the latest headlines from bbc news. i'm lebo diseko. violence has broken out in the paraguayan capital, asuncion, after senators meeting behind closed doors backed a bill to amend the country's constitution to allow president horacio cartes to stand for a second term. reports say opponents of the change set fire to the congress building. the attorney general of venezuela has broken ranks with president nicolas maduro to condemn a supreme court ruling that stripped the opposition—led congress of its powers. luisa ortega expressed great concern, describing the court ruling as a rupture of the constitutional order in the country. the white house says president trump is not worried about what his former aide might reveal if he talks to investigators examining ties to the kremlin. former national security advsier michael flynn is seeking immunity from prosecution before testifying. mr trump says the inquest is a witch hunt. the head of the nhs in england has admitted that it can't meet one of its key targets, giving people routine operations, such as hip and knee replacements, within 18 weeks of being referred by their gp.

simon stevens, who set out his priorities for the health service today, said it was part of the trade off for improvements in other areas, like cancer care. he's been speaking to our health editor, hugh pym. the nhs serves patients from cradle to grave, but there are difficult choices, and the message today is that it offers high quality care in many areas, but something has to give, and that's waiting lists for routine surgery, for patients like christine. she waited 22 weeks for a heart bypass operation, longer than nhs england's 18—week target. it's caused her a lot of anxiety and she's decided to go private. the sword of damocles hanging over my head, because i couldn't plan my life. i couldn't say categorically "i'm going to be able to do something". i feel i am getting not worse, but more tired. the head of nhs england explained his immediate priorities, including a&e and cancer care, to health staff today,

but waiting lists for routine operations will, for a while, get longer. might more patients be waiting longer and might they be very disappointed with this? we need to fix the most urgent problems first. i think most people can see that ensuring that our a&es and gp services are able to properly look after people across the country has got to be the top priority. and then, having done that, we want to be able to also ensure that we are meeting the waiting times guarantees. but that's worried some medical leaders, who say longer waits for operations can be dangerous. we know that people occasionally die on waiting lists, waiting for heart surgery. the longer you wait, the more the likelihood that will happen. this health centre,

where mr stevens was today, provides a whole range of services and treatments to patients. there's also a dentist and pharmacist as well as gp practices. the idea is to treat as many people as possible away from hospitals. he wants to see more of this sort of thing around the country, but that will take time. it will also take time to improve the nation's health, but they're starting young here at schools in lancashire. children run a mile a day, with the nhs promoting the initiative. we know that we want to change things for the future generation. 50,70 years‘ time, we don't want people dying in their 50s and 60s of heart disease we can prevent. and we want to tackle some of the major stuff we're seeing around diabetes. so we've built a fantastic partnership with the schools, here, and we are teaching children to be really active. all that's for the future. for now, a key question is whether the nhs budget is fit for purpose. more money would make a difference? there's no doubt that with the extra money the nhs has got, we should be able to bring about the improvements we're

setting out today. obviously, decisions for the future are for the future. today, we're talking about the practical steps that we want to bring about. in other words, we're doing what we can with the money available, but asking for more at some stage is not being ruled out. hugh pym, bbc news. now its time for our world. mosul, iraq's second city, home to over a million people and the scene of the greatest victory of the so—called islamic state. allahu akbar. in just four days, is fighters managed to seize this entire city. it was a national disaster for iraq and declared the start of the self—styled islamic state. almost three years later and mosul has once again become a battleground. the iraqi forces have regrouped and are now fighting back. street by street they are moving closer to capturing the city, but the threat of is remains. i am bbcjournalist bashir al—zaidi,

born and raised in mosul. today i am returning home. i want to find out what life is like in the city and how people have coped with the past two—and—a—half years. and the question, whether the iraqi military that collapsed only a few years ago can really bring lasting security to the city? it has been over ten years since my last visit. i grew up on these streets with my 11 brothers and sisters. it's a weird feeling to come back here after all these years. my hometown is now

effectively split into two. i am in the east, which was recaptured a few months ago, butjust across the river in the west fighting continues. it's quite different. it's quite difficult. there's no house. that's my primary school. it's like... i couldn't sleep last night really. i was just feeling this moment. it looks quite strange. most of the buildings in the centre of the city are damaged. it is clear that anybody who still lives here doesn't feel safe enough to come out.

this is me on the left with my oldest friend karim. growing up we were inseparable, but staying in touch whilst he lived under is was nigh on impossible. i am here to pay him a surprise visit. i have no hair, i lost my hair. hello. for the first time i meet his kids and it soon becomes clear this family didn't escape the violence. and karim also tells me everything that has happened. to hear my best friend tell me

he initially welcomed the idea of overthrowing the government is a real shock, but his support was short lived. for the past two years, karim has been living in fear. his own life has been in danger. walking home one evening, he was stopped here at the checkpoint.

