welcome to bbc news, broadcasting to viewers in north america and around the globe. my name is mike embley. our top stories — changing his story. president trump says he decided to fire the fbi boss even before getting advice from the justice department. i was going to fire him. it was my decision. eight arctic governments call for urgent action to tackle climate change but the us says it won't be rushed on policy. kidnapped by boko haram, freed in a prisoner swap but the nigerian schoolgirls still aren't allowed to meet their families. and remember the ‘love locks' of paris? thousands are now being auctioned to raise money for charity. hello.

donald trump has now said he would have fired the head of the fbi, james comey, even if thejustice department hadn't recommended it. that contradicts the original reasons given by mr trump and his officials. and in his first interview since the news broke the president also seemed to draw a clear connection between the sacking and the fbi‘s investigation into links between the trump campaign and russia, though he still insists "this russia thing" is "a made—up story." tim willcox reports. 48 hours after the sacking, and the narrative keeps on changing. this presidential handshake was not an act of friendship at the beginning of the end for the fbi director. he isa of the end for the fbi director. he is a showboat, a grandstand... and it was not on the advice of the deputy attorney general. the white house had claimed that. this was directly from the president. i was

going to fire comey. it was my decision. i was going to fire comey. yesterday, the white house claimed james comey had no support within the fbi. the rank-and-file of the fbi had lost confidence in their director. not so, said acting fbi detect director andrew mckay but before the senate intelligence committee. i can tell you that i hold that make director comey in the absolute highest regard. i have the highest respect to his considerable abilities and his integrity. i can tell you also that director comey enjoyed broad support within the fbi. and still does, to this day. the heart of this row concerns the alleged collusion between the time campaign and russia. the president insists he is in the clear. i said if it is possible, will you let me know, am i under investigation? he said you are not under

investigation. but, with or without james comey, the investigation continues. live to washington and our correspondent laura bicker. so, laura, more confusion and more contradiction. we have more abuse of mr comey, you defence of mr comey but the investigation clearly goes on. it does and i think it is clear to the fbi when it comes to the acting head, he made it clear to the senate intelligence committee today that the fbi‘s investigation will continue and the senate intelligence committee has made it clear that there investigation will continue. when it comes to whether or not russia colluded with the trump campaign to meddle with the us election, presidential election, then the investigations will go on. but the problem for the white house is this continuing contradiction. on the one hand we had from the spokeswoman yesterday and i told you

yesterday that the reason donald trump days for firing director comey was a report written by the deputy attorney general. well, it turns out that that really was not the reason either. it was donald trump who had made his mind up way before that report was ever written. donald trump has today contradicted his own white house staff. therein lies the problem because as director comey pointed out last night in his farewell letter to staff, he is within his rights. the president is within his rights. the president is within his rights to sack the fbi director. the problems of the white house since then have been trying to get them message as to why the fbi director was sacked now, correct. this is a clip released a little later from nbc. the president said this... regardless of recommendation, i was going to fire him, knowing there was no good time to do it. and, in fact, when i decided tojust do to do it. and, in fact, when i decided to just do it i said to myself, i said,

decided to just do it i said to myself, isaid, you know, this russia seeing is a made up story, it is an excuse by the democrats are having lost an election. now, laura, there are analysts looking at that and saying that appears to be an admission of obstruction ofjustice, obstructing an fbi investigation. we cannot make a judgement, obviously. at the least the president is making a connection between the sacking and the fbi‘s rusher investigation. a connection between the sacking and the fbi's rusher investigation. and since that clip was released democrats are coming forward looking at backward which was a made up story. russia is a made up story. when it comes to that line, donald trump has made it very clear in many interviews that he believes that the idea that his campaign colluded with russia is a hoax and fake news. he wa nts a russia is a hoax and fake news. he wants a push to one side. in the same interview he contradicts himself because he said he won since investigation done properly and speeded up. even within the same

interview and the same few minutes, in fact, he contradicts himself. does he want the investigation done properly or does he believe it is made up news? that is something that the president is yet to clear up in this interview. this will clearly run. thank you very much. let's take a look at some of the other stories making the news. one of south africa's top universities, stellenbosch, has suspended three students suspected of putting up nazi—style posters around the campus. the university has condemned the material, but critics say it highlights how apartheid—era attitudes are still alive. three women have appeared in court in london charged with terrorism offences and conspiracy to murder. it's believed to be the first alleged all—female jihadist plot in britain. one of the women was shot during the operation to arrest them last month. thousands of venezuelans have marched in the capital, caracas, to show their respect for one of the two men killed in protests on wednesday. the crowd walked from the 26—year—old's school to the place where he was shot during the anti—government protests. around 40 people have died since protests began nearly six weeks ago.

