a very warm welcome to bbc news, broadcasting to our viewers in north america and around the globe. my name's mike embley. our top stories: accusations of ethnic cleansing in south sudan. the un blames government forces and their militia allies, warning the country is approaching genocide. fire tears through a government—run care home in guatemala, killing at least 20 teenage girls. the congress demands an immediate investigation. dressed as doctors, gunmen storm a kabul hospital. at least 30 people are dead. the extremist group, the so—called islamic state, admits responsibility. australian police warn fans ofjustin bieber, as they charge a man they say is a sexual predator who posed as the singer online. hello.

a united nations report has described south sudan as edging closer to genocide. the un commission on human rights accuses government forces and militia allied to them of ethnically—motivated attacks on civilians, using the civil war as a smokescreen. the government in south sudan denies it is carrying out ethnic cleansing. this report from our africa correspondent alistair leithead, who's been to the southwestern town of yei. crying the grief of a mother. the death of a son. she'd travelled through the night when she'd heard what happened. isaac's body was found dumped in the river, his ankles tied, a metal wire tight around his neck. translation: my son was fishing and saw the body. i don't know who did

it or why they did it. does this happen a lot? translation: it happens. government forces are in charge of yei town. the civil war recently spread to this part of the country where different ethnic groups peacefully lived side by side. we're just a short drive from the centre of yei town, but this is pretty much the limit of where the army forces are prepared to go on foot because the rebels control areas just up the road. houses and buildings in this deserted neighbourhood have been burned. the soldiers blame wildfires or accidents. it's our mandate to make sure civilians are safe. it might be the rule, but it's not the reality, or at least not the reality we heard from those who would talk, we're protecting their identities.

even my neighbour there... this man's sister was assaulted by three soldiers. who raped her? the soldier. government soldiers, yeah. she's sure that they're government soldiers? yeah. is this happening a lot in yei? yeah, it is a lot. rape is there, killing is there... another witness described ten young men being dragged out of their family homes, chained together and then shot one by one. this woman was attacked in her house by soldiers in uniform. he took this here iron, he started to beat me. he beat me here. it was painful. he was going to beat me on my head, but i put my hands like that. i thought was going to rape me.

i said he could do what he want. i pray to god. even though both sides in this war have been implicated in atrocities, these allegations were all against government forces. "there's no killing or raping", said the senior commander, "any soldier who does is arrested. "the only people we fight are the rebels", he said. "this is when the killing occurs. the survivors then claim civilians were killed by the army, but we don't kill our own civilians in our own country. " so there are no renegade troops? no troops, at — not a single case? no. but still, people are leaving yei. in eight months, half a million people have fled the country rather than live here under the army. everywhere you go in this area, it's the same, villages that have been abandoned. people have closed up and taken what they can with them. hundreds of thousands of people have crossed from here into uganda. others in the bush

because of the fighting. everywhere, village after village. and there's a deeply disturbing ethnic element underlying the deaths, that people are being killed because of their ethnicity. that's why the un has warned this could end in genocide. alastair leithead, bbc news, yei, south sudan. let's wrap up some of the other news: the trial of samsung's boss jay y lee starts in a few hours. he's accused of paying bribes to gain political support. it's alleged samsung paid more than $37 million to south korea's president park geun—hye in exchange for the government's support on a big merger. the company admits donating money but denies seeking any favours in return. authorities in peru are struggling to cope with flash floods that have hit an area south of the capital lima. there'd been severe drought beforehand. the river matagente burst its banks, forcing thousands to leave their homes. floods have already killed 43 people across 2a regions, prompting the government to declare a state of emergency for 60 days last month.

the veteran french rocker johnny hallyday is being treated for cancer, but has said in a twitter message his life is not in danger and he's in good physical condition. he's 73, and often described as the french elvis. a magazine article has described his condition as giving serious concern. a fire at a government—run care home in guatemala has killed at least 20 teenage girls. many others were injured. it's not clear what caused the fire, but there are reports suggesting it may have been started deliberately. the home shelters about 500 children who've been victims of violence. caroline davies reports. desperate for an service. desperate for their children. families gathered outside the gates of the macro to shelter, a care home in guatemala, after teenage girls that we re

guatemala, after teenage girls that were killed in a fire that razed through the building. —— of the virgen de asuncion shelter. translation: they haven't given us explanation and they will not let us go in. police were called to a right here last night. the bay started after somebody set fire to a mattress in one of the dormitories. although this is a children's home, it is thought that it was doubling up it is thought that it was doubling up as it is thought that it was doubling upasa it is thought that it was doubling up as a juvenile detention centre. it has caused shock and guatemala, and three days of national mourning have been declared. translation: we treasure life. we are the ones most interested in guaranteeing the light of adolescence. unfortunately, today, at about 9am, a tragic accident occurred that we very much lament. as well as those killed, the police department said tens of people were killed, some in a series condition. —— tens of people were injured, some ina