like so many people here, karim's experience of living under is has changed his life for ever. this man and his son say anyone who had the choice has already fled.

hearing how desperate living conditions became under is, i wonder, what has happened to my childhood home? so the house is occupied by a university teacher. they feel nervous talking to the camera, but they told me what happened in this street in the past couple of years. actually i was also surprised to hear what they told me. there were many is families here on this street. it's an eerie feeling to know many of the houses in my old street were occupied by is militants. ali is the only person i recognise here. in this city of over a million people it seems everyone‘s lives has been altered by is. the mosul i remember

is very different. every spring would bring coachloads of tourists. the city was full of life. but now mosul is effectively divided in two. the eastern half has been recaptured with a fierce battle raging for control of the west. thousands on both sides are queueing to leave. this is the outskirts of the east. these men are waiting in line to obtain security clearances that give them the freedom of movement. the government says it is important that everyone clears their name. sitting on the side of the road is 18—year—old salah and his only child. he hasjust arrived here with some of the families.

they are tired and hungry. salah says they have used all their savings and life has become unbearable. security is a top priority but the task of stabilising mosul after is won't be easy. there was deep anger aimed at the government before is arrived. protesters came out onto the streets and the army and police force were accused of corruption, sectarianism and abuse. the mostly sunni city had come to hate the practices

of a shia—dominated army. by the time is entered mosul the anger had reached its peak. the big challenge now is to restore security without reigniting sectarian tensions. today we have joined these agents from the iraqi national security service. they are about to raid addresses all across mosul. their aim is to root out is sleeper cells that have launched attacks across the city. the plan is to arrest nine suspects in multiple locations. as we enter the first neighbourhood, everything looks very familiar. incredibly we have arrived on another street i grew up in as a child.

my friend's house was here. and we were sitting there when we played. and this was our football pitch. we had to seek shelter on the pavement whenever there was a car coming. now i hearfrom children they do not go out that much because of the drones from is. i suddenly recognise one of the families. farah says the christian families living on the street fled when is arrived. his family also had to move for their own safety. is have been using small drones to drop big grenades on both security forces and civilians.

although the damage is usually quite small, there is a lasting psychological impact. it is not long before the iraqi intelligence agents track down their first suspect. shouting. the agents learn there are more men in the house. three suspects are rounded up at this address, including a teenager.

a warning shot. it seems in this area everyone is treated with suspicion. in total, the agents arrest six men. they wouldn't provide us with details of their crimes but told us it took months to build enough evidence to justify a raid. it is difficult for me to see the people of mosul become used to violence on their doorsteps. it seems like every street in my hometown has its own story of brutality. but restoring safety won't be easy. today the army is all too aware of its past reputation. i am taking a tour of the city

with a field marshal in charge of recaptured areas in mosul. the recapture of mosul has helped to restore some of the army's reputation. the field marshal says he is relying on this goodwill for the future of the city's security. a lot is riding on this new—found goodwill towards the army

and police, but i wonder how long it will last. many people across the city are too scared to talk openly about their experiences and views. one family who want to speak out are friends from my time at university. omar and his mother aliya have invited me for breakfast. omar might be concerned about the future, but there is one thing that brings him hope. we are on our way to pick up his two daughters from school. like so many parents he refused to allow is to educate his children, so this is the girls‘ first week back in school and they are pretty excited about it.

this is overwhelming, it is really overwhelming to see. to see the kids are smiling, it is the end of the school day for the girls and the boys. so they seem jubilant. it could be a special moment for the kids here because normal life maybe is back again for them. a kind of quietness, it is something new for them, it is a new start. the whole neighbourhood seems energised by the school's reopening. i finally meet malak, omar‘s ten—year—old daughter. for the past week i have come to understand the relief

of being free from is and the new challenges my hometown faces. my friends omar and karim might be uncertain about what is ahead, but seeing these young girls back in school i know there is at least some hope for the future. lots of varied weather. this weekend, april showers on saturday. a dry sunday with high—pressure building across the uk. saturday morning, in western parts of the uk,

persistent rain before easing into the afternoon. elsewhere showers developing with hail and thunder. some sunny moments in between and quite pleasant if you get sunshine between those showers. look at the difference on sunday. no showers, some cloud, some sunshine and it will be pleasant in light winds. what ever you are doing this weekend, have a good weekend and you can find the forecast wherever you are online. welcome to bbc news, broadcasting at home and around the globe. my name is lebo diseko. our top stories: violent protests in paraguay, as senators vote in secret to allow the president to stand for a second term. venezuela's president maduro under pressure — a top government official condemns a court ruling side—lining congress.

the white house says donald trump is not worried about possible revelations on russia from former adviser, michael flynn. and we have a special report from china, as the country brings to an end centuries of ivory trading.