foreign ministers from nations with territory in the arctic circle have signed an agreement accepting the need to tackle climate change. the fairbanks declaration at the end of the arctic council meeting in alaska accepts that activities in the council's eight member states are the main contributors to rising temperatures but it does not commit the us to implementing the 2015 paris deal on reducing emissions. our north america correspondent james cook reports from alaska. the frozen north is melting. it is springtime in alaska and the winter rice is beginning to break up. the villagers here on the bering sea say the floor is coming earlier. summers are longer and the ice is thinner. here, climate change is not a theory. the ice was sicker when i was younger, up to eight feet thick.

since he was born, this man has gazed at it the ocean. now he works with local tribes, trying to maintain old traditions in a new world. we are witnessing a disappearance of the chromosphere. ice. we are witnessing its disappearance in many parts where it occurred in all its forms. permafrost, ocean ice. the process appears to be exhilarating. the more ice melts, the less sunlight is reflected in the quicker the world warms. halfway across alaska at a meeting of the climate council, climate is the big issue. as delegates around the arctic ever hearin delegates around the arctic ever hear in the pristine wilderness for a summit the conversations have been dominated by one topic, what does president trump think about climate change? what is america's policy? in the end, the us tojoin the

change? what is america's policy? in the end, the us to join the other nations in accepting the urgent need to tackle global warming by reducing emissions. but for how long? we are currently reviewing several important policies in the united states including how the trump administration will approach the issue of climate change. we are appreciative that each of you has an important point of view. and you should know that we are taking the time to understand your concerns. we are not going to rest to make a decision, we are going to work to make the right decision for the united states. at the top of the list of those concerns is the prospect that the united states may withdraw from the landmark paris agreement to cut pollution. withdraw from the landmark paris agreement to cut pollutionlj withdraw from the landmark paris agreement to cut pollution. i hope that they will stay in and, of course, if the us was not part of it it isa course, if the us was not part of it it is a serious setback. and, so, all eyes remain on the united states. because while climate change sceptics are at the fringes of

science, they are at the of the us government. last saturday 82 girls were released by the islamist militant group boko haram three years after they were kidnapped at gunpoint from their school in northern nigeria. but they have yet to be reunited with theirfamilies. another 21 girls released last october by the militants are still in government custody. our correspondent alistair leithead has spoken to the father of one of the girls. he reports from yola in north—east nigeria. the chibok girls are now young women and getting used to being freed from their boko haram captors. after being kidnapped by the islamists, they spent three years in the forest and are now a little overwhelmed by their new surroundings and by all the attention. the yakubu nkeke is the families representative, we met him in north—eastern nigeria, heading back to chibok. he saw the girls and has the job of identifying all of them. among the 82 released was his daughter. when i first saw her, shejumped and grabbed for me. i hold her hands, started

dancing around with her. he'll show the families his pictures and prepare for their big reunion. the girls told him life was hard under boko haram, sometimes there was no food. there are some of them who had been given in marriage but, according to them, it's not forceful. what do you think about the boko haram fighters who kidnapped your girls? oh, boko haram fighters, personally now, i would forgive them. iforgive them. young and impressionable, some may have fallen for the captors. it is not just the have fallen for the captors. it is notjust thejoint have fallen for the captors. it is not just the joint and 76 have fallen for the captors. it is notjust the joint and 76 girls and theirfamilies who notjust the joint and 76 girls and their families who have notjust the joint and 76 girls and theirfamilies who have been affected. dashmac —— it's notjust the 276 chibok girls and their families who've been affected. here, in north—eastern nigeria, thousands of other women and girls have been kidnapped by boko haram. most of those rescued have been left deeply traumatised and there's

a real stigma associated with anyone who's lived under boko haram. that is tearing apart communities. these are the girls who were rescued last year who have been kept under the supervision of security services for over six months. they seem healthy and some families just want them home. others believe they are better off in the capital. the pa rents better off in the capital. the parents agree that we did not compel anybody that your child must be here. it is difficult for the families waiting for news. we showed the samuel family video footage of the samuel family video footage of the released girls. they were looking for theirfare, hoping the released girls. they were looking for their fare, hoping to catch a glimpse. sarah, sadly, is still being held. but with negotiations still going on, there is hope that she will soon be released. stay with us on bbc news — still to come... bangkok's legendary street food gets a last—minute reprieve. city

authorities say the roadside stalls can stay for now. the pope was shot, the pope will live. that was the essence of the appalling news from rome this afternoon, that, as an italian television commentator put it, terrorism has come to the vatican. the man they called the butcher of lyon, klaus barbie, went on trial today in the french town where he was the gestapo chief in the second world war. winnie mandela never looked like a woman just sentenced to six years injail. the judge told mrs mandela there was no indication she felt even the slightest remorse. the chinese government has called for an all—out effort to help the victims of a powerful earthquake, the worst to hit the country for 30 years. the computer deep blue has tonight triumphed over the world chess champion, gary kasparov. it is the first time a machine has defeated a reigning world champion in a classical chess match. america's first legal same—sex marriages have been taking place in massachusetts. god bless america! this is bbc news.

