weather spreading from west to east, later on on tuesday. an unsubtle glut of things. stage and for the forecast. ‘s is in the news. in iraq and apparent chemical attack on east mosul has left 12 people including children injured. as many more remain trapped in the conflict, a trapped commander of so—called islamic state says using human shields is justified. as islamic state says using human shields isjustified. as members of the northern ireland assembly are elected it seems sinn fein and the dup will remain the largest parties. police search them home of a man associated with recent threats to a number ofjewish associated with recent threats to a number of jewish centres. associated with recent threats to a number ofjewish centres. and are we there yet? this is the scene streamed live from animal adventure park in new york state for april the

de graaf to finally give birth. —— april the de graaf. welcome to the programme. 12 iraqi civilians have been injured in what appears to have been a chemical weapons attack in the city of mosul. two shells were fired into the government held east of the city from the islamic state controlled west, releasing a fouls then gas. iii—year—old boy suffered severe burns and blistering. the international committee of the red cross has condemned the apparent use of chemical weapons but it hasn't actually identified what type they were. this comes as thousands of civilians continue to escape the embattled city. in bbc interview, a senior ias commander recently ca ptu red senior ias commander recently captured by a it iraqi forces, has justified the practice of using

so—called human shields. next to the rubble of most will‘s bombed out university, a new campus has been built. a refugee camp on the 30,000 people. it was only opened 2000 —— two days ago, but aid agencies say it will be full within agencies say it will be full within a week. for these people freedom of sorts, after almost three years under the rule of so—called islamic state. there are thought to be 750,000 civilians state. there are thought to be 750 , 000 civilians trapped state. there are thought to be 750,000 civilians trapped inside westernmost soul, under siege without food or water and in fear of their lives, some have managed to escape. it is one of the worst crises in the last decade. if you can see around you, if you talk to people, you cannot deny this. fighting is still heavy but government troops say they are easing islamic state's grip on most

will. its last major stronghold in iraq. with ias threatening to kill those who leave the city, and relentless shelling from the government side, escape is not easy. this family was inside western part of the city this morning and as they escaped there was fighting going on inside their house. two members of the security forces that feat freedom were killed and according to the civilians, many more have been kept by so—called islamic state as human shields. this man tries to defend the practice of using human shields. he has admitted sending suicide bombers including boys to attack cities. he spoke to the bbc in a rare interview. translation: anyone who was in danger hides himself behind others.

it is like if you'd are drowning you may drag someone it is like if you'd are drowning you may drag someone down with you, even a member of your family. may drag someone down with you, even a member of yourfamily. in order to survive people do anything they can evenif survive people do anything they can even if it means using humans as shields. that warped logic is rejected by this man. having escaped mosul with his family of six and surviving the now for in a cold refugee camp. translation: under iis, having a sim ca rd translation: under iis, having a sim card for a phone or a woman refusing to cover her face, could mean certain death. my kids have not been to school for three years and we lived in constant fear of upsetting the islamists. islamic state may be facing imminent defeat in most soul, but the scars run imminently deep for those who suffered at their hands. results are being declared in the northern ireland assembly election with a big increase in turnout. with

over 50 seats declared so far, early results indicate both sinn fein and the dup are polling strongly. the election was called after sinn fein withdrew from the power—sharing executive in january. withdrew from the power—sharing executive injanuary. let's cross live to speak to the bbc‘s anita mcveigh who is in belfast. what's the story so far? hello. the four votes for the fall belfast constituencies are being counted. the turnout has been one of the big stories of the day so far. remember there was an election here in northern ireland just ten months ago, last may. and yet voter turnout is up by10% ago, last may. and yet voter turnout is up by 10% this time round. in

some constituencies that turnout was up some constituencies that turnout was up by some constituencies that turnout was up by as much as i3%, so the electorate is really invigorated, certainly not put off by the second election in less than a year. let me just give you an indication of where we are. nudging towards two thirds of the seats being declared. 53 out of the seats being declared. 53 out of 90s declared. topping the poll at the moment is sinn fein with 23. that is the republican party, sinn fein, who would like to see a united ireland. then it is the democratic unionist party, they are on 14. the ulster unionist party have seven, in one of the dramatic turns to this day so far their leader mike nesbitt said he would be standing down because of his party's performance in these elections. he had appealed to people to vote across traditional community lines and transfer their votes to other parties who he said