—— tens of people were injured, some in a serious condition. the home was thought to be hugely overcrowded. there were not enough staff. we know that there were cases of abuse. that is why we have been advocating for the closure of the shelter. as the rubble is cleared an investigation continues, families and a country wait for some explanation. caroline davies, bbc news. officials in afghanistan have confirmed at least 30 people died in an attack on the country's largest military hospital, in the capital, kabul. four men, at least one wearing a suicide jacket. the islamic state group says it carried out the attack. it is the first time is fighters have engaged with the afghan security forces in the capital. it suggests the group is changing tactics in afghanistan. rebecca zimmerman is a policy researcher at the rand corporation think—tank, who's spent time in afghanistan working on reform of the government's security forces.

i asked her whether the attack on the hospital marked a new low in the conflict. it is not unusual for the islamic state in afghanistan to attempt something that is shocking. but i think even for this group, it reaches really a new level, to pose as medical professionals and to come in and to kill the sick and wounded. it is shocking, even amongst a group thatis it is shocking, even amongst a group that is known for the headings of ethnic minorities in afghanistan. the first time i think islamic state fighters have engage directly with afg ha n fighters have engage directly with afghan security forces in the capital, doesn't suggest eu a major change in tactics? it could. it is difficult to know now. it is also possible that it is the result of something happening in terms of partnerships between different organisations. —— to you a major. what we are seeing is a shift in

personnel. it is too early to know. but it is a new revolution in what we have come to understand from the islamic state, there. would you think the chances are of the afghanistan think the chances are of the afg ha nista n force think the chances are of the afghanistan force is getting a grip on this. study suggested today that the war was lost. i think it is difficult at this point to see the afg ha n difficult at this point to see the afghan security forces being able to achieve what we might think of as a clear win. that does not mean that they won't be able to ensure that territorial —— the territorial integrity of most parts of afghanistan, which is important. but without some continued handholding, some continued help, it is hard to see that they would be able to really maintain security in the whole of the country. apart from a clear win, surely a military hospital in the capital, they must have expected it to be a target. i use a price security was not that?

perhaps, but again, i am use a price security was not that? perhaps, but again, iam not sure they would have expected it to be a target. —— i use surprised. we have not seen this specifically in this country. it has happened in other countries, but it has been a race against as in afghanistan. more likely, you see the police headquarters attacked, or one of the army headquarters buildings attacked. that is more of what i think the country was prepared for. police in australia are warning fans ofjustin bieber and their parents to be wary of people posing as the singer online to solicit pornographic images. they've been investigating a man from queensland, now charged with more than 900 child sex offences. it's alleged he posed asjustin bieber on social media. i spoke our correspondent hywel griffith in sydney a short time ago. the police tell us that this man, they allege, for some ten years or so, he had used the internet in

order to try to groom children globally online. he did that, we believe, by posing asjustin bieber. and it police believe he then enticed children to send explicit images of themselves to him. they claimed that his computer was filled with thousands of indecent images, and he is now charged with over 900, 931, in fact, and he is now charged with over 900, 93i, infact, offences. some of those serious, great offences, including rape. therefore, the suggestion that he was able to make physical contact, potentially, with some of these victims. of course, a lot of children are pretty suspicious of things that seem fake online. the police suggesting this isa online. the police suggesting this is a widespread problem? they are certainly warning parents of children and the young fans themselves for the need to be extra vigilant, they say, about people online pretending to be one thing

and infact online pretending to be one thing and in fact being something different. they are suggesting that it also shows the lengths that some child sex offenders will go to and how sophisticated in some cases their operations are. this person was using social media. they suggested he was using skype, to give indications platform, as well. facebook. therefore using multiple different media in order to make contact. and therefore, their message is for people to train children in online safety, to be very aware that clearly someone suggesting they are one thing can be something very different. more to come more to come on bbc news, including those. how barcelona credit history in the mls and shattered the dreams of champions, psg. —— in the champions league. the number of dead and wounded defied belief.

the worst atrocity on european soil in modern times. in less than 2a hours the soviet union lost an elderly sikh leader and replaced in with a dynamic figure 20 years hisjunior. we heard these gunshots. then they started firing at hearts and we were all petrified. james earl ray sentenced to 99 years and due for parole when he is 90. he travelled to nashville prison in an eight car convoy. what did feel like to be married at last? it feels fine, thank you. will it change your life much? i don't know, i've never been married before. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: a un report says south sudan is close is close to genocide.