glad to have you with us. the latest headlines: president trump has changed his explanation about why he fired the director of the fbi, james comey. he said he'd already decided to sack him before receiving advice from thejustice department. foreign ministers from the eight arctic states have ended their meeting in alaska with a pledge for action to tackle global warming, but the us says it will not be rushed over its policy on climate change. and we will look further into the latest twists in the trump—russia issue. todd gitlin is professor of journalism and sociology. he is also chair of the phd programme in communications at columbia university. hejoins me now from hillsdale in upstate new york.

we should be straight about this. the president is absolutely entitled to fire the director of the fbi for any reason whatsoever. for donald trump and his supporters, this is the democrats looking for excuses as to why they lost the election. this man needs to be surrounded by adulation. he cannot abide what he ta kes to adulation. he cannot abide what he takes to be disloyalty. he thought james comey was disloyal, along with sally yates and others. general flynn. there will be others. he needed a commitment from james comey. apparently james comey needed a commitment from james comey. apparentlyjames comey was invited to the white house previously. donald trump wanted to say, let me show you how big my

thing is. and can i count on you? comey said "not in the political sense." donald trump needs slaveish obedience. we don't know whether thatis obedience. we don't know whether that is true. people at the side of james comey said he denied absolutely that donald trump was not under investigation. yet a president is entitled, a leader, is entitled to expect loyalty, isn't it? loyalty, yes, adulation, no, slaveish loyalty, no. this is, after all, a democracy. this is a democracy where a leader courts adulation. he is trying to make up his mind on rational grounds. how much more will we find out? two

associates of the former sacked national security adviser, and james comey will give testimony to the committee next week. it is difficult to hold someone to account who contradicts almost everything he says. yeah. a man who does not know when he is lying, who cannot be told, in his own mind, cannot be held responsible for what he has said before. were closer to the beginning of this story than the end, i think. beginning of this story than the end, ithink. i beginning of this story than the end, i think. i think the subpoenas are interesting. the gathering of the senate committee, the investigations committee, is very interesting. mrs comey is apparently going to appear before them. the new acting director of the fbi has assured the committee that comey

supported the fbi, contrary to what donald trump said. there are so many loose ends here. how they will unravel, i have no idea. but this is not any closer to resolution than it was at the beginning of last week. thank you very much, professor. you are very welcome. germany will elect its next chancellor this september. angela merkel is hoping to win a fourth term. a regional election this sunday could give a clue as to how likely that is. ms merkel‘s party is hoping to win the state of north rhine—westphalia from the main opposition party. jenny hill reports from there. fanfare. not a vote cast yet, but there is something of the victory march in angela merkel‘s step. it is actually yea rs march in angela merkel‘s step. it is actually years since the party got victory polls suggest that might be about to change. never has a german regional election been considered so

important. angela merkel hopes her party ca n important. angela merkel hopes her party can take back this state. she has a strong chance of taking the country again. but first, she must persuade this town, in this country. translation: i think she really will be chancellor again. she is very self—assured, libel, and calm. and she is a woman. i like that. —— reliable. she promised too much. too many of the wrong people came into the country to be she did not deliver. one man stands between angela merkel and victory. martin schulz‘s arrival on the political scene gave his party a boost in the polls. but even here, in spd country, the so—called schulz effect is wearing off. translation: country, the so—called schulz effect is wearing off. translatiosz approval ratings will only stabilise

once he declares what he will do. —— his. in the eyes of his voters, that has not happened yet to be we need a clear programme for what will happen in the electorate. that includes a powerful industrial lobby. the next chancellor of germany will need the support of the industries. translation: we need to cut bureaucracy. we need a modern education system. we need support for businesses in the digital future. and we need better infrastructure in this region. angela merkel may seem reluctant to ta ke angela merkel may seem reluctant to take the battle here, but make no mistake this woman once german voters to dance to her tune. jenny hill, bbc news. apologies for the slipup. you might

have noticed, they are not yet elected mayor. if you've been to bangkok, you'll know the street food is a major attraction. many view the stalls as a key part of the city's traditional character. the authorities had wanted the street vendors removed, unless they meet strict hygeine standards. but after protests, the legendary roadside cooks have been given a reprieve. jonathan head reports. we have come down to yarrawat road in bangkok's chinatown, one of the most famous places to eat street food in the city. the very cream of the cuisine which bangkok is a famous for. i've got with me almost the ideal companion. chawadee nualkhair writes a blog and has been following its development and trying out the street food here for many years. first of all, why is the street so important for this kind of food? well, the chinese first brought street food to thailand. we didn't have it before they came. the kinds of food they brought, soup, noodles, fried rice, duck, are the kinds of dishes that have changed thai food forever