would bring about change in northern ireland politics. but it doesn't look like were going to get change, is the bottom line, because it looks like sinn fein and the dup will still be the largest parties and a number of the smaller ones have collected around nine seats between them. we are seeing an increasingly polarised electorate. remind us why these elections are so important. these elections are so important because they are about the future of devolved government in northern ireland. in the past, we have had direct rule from westminster and thatis direct rule from westminster and that is one of the possible options on the table if, when the members of the assembly elected this weekend, when they return to stormont, the seat of the devolved government on monday, to begin a process of negotiations, they have three weeks to try to work out a number of

long—running and deep—seated issues in northern ireland politics, and at the end of that elects a first minister and deputy first minister. i don't think anyone would put money on that happening in such a short time frame. if they don't manage to do that by the 27th of march, one of the options open to the northern ireland secretary, james brokenshire, is to impose rule from westminster, though that would require an act of parliament. he could also call another election, he could also call another election, he could suspend this set the assembly, or he could try to create some breathing space to give the politicians more time to work out a deal. take you back to january when the assembly collapsed, the final straw as it were was a row over a renewable heating scheme, a botched renewable heating scheme, a botched renewable heating scheme, but that was just the final straw made a huge deterioration in the ratio between

the two main parties in northern ireland. so it is looking very tricky as we look ahead to the beginning of the new week, and those three weeks of negotiations, to see how in three weeks' time of devolved government could be up and running again. thank you very much forbidding that into context and monitoring those results. human remains of infants and children have been uncovered as a former home for unwed mothers and babies in ireland. forensics scientists say they have identified significant quantities of human remains, including those of babies. excavations have been underway at the site. digging began after a government commission was set up in response to claims about the deaths of nearly 800 infants between 1925 and 1961. authorities say the remains found appeared to date from

that time. this news is very disturbing and will touch everyone's heart. there we re will touch everyone's heart. there were of course strong suspicions about burials of this kind for some time. it was one of the reasons for setting up the commission in the first place. the information i have received confirms these suspicions and importantly they trace the remains specifically to the period of the homes operation rather than to earlier times in our history, such as during the famine. let's turn to the united states where of 31—year—old man has been arrested and charged with making at least eight bomb threats against jewish centres. prosecutors said he was also charged with cyberstalking his former girlfriend. police have been searching his house. federal officials are also investigating bomb threats made against daily 100 organisations and three dozen states. our reporter in new york

reports. prosecutors allege that once he broke up with his girlfriend is when he started the con campaign of harassment. he made phone calls of harassment. he made phone calls of harassment. he made phone calls of harassment to several places in her name and in his name, showing that she was trying to frame him. some of the e—mails were horrific in nature, he's ahead she wanted to kill as many jewish nature, he's ahead she wanted to kill as manyjewish people as soon as possible. he said she wanted to create another new town. police have now arrested him and charged him with cyberstalking in relation to these incidents. now a lot more is coming out about who this man was. a former online left—leaning publication says he was a job

journalist with them and was fired because he fabricated stories and stores is. if you go to his twitter feed, there were several times where he referred to his ex—girlfriend trying to frame him. again, part of the story he created that investigators have now said he used asa campaign investigators have now said he used as a campaign of harassment against his ex. they are also trying to work out 100 threats tojewish community centres. there is an allegation that he could be behind these as well. we know for example that police in missouri are now questioning him in regards to the secretary there, the historic cemetery where 200 historic jewish tombstones were vandalised. we haven't been told he is necessarily a suspect but we know he is being questioned. they are seeing if there are any other ties or clues that would lead came to some of the other incidents. officials have been

very swift in their condemnation of this. the us attorney general says whatever the motivation, this is an american. jewish groups have been meeting with the fbi in washington about this, head of the charges that this meeting was planned, they said the fbi assured them that all of these threats would be fully investigated and they would look to make more arrests. but certainly in this polarised political environment, these threads that have increased recently, that thejewish committee is concerned about. now some of the day's other news. the former haitian president has died at the age of 7a. he is the only democratically lead elected leader in haiti's history to serve two full terms. his second term will

be remembered for the earthquake. the american man who was shot while trying to intervene in a deadly gun attack has been invited to visit india. he has been praised as a hero by indians. he was shot in the hand and chest when he intervened. turkish president has accused germany of aiding and harbouring terror. he claims a german journalist was a german agent and a member of the kurdish armed groups the pkk. people have condemned the arrest of the german journalist as an assault of. mr fields of another blow on friday