both sides are using the civil war as a smokescreen for ethnic cleansing. congress in guatemala has demanded an immediate investigation into the cause of a fire that killed at least 20 teenage girls at a government—run home. the central intelligence agency has accused wikileaks of endangering americans by publishing what the website says are top—secret hacking tools used by the agency. the cia has not confirmed the authenticity of the documents but has said the public should be deeply troubled by such disclosures. during the election campaign mr trump frequently said he loved wikileaks. his spokesman sean spicer it used wikileaks of threatening national security. i think is very concerned about the allegation that are out there in terms of what may or not have happened. it is allegation and something we aren't going to confirm at this time, but as you can imagine from the president's previous comments he is extremely concerned

about this, about these allegations, about this, about these allegations, about the potential that something, if this were true, would have on our national security. make no mistake about it, i think the president has talked before that anyone who leaks classified information will be held to the highest degree of law. tensions still are high between malaysia and north korea. the two nations have banned each other‘s citizens from leaving their countries. malaysia's prime minister says lines of communication are still open, for the moment, despite the killing of kim jong—nam, half—brother of the north korean leader. the nerve agent vx, a weapon of mass destruction, was smeared across his face at kuala lumpur airport. the bbc‘s sharanjit leyl is in the malaysian capital. here at the korean embassy in kuala lumpur, the security and media presence remains. the prime minister of malaysia is striking a somewhat

more conciliatory tone with the north koreans, despite the diplomatic tensions that have arisen since the death of kim jong—nam half brother of north korea's lead. he says that the magic relations will remain. he is also faced with the prospect of trying to seek the release of the ii malaysians who remain in pyongyang, unable to leave. north korea has also come under scrutiny at the united nations in new york, where china, its closest ally, is saying that no action should be taken against it until the investigation into kim jong—nam's death is complete. the malaysian authorities have a number of north korean suspects for —— suspect they think are behind it, three of whom are possibly taking refuge behind the walls of this embassy. 0f refuge behind the walls of this embassy. of course the plot thickens but in the meantime citizens on both sides remain stranded, caught in a diplomatic crossfire, unable to

return home. with explosive population growth and weak governance, nigeria struggles to cope with its growing pollution problem. for years, the country imported so—called dirty fuels to fill up its cars and power its generators. but now the government is going to introduce a ban this summer to reduce air pollution. as our nigeria correspondent martin patience reports, it's a surprise move, but could be a turning point. you can see it, you can smell it and you can even taste it. lagos is wheezing on dirty fuels and spare a thought for the hawkers who self macs in the traffic. —— sell snacks. 0ne one of the biggest causes of air pollution here isn'tjust the sheer

volume of cars, it is the fuel that people put in their tanks. the fuel that people buy here can have 300 times as much sulphur as what is legally allowed in europe. but nigeria is cleaning up its act. by this summer, dirty fuels will be bound. i we breeding it in our? you can feel the dirty air. especially in lagos. campaigners say the ban is a big breakthrough. it will send a strong signal to... that the government means business. 0nce strong signal to... that the government means business. once the government means business. once the government wants to regain trust of the people, it is for the government to champion this kind of revelation that puts the interests of the people as a priority. but even with this band, experts say much more needs to be done to prevent a health crisis. we are looking at an

epidemic of respiratory problems and cardiovascular problems and an epidemic of chronic lung diseases, like emphysema and all of that, which we may not be able to handle with the present health system we have. dirty fuel is cheap, but if the ban is successful it could go a long way in cleaning up nigeria's air. and that will save a lot more than money. the trump administration is moving quickly to drain the american economy and its workforce of immigrant labour and foreign workers. notjust those who are illegal, but also those who have permission to work. tens of thousands of indians are employed in the us on short term professional visas, most in it. now, indian tech firms are worried what the clampdown might mean for business back home. 0ur south asia correspondent, justin rowlatt reports. she graduated from a top us university. she's worked as a software engineer for microsoft and facebook.

but ridi mattel isn't sure she would be welcome in america any more. i can't believe engineers like me are being pushed out of the us today. it's really unfortunate. president trump has made no bones about his intentions. we will bring back ourjobs. we will bring back our borders. we will bring back our wealth. and we will bring back our dreams. and the fear is that will affect india's dream of a growing it sector. there has been talk of cutting back the 150,000 temporary work visas the us issues to professionals like computer programmers every year. india is overwhelmingly the biggest beneficiary of those visas, it gets 70% of the total. a key reason why the indian it sector is now worth $150 billion a year.

