start injapan — on a huge day for computer games giant nintendo. it starts selling its latest device — the switch. it's kind of hybrid machine — combining a home console and a mobile device in one. and it's safe it say it is a massive gamble for nintendo, which is trying to recapture

its glory days as a games company in a fast changing industry. some are even calling it "make or break". let's show you why: gaming is very big business and growing fast. according to consultants newzoo sales will top $100 billion for the first time this year. but there's another first. gaming on mobile devices — mostly smartphones — will take the biggest share this year — with estimated sales of 42.5 billion. that will put it ahead of home consoles and pcs for the first time. it's something nintendo knows only too well. ten years ago its wii console took the world by storm. we bought 100 million of them nintendo tried to repeat the success with the wii u in 2012 but it has been a complete flop. to date it's sold around 13 million. now compare that to big craze of last year, the mobile phone game

pokemon go. half a billion people downloaded it and sales hit almost a $1 billion to add insult to injury, most of the profits went to the game's developers, who licensed the characters from nintendo. so is the switch the answer to nintendo's problems? we'll be taking a look in 20 minutes time. if games aren't your thing, how about a gadget that can play your music, answer your questions, or even tell you a joke? google's home is a voice activated digital assistant that the company hopes will become a central hub for all the technology in your home. it's currently only available in the us but it will be available here and in other countries in the coming months. we will be hearing from the company's hardware chief plenty to look forward to.

police in france have searched the home of the beleaguered presidential candidate, francois fillon. he's being investigated over allegations that his wife and children were paid salaries from public funds one of francois fillon‘s rivals, emmanuel macron, has unveiled his manifesto — pledging to boost the economy and fight government corruption. his stage may not be as glitzy as the oscars, but emmanuel macron knows how to play the star. never mind that critics describe his campaign as "blah blah land" — all talk, no real policies. this 39—year—old first—time candidate came armed with plenty of them. he has promised big tax cuts, spending cuts, and the sale of government stakes in some companies. but he has also promised 50 billion euros of investment, and help for those on low incomes.

mr macron‘s supporters are largely young, urban professionals. so, one journalist asked, why does a former investment banker deserve the working—class vote? translation: i was born in a provincial town, and in a family that had nothing to do with the world ofjournalists or bankers. i climbed the ranks, it's with a lot of pride that i say i am the candidate of the working and the middle classes. and frankly, when i compare my project with marine le pen‘s, she wants to withdraw from the eurozone and destroy 30% of people's savings. expanding his vote to blue—collar workers is key for mr macron. here in lyon, he has won over the socialist mayor, but the support of the city's factory workers is proving much more difficult. translation: if it's between macron and marine le pen in the second round, i will vote for macron. but it would be a vote of necessity, not the one i really want.

i think he will better try to get closer to people, in general. by "people", i include, of course, older people, more conservative people, and workers, blue workers. polls suggest marine le pen has the support of almost half the blue—collar vote in france, and is gaining among farmers, and some public servants, too. but she is also battling claims that she misused eu money to pay party staff. emmanuel macron‘s strategy lies in holding together two different political tides, the centre—left and the centre—right. critics say the glue in that formula has been mr macron‘s personality, and his deliberately vague ideas. this programme tries to offer something to both sides. but will it be enough to keep them faithful and get them out to vote? with his centre—right rival francois fillon under investigation

for embezzlement, this presidency could come down to a choice between mr macron or marine le pen, between globalisation or protectionism, the new political divide. lucy williamson, bbc news, paris. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: lest we forget — marking 100 years of the uk's imperial war museum. first the plates slipped gently off the restaurant tables. then suddenly the tables, the chairs and people crashed sideways and downwards and it was a matter of seconds before the ferry lurched onto her side. the hydrogen bomb on a remote pacific atoll. the americans had successfully tested a weapon whose explosive force dwarfed that of the bomb dropped on hiroshima. i had heard the news earlier and so my heart went bang and bang. the constitutional rights of these

marchers have their rights as citizens of the united states and they should be protected even in the right to test them out so they don't get their heads broken and are sent to hospital. this religious controversy, i know you don't want to say too much about it, but does it worry you it's going to boil up when you get to the stage? well, it worries me, yeah. but i hope everything will be all right in the end of the day. this is bbc world news. the latest headlines: the us attorney general, jeff sessions, has denied lying over his contact with russians in last year's election campaign but said he'll sit out any investigation. donald trump says the controversy is a "total witch hunt". russia and syria say their forces have retaken the ancient city of palmyra from the islamic state group. this weekend china's annual parliamentary session gets under way