and are still served along the road today. that's a classic thai dish, isn't it? yes. a classic thai chinese dish. it has everything you could hope for. delicious and big prawns. how is the first taste? mmm... i love that. this is the best seafood sauce in the world. i love it. ultimately what we are fighting about is our vision of future bangkok, right? because, now, ifeel the future is something very dry. they are going against the grain of the city? they are going against the grain of the city and the culture too. as much as we complain about the clutter and chaos,

this is what defines us. this street food is thai culture. it would be a shame to get rid of street food. the problem is, if they do get rid of it, even from most of the city, you lose a big part of the culture, where everybody ate the street food. it was like a common ground for everybody and that will be gone. you are hungry now, aren't you? you may remember the so—called "love locks" of paris. they were the metal padlocks attached to a bridge near the louvre. eventually, the authorities decided they were an eyesore and had them removed.

now, some of them are going up for sale, with all proceeds going to charity. the bbc‘s tim allman has more. they call paris the city of love, a place of romance and desire. and one way you could express your passion was by fixing a padlock to this ridge, bring the key into the river seine, a public display of love. but the powers that be had little love in their souls and removed them. now they will be auctioned as souvenirs and art. it is both playful and intimate because there are stories behind these locks. personalised messages, names, marriage proposals. it remains personal and beautiful. it remains personal and beautiful. it is basically street art. some of the smaller pieces are expected to

fetch anything up to 200 euros. a whole section of railing could go for 10,000. all of the money will go to charities helping migrants in paris. translation: we did not exactly know what to do with the locks we did not want to throw them away, not even give them away, because they have important symbolic value. couples from all over the world come to paris. they came to celebrate their love in paris. love and paris, a bond that will never be unlocked. tim allman, bbc news. that is a lot of locks. much more on that and all of the news, national and international, on the website. you can also find me and most of the

tea m you can also find me and most of the team on twitter. i am mike embley. thank you for watching. hello. now, i haven't used this particular sphere for quite some time. and for some parts of the british isles through thursday there was no need. looking almost tropical here on the coast. to the south—west of england, yes, a wet sphere very much the order of the day. and, for that, you had to thank an area of low pressure throwing more cloud and rain ever further north across some parts of the british isles. you may have noticed this in the south of england and wales. an increasingly humid feel. and it's that change of regime into the first part of friday that will become increasingly dominant, certainly across the southern half of the british isles. stepping out first thing, 10—13, where a wee while ago it was 3—5. further north, a fresher feel about proceedings. details about the journey to work or school run. 12—13 degrees quite widely across southern counties. a rather grey start to the day. not too much in the way of sunshine.

and a speckling of showers even at this stage. come a little bit further north, a better chance of seeing sunshine across the north of england, getting up into the western side of scotland. some rain to be had there quite widely across northern ireland. and i make this distinction in scotland between the west and east. out towards the east, there'll be a lot of low cloud and it will be around for a good part of the day. and it's notjust eastern scotland, it's the north—east of england too. with an onshore breeze, cloud sitting low in the atmosphere. an onshore breeze keeping it cold through the day. further south, some heat comes through. showers turning quite sharp. maybe the odd rumble of thunder. no such fears in the east of scotland or the north—east of england. nine or 10 degrees.

leaden skies. through the course of the weekend, sunny spells, and some showers and spells of rain. eventually things will turn a bit fresher as we switch the breezes coming in from the atlantic, rather than from the continent. saturday sees much of the disturbed weather in the north—west of england, central and southern scotland. further south, an isolated shower. but quite a bit of dry weather. saturday night into sunday, we swing this area of cloud and rain right across the british isles. it'll be across eastern parts for the first part of sunday. this is where we import the fresh air, across the british isles. once that is away, once again, a day of sunny spells and some really sharp showers. this is bbc news — the headlines: president trump has denied sacking the fbi director because of his investigation into alleged russian links to his election campaign, saying mr comey was a "grandstander" who had left the fbi in turmoil. changing his earlier story, mr trump said he had made the decision to fire james comey alone. foreign ministers of the eight countries with territory

in the arctic circle have agreed on the need for urgent global action to reduce greenhouse gases. however, the us secretary of state, rex tillerson told the ministers, meeting in alaska, that his country would not rush to make a decision. one of south africa's top universities, stellenbosch, has suspended three students suspected of putting up nazi—style posters around the campus. the university has condemned the material, but critics say it highlights how apartheid—era attitudes are still alive. now on bbc news, hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk, from dublin.