that's almost 10% of india's entire gdp. yet rudi mattel is not worried. her bangalore—based online finance business is thriving. she thinks fewer us visas will be good for her and good for india. now i couldn't be happier. we're developing. we're going to grow exponentially over the next decade. there's just a confluence of macro factors and trends which is going to be wonderful for here and we need smart people here.

the indian government's small business and tech champion acknowledges there will be costs in india if visas are restricted, but he also believes india's it sector is strong enough to survive and grow. india is growing at 7.6% per annum. it's an oasis of growth in the midst of a very barren economic landscape. but when these people come here, india will probably start growing at 9—10% per annum. so no issue at all. we welcome people, but the loser will be america in this case. india increasingly offers all the amenities of california, including craft ale. that makes it more likely the visa clamp—down will backfire. indian it professionals who return are more likely to stay, and to develop businesses that will compete with us companies. justin rowlatt, bbc news, bangalore.

barcelona staged possibly the greatest comeback in the history of european football to beat paris saint—germain and qualify for the quarter—finals of the champions league. psg had a seemingly insurmountable 4—0 lead from the first leg, but in an extraordinary night at the camp nou, barcelona won 5—1 to go through 6—5 on aggregate. marc edwards reports. and night of unbridled emotion. they we re and night of unbridled emotion. they were calling it ‘the comeback‘, while the rest of the world simply thought it would be mission impossible. no team had ever come back from a 4—0 first leg deficit to wina back from a 4—0 first leg deficit to win a european cup tie, and yet as the dust the camp moo celebrations continued at barcelona. the giants are through to the quarter—finals of the champions league after knocking out paris saint—germain on ordinary night. 3—0 up after 50 minutes and

belief coursing through barcelona‘s veins all seems lost when psg made it 3-1 veins all seems lost when psg made it 3—1 on the night. le parisien the seemingly home and dry. and with two minutes left on the clock three goals were still needed. —— the christians. in arguably the craziest seven minutes ever witnessed in european football. first neymar dent ina european football. first neymar dent in a freekick, then converted a dubious penalty before complete pandemonium as sergio roberto wrote his name into the barca history books. so an incredible 6—5 aggregate victory and against all the odds barcelona into the last eight of the champions league for a 10th year in a row. an amazing night. much more northern use any time on the bbc website. you can reach me and most of the team on twitter. thanks for watching. good morning.

yesterday was a funny old day. it was mild for some of us, but not that much in the way of sunshine. favoured spots were northern ireland and northern england. a beautiful weather watchers picture sent in from york, with the daffodils shining brightly. and despite the crocus full bloom, though, in the south—east corner, there was quite a lot of cloud around. despite this, temperatures peaked at 15 degrees, so it was a mild, albeit dull, day. and at times there were showery outbreaks of rain. thick enough from this cloud across southern england. showers continuing up into the far north and they will continue through the night tonight. at the same time our weather front to the south slowly drifts up into the near continent, but it takes its time in doing so. so all that basically means that we keep the cloud, and we keep some drizzle to the south of the m4 corridor. some poor visibility, some coastal and some hill fog.

a few sharp showers continuing into the far north of scotland. here it will be chilly enough for a touch of snow to the tops of the mountains, but mild down into the south. but we start off on a drab, dull, damp note again across the isles of scilly and the foot of cornwall. here it‘s likely to stay disappointing all day. there will be a little bit of cloud around the south, but that should start to break up as we go through the day. largely dry with some sunshine through much of wales and central and northern england. a beautiful morning into northern ireland as well. a scattering of showers continue into scotland first thing in the morning. some of these showers should ease off a touch into the afternoon, but still driven along by that brisk breeze here. further south, the cloud will continue to break up, we‘ll see some sunshine coming through. just cornwall may stay disappointing, along with the channel isles. some showery bits and pieces of rain. but temperatures responding with the sunshine. a beautiful spring day for many. 9—15 degrees. one or two could see highs of 16 degrees,

that‘s 61 fahrenheit. as we go through thursday night into friday, eastern areas could see a touch of light frost under clearer skies. at the same time the cloud gathers out to the west. a change to come as we move into friday. still a southerly breeze. it‘s still going to be mild, but some showery outbreaks of rain and more cloud crossing the country. 7—13 the high. now, the real change will come into the weekend. we lose that southerly flow and the winds swing round more to a westerly. isobars are squeezing together. the breeze will drive in cooler air. so a noticeable difference into the weekend. there will be sunshine. rain at times. not all doom and gloom, but it will feel just that little bit cooler. take care.