with his spokesman resigning and political party withdrawing its support. this is latest fallout over allegations that he paid man's of his family for jobs they allegations that he paid man's of his family forjobs they did not do. a p pa re ntly his family forjobs they did not do. apparently the turnout at sunday's bradley will be critical in the success of his campaign going forward. it is part of the bigger thick picture. is notjust him, it's many others. many others have deserted the sinking ship is how they would see it in the last couple of days. we have seen this lament building, a haemorrhaging of support, to the point where we feel the situation is fluid, it could all change. he is clamouring clinging by

his fingernails to his candidacy. he has a big meeting on sunday in paris. he has called his supporters to come there from all over the country, to meet him opposite the eiffel tower where he will give a big speech and he hopes prove he has the bedrock of cepeda support of right—wing voters across the country. that may be the crunch. if there is a big turnout and broad support he may survive. but no one knows what will happen. all you can say is that the pressure is building against him, and the other option in the party is taking greater shape. stay with us on bbc world news. lots more to come, including... russia echoes president trump in describing the calls forjeff sessions to resign as a witchhunt. first the plates slid gently off the

tables. then the tables crashed downwards. then the ferry lurched onto its side. the americans had successfully tested a weapon whose explosive force dwarf that of a bomb dropped on hiroshima. the constitutional rights of these marchers are their rights as citizens of the us and they should be protected even in the right to test them out so they don't get their heads broken and sent to hospital. this willjust construe controversy, i know you don't want to talk about it, but don't you worry about it boiling up?” to talk about it, but don't you worry about it boiling up? i think anything will be all right in the end. welcome to bbc world news today. our

latest headlines... as the battle for mosul continues thousands of civilians escape as iraqi coalition forces try to defeat so—called islamic state. and results are coming in as the first members of the northern ireland assembly are elected. it seems the dup and sinn fein will remain the largest parties. let's turn to the united states. donald trump is calling this a witchhunt but the pressure on america's top law officer continues to build. he says he will step down from an fbi investigation from an alleged fbi into. it is said he lied under oath in failing to declare he met russia's ambassador twice during the campaign. at the centre of the latest

allegations of contact between the trump administration and russia, the attorney generaljeff sessions. at his confirmation hearing, he'd failed to tell the senate about two meetings with the russian ambassador. senior democrats accuse him of lying under oath. president trump says he still has his full confidence. jeff sessions has resisted pressure to resign, but he has now removed himself from any investigations looking into the election campaign, including allegations of russian interference. the reason i believed i should recuse myself is because i was involved in the campaign. to a degree, i think it would have been perceived but i wouldn't have been objective in participating in an investigation that might involve the campaign. i did not confirm or deny any investigation. i just felt like i should clear the air. senatorjeff sessions! but he's denied he did anything wrong, and describes what's been said about his meeting with the ambassador as unfair and hyped beyond reason. president trump has come to his defence, tweeting: jeff sessions is an honest man.

the real story is all the illegal leaks of classified and other information. it is a total witch—hunt. this is russia's ambassador to the us, sergey kislyak. it's a post he is held for almost a decade. there has been a furious response from russia to allegations in some us news reports that he is a spy. the foreign ministry describing it as a media provocation and a stunning charge. and when russia's foreign minister was asked today about the continuing controversy over his ambassador meeting jeff sessions, his reply echoed words president trump had used earlier. translation: i can only quote the phrase that has appeared in the media today. saying that all this closely resembles a witch—hunt. or times of mccarthyism, which we thought had long passed in a civilised country like the us. but more contacts have emerged. mr trump's son—in—law and senior adviser, jared kushner, was with michael flynn, who has since been sacked as national security adviser,

when he met ambassador kislyak after the election. daniel boettcher, bbc news. let's get a full update of all the sports news with lizzie. england set west indies a target of 297 to win the first one—day and international in antigua. after a shaky start the captain hitan in antigua. after a shaky start the captain hit an impressive century. ben stokes also showed why is he is so expensive. in reply the west indies started badly. they steadied things but have had a terrible last couple of overs. they are now two to 4-8. couple of overs. they are now two to 4—8. baby 73 from six overs. andy murray is through to the final of the dubai championship. the scot beat lucas pouille in straight sets. he will play a spaniard in the final. murray has a superb record