— the national people's congress. as usual, the weeks leading up to the congress have been marked by a nationwide effort to stop some of the most marginalised members of society from reaching beijing. these petitioners are often prevented from airing their grievances and this year our correspondent, john sudworth has had first—hand experience of the tactics deployed by the authorities to silence criticism. there are some violent images in his report. give us the camera. our interview is not going to plan. we are stopped from meeting the family we've come to see. this woman and her sister claim that their father was beaten to death by a policeman in a land dispute. they're among the many thousands of chinese people who travel regularly to beijing seeking justice, known as petitioners. so the petitioners hope to use

china's annual parliamentary gathering to make their point. but here is the reality. china's communist party doesn't want the pomp and pageantry spoilt by... ..by this country's dispossessed and marginalised. the thugs force us out and smash our cameras. before the start of the national people's congress this weekend, a major security operation is underway. while local officials work to stop petitioners reaching beijing, at the petitions office, where in theory their complaints and grievances can be lodged, hundreds of plain—clothed security guards now lie in wait to catch people and send them home. we meet two women who show us their petitions, one claiming that a well—connected company boss stole money from her,

the other trying to overturn an alleged miscarriage ofjustice. "we come here during the congress because there's a chance for to us meet upright officials", this woman says, "but instead we're treated as troublemakers, and threatened." the interview is abruptly stopped, although for now, at least, the women are free to leave. few petitioners ever succeed in getting justice. along with the persecution, it makes their faith in the system all the more remarkable. we are just a few blocks away from the people's congress, but the reality made plain here is very different indeed. for those who need political representation the most, this is a system marked by suspicion, surveillance and control. jon sudworth, bbc news, beijing.

farmers use them to optimise crop yields, delivery companies hope they'll soon play a large part in their operations. in ukraine, campaigners are using them to fight corruption, but drones are a controversial tactic, as tom burridge reports from kiev. we wa nt we want to show people that corruption kills. so, they film properties belonging to officials which they believe are disproportionate in size and value to the salary officials have throughout their career. and in this case they say the judge who lives

here hasn't declared the property under a new law. this house that costs about half $1 million, we don't believe that she made it in lawful way, that is why we film it, to ask questions. we have come to meet thejudge to ask questions. we have come to meet the judge campaigners are investigating. ever since pro—european protesters forced a president who was friends with russia from power there has been a massive push to reduce corruption in the ukraine and there is a consensus here that many of the decisions taken in the past byjudges were often swayed by money or personal interest. thisjudge often swayed by money or personal interest. this judge says she has never been involved in corruption and she claims all of her wealth is legitimate. and she argues she didn't need to declare the house filmed by campaigners because it belongs to her boyfriend. translation: being rich isn't a crime. i declared everything i had

according to the lord and i think the activists were intruding into my personal life. do you at least think that it personal life. do you at least think thatitis personal life. do you at least think that it is good that civil society is scrutinising the wealth of public officials like you? they have branded the entire judicial system with a black mark and i do not agree with a black mark and i do not agree with that. there are a lot of clever and experienced judges. simply dismissing everyone just wouldn't be right. so in ukraine thejudges dismissing everyone just wouldn't be right. so in ukraine the judges are being judged. so is this degree of scrutiny needed to his queen this country up? —— clean this country 7 it's been documenting some of britain's most important history for generations past and present, and this weekend the imperial war museum celebrates its 100th birthday. a new exhibition looking at people who have struggled for peace over the past 100 years will mark the event, as our correspondent robert hall explains. it is one of the world's most famous

institutions, aid and for school parties, historians, families, or simply the curious. conflict, shocks and fascinates us, this story began and fascinates us, this story began a few miles from here with a grand ceremony in a cathedral of glass. by the time george v open the imperial war museum the time george v open the imperial warmuseum in the time george v open the imperial war museum in its first home at the ill—fated crystal palace he already had 22 c. the museum had begun collecting exhibits while the battle of the first world war was still raging. from the outset the founders set out to involve the public. appeals printed in ration books brought a flood of personal memorabilia. the idea was initially that it was to be firstly a sort of memorial to the war, but primarily it was to cover people's experiences in the warand it was to cover people's experiences in the war and that meant it covered