over vasco winning 12 of their previous 13 meetings. british boxers david hay and tony bell you have weighed in ahead of their fight. they have had aggressive verbal clashes in the build—up. earlier they were warned about their conduct. tony is stepping up from cruiserweight to heavyweight the first time. his opponent is almost a stone heavier than him. he is prepared and ready to perform for a two—hour flight. he should prepared and ready to perform for a two—hourflight. he should never prepared and ready to perform for a two—hour flight. he should never be that weight. he isn't really a heavyweight. not in a million years. athletically he looks fantastic. when you get close to him he is

trembling. he doesn't. .. when you get close to him he is trembling. he doesn't... he's not as confident and he doesn't believe the things he's saying. look at him, he's actually trembling. things he's saying. look at him, he's actually tremblinglj things he's saying. look at him, he's actually trembling. i was hoping he would look more physically impressive. i was hoping i would see some residents of some abdominal muscles, but he looked very smooth. he did not look good in my opinion. i've knocked out guys who are bigger, stronger, more athletic. i don't see what he can do other than get smashed pretty quick. don't see what he can do other than get smashed pretty quickm don't see what he can do other than get smashed pretty quick. it is the opening day of the indoor athletics championships in serbia. britain took gold in the 60 metres hurdles, in seven point point something seconds. i knew it was tight. i thought i'd got it but i wasn't

sure. i was over the moon. i had to work hard to get back after a slow start. a win is a win. i'm really happy. the second round of the world golf championship in mexico is underway. it is one of two events now played outside the united states. here is the leaderboard. england lose leads the way on eight under. one man had to change his caddie because his long—standing caddie because his long—standing caddie had food poisoning. he's doing well in the second round. that is all the sport. the british graffiti artist bank c has opened a hotel in the world of

hotel is metres from the west bank. it has been described as the hotel with the worst view in the world. that is obviously a statement from bank c. we are still waiting for april the de graaf to give birth. i'm sure you want is an update! the pregnant giraffe who is true any minute but isn't giving birth just yet is in new york state. april has become an internet sensation. these are live images from animal adventure park zoo. the managers there decided to set up this live strea m there decided to set up this live stream which we can see now. i think thatis stream which we can see now. i think that is oliver, the dad, in the background, because they wanted this to be an educational experience. they feel confident that april will be fine and well as and when she finally decides to give birth, in front of around 20 million viewers.

good luck, april! if you are heading over to new york this weekend it is set to be cold, temperatures just above freezing by day and by night it will be widespread frost. at least there should be some sunshine but it will be very cold. some warm air across the south, temperatures set to rise across the weekend but still cold air across the pacific northwest. an incredible winter here, so much snow. more areas of low pressure a re here, so much snow. more areas of low pressure are likely to bring further rain, sleet and snow to seattle, vancouver, and some heavy thundery downpours for northern california. into sunday the temperatures rise across central and southern areas. cold in the north—east and the north—west. into

africa, the monsoon rains have been particularly intense. there have been reports of flooding in zimbabwe. in the north—east of madagascar, there is the potential ofa madagascar, there is the potential of a tropical cyclone developing full stop it could potentially develop into a powerful one in next week. it could bring damaging winds and heavy flooding rain. we will keep you up—to—date. into europe, we have a big story developing. extremely heavy snow in the forecast, in the pyrenees and especially the alps, with heavy rain and strong winds. it will affect much of the western mediterranean. low pressure being driven in an powerful jet will low pressure being driven in an powerfuljet will bring wet low pressure being driven in an powerful jet will bring wet weather to portugal and spain and then the wet weather will move across france bringing heavy snow to the alps. 50 toa bringing heavy snow to the alps. 50 to a hundred centimetres in places.

blizzard, or white out conditions for awhile on saturday. probably some disruption in that part of the world. the avalanche risk will be high. temperatures ahead of this will be quite warm across eastern europe. the next weather system will push in on sunday, bringing wreck and windy weather. another system moving in late on tuesday will bring more snow here. keep up—to—date with this forecast. for the weekend across the uk there will be one rain at times on saturday and sunday. on saturday, rain spreading northwards and snow on the high ground over scotland. a little brightness might move into wales and the midlands, but the emphasis is on clouds, mild in the south, chilly and the north. hello.

this is bbc news. the headlines: 14,000 111,000 civilians have left mosul in the last one to four hours, as iraqi coalition forces try to defeat so—called islamic state —— the last 24 so—called islamic state —— the last 2a hours. results are coming in as diverse members of the new northern ireland assembly are elected it seems the dup and sinn fein will remain the largest parties —— results are coming in as new members. prosecutors said thatjuan thompson was also charged with cyber his girlfriend. the main centre—right candidate in the french