everybody from front—line soldier to the munition factory worker to a civilian. the best way to illustrate how the imperial war museum has changed since the first collection was put together a century ago is to let what they hold today. there are 155,000 exhibits, those are the larger items either on display or held in store but there are well over 33 million documents, photographs and recordings, all of them helping to tell the stories around those exhibits. here we are in the cabinet room and that is churchill's chair. joy has shared her memories. now 91, she typed the plans for d—day here in winston churchill's bunker and she shook hands with world leaders with the conference wish to pay to the post—war future of europe. conference wish to pay to the post—war future of europelj conference wish to pay to the post-war future of europe. i think museums to a wonderfuljob and now that they are working like this one works, for instance, where everything is active and you can open doors and, you know, drop—down

and whatever you do, the whole place was a buzz when i came in. but reflecting the sad procession of complex still erupting around the globe and connecting with today's young people brings fresh challenges. the images of war and conflict that children see on hollywood movies or video games are very unusual in that, you know, they will have the spoke knowledge of individual weapons systems, they will think people can jump from a tank toa will think people can jump from a tank to a plane to an infantry officer and there is no understanding that that is not reality. in salford every day brings a chance to reflect on the reality of war. once an hour the museum is filled with the faces and voices of those lived through an experience we can only share at a distance. the story which began a century ago has no ending. the first lady, melania trump, has visited a new york city hospital to read to sick children for world book day.

she read from a copy of oh, the places you'll go! by dr seuss, which she said was one of her favourite books. alongside world book day it also happened to be the dr seuss‘s birthday. congratulations! today is your day. you're off to great places, you're off and away! how are you? nice to meet you, nice to meet you. thank you for coming. we appreciate it. great, i will let you lead the way. are they taking good care of you, nice nurses and stuff? what is your name? mary. hi, mary. are you feeling better? yes. staying strong? yes. that's good. and i hope you're all feeling well. i pray for you.

you are in my thoughts, and just get better very fast, ok? thank you. and happy reading day. you have brains in your head. you have feet in your shoes. you can steer yourself any directions you choose. and the white house press corps will remain alert and caffeinated — thanks to one of hollywood's biggest names. tom hanks sent an espresso maker to white house journalists in a show of support following donald trump's fierce criticism of "fa ke news". the actor sent a note that read: "keep up the good fight for truth, justice, and the american way. especially for the truth part." coming up injust a couple of minutes, all the latest business news in world business report. first a look at the weather where you are. hello.

the winter months were quite dry. the first week of march is trying to turn that around. on to turn that around. friday, rain moving north in m areas. on friday, rain moving north in most areas. it is looking unsettled on the weekend with wet weather. this is how friday is beginning. rain across southern england, south wales, edging to the midlands and east anglia. quite easy to the south and south—west of the uk. it is a fairly mild start to the day. and it will push through the west of wales and east anglia as we go on through the morning. it might be dry in northern england with early sunshine. parts of cumbria, into dumfries and galloway seeing rain, and hill snow, some on high ground wa ke and hill snow, some on high ground wake up to a covering of snow, although much of scotland waking dry with showers in the north, and a frosty start. we will take this rain, we will lift it northwards, it

will push across northern england, it will pivot and area of rain through northern ireland as well. scotla nd through northern ireland as well. scotland isn't faring badly. cloud in the south. the northern half has sunshine. it will be dry in the south—east in the afternoon. maybe reaching 13 or 1a in places. friday evening, rain moving northwards with heavy showers in parts of wales and western england in particular. and then we end on friday night with rain across northern ireland, southern and increasingly so eastern parts, just frosty northern scotland to begin, elsewhere, too much cloud and rain. the low pressure, further rainfall over the weekend. i am not saying it will be a washout everywhere. with low pressure close by, rain in scotland, and for some that could be around all day long. northern ireland looking wet, into scotla nd

northern ireland looking wet, into scotland and the central belt, further outbreaks of rain. really wet into eastern scotland, snow in the grampians and a cold wind. another area of rainfall moving into england with heavy showers following on behind. looks quiet in scotland and northern ireland on sunday and rainfall pushing into england and wales. rain at times this weekend. this is bbc world news. the headlines: the us attorney general, jeff sessions, has removed himself from any investigation into alleged russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. but he denies he's done anything wrong. the russian government says the syrian army, backed by russian air strikes, has completely retaken the city of palmyra from the islamic state group. the centrist french presidential candidate, emmanuel macron, has promised to boost the economy and fight corruption if he wins the forthcoming election. marine le pen of the national front is forecast to clinch the first round in april but mr macron is considered the favourite to win

a run—off vote. scientists in britain have created artificial embryos using two types of stem cells from mice, in what they say is a world first. the researchers at cambridge university say their artificial embryo could lead to better fertility treatments.