welcome to bbc news, broadcasting to viewers in north america and around the globe. i am duncan golestani. our top stories: a new wave of arrivals from north africa — italy warns the influx of migrants is unsustainable, as european ministers meet for crisis talks. iraqi specialforces recapture more territory from so called state. but thousands of civilians remain trapped in mosul. president trump is accused of inciting violence against the media after he tweets a spoof video of himself wrestling. and the milestone stephen hawking thought he would never reach. 75th birthday celebrations for the physicist who overcame disability to become a science legend. when i was diagnosed at 21, i was told it would kill me in two or three years — now, 5a years later, i am still working and producing scientific papers. hello.

french, german and italian interior ministers have been holding talks with senior eu officials in paris to work out a joint strategy for dealing with italy's growing migrant crisis. so far this year, more than 83,000 people have been rescued in the mediterranean and taken to italy while attempting to cross from libya. that's up almost 20% on last year. a source close to the talks told the afp news agency that the meeting was aimed at finding "a coordinated and concerted response to the migrant flux in the central mediterranean". italy said the talks went well but no other details have been released. 0ur correspondent rami ruhayem has been witnessing the relief effort that's underway

in the central mediterranean, and sent this report from sicily. no, no, no. leave it, leave it, leave it! rescuing migrants in the central mediterranean. a delicate task, even in fairly calm waters. no, go back! as the rubber boat deflates, people panic, and the rescuers lose control. go back, go back up! one man on this boat drowned. they come from across africa and asia, many fleeing extreme poverty and war. the boats leave from libya, a country that has descended into chaos and brutality. the fortunate ones can pay for wooden boats, but they too are overcrowded and dangerous. we're on a rescue ship run by the charity doctors without borders. so far they've taken more than 600 people on board, from three different boats, and there is another transfer

that is ongoing at the moment. most are men, but there are also women and children. all have risked their lives to make the dangerous crossing. khaled is among a group of syrians. he tells me he is fleeing war for the second time. 0thers tell us they are simply desperate for work. in morocco, nojobs, no. morocco is zero, morocco is zero. italy is good. europe, too, is good. charities began operating in the mediterranean after italy terminated its own search—and—rescue operation, which was replaced by eu missions with a bigger focus on anti—smuggling and border control. currently we are trapped in a situation that is very difficult, because we know we cannot

stop the rescues for the moment, because many people will die, while we know it's not a sustainable solution either. with sicily in sight, a sense of relief on board. but even as the un sounds the alarm over the unfolding crisis, the italian government is pressing the eu for help, and warning its ports may not remain open to the migrants. rami ruhayem, bbc news, palermo. iraqi special forces have recaptured more territory in the old city of mosul, in the final stages of the operation to drive out so—called islamic state. troops and police are now closing in from three sides on the militants, who captured the city three years ago. but iraqi commanders say thousands of civilians may be trapped behind is lines, as 0rla guerin reports now from mosul. safe at last from the dying days

of battle against is. traumatised civilians are fleeing with little more than the clothes they stand up in, some newly bereaved by the conflict. she weeps for her brother. "every day you ask me how i am," she says. "and we sit together". "now, my heart is burning". well, the civilians here havejust managed to escape the fighting. they're hungry and tired, and they looked scared. they've been caught between the two sides, at risk both from islamic state and the operation against them. but the troops here are being cautious. they want to make sure that no—one has emerged who could be a risk.

they are concerned that suicide bombers could be trying to come out in among the civilians. we're fine to carry the women and the kids out, but if it's a medical emergency, it's better if we have our paramedic. british volunteer sally becker is here with a medical charity. a veteran of war, she says nothing compares to mosul. actually, it's the worst. we've got the snipers. we've got the vehicle—borne explosives. people, suicide bombers, even women. even a woman yesterday, which makes it extremely dangerous now for us, because most of who we carry is women and children. doctors say they have been losing children to mortars and shrapnel. but soon, hundreds could die of hunger. they see dozens per day who are severely malnourished. much of the civilian suffering in here has gone unseen, but three years of is rule have deeply scarred mosul and its people. from this one street in the old city, is executed four men. "sometimes i worry they'll be back", she says. "when i hearfighting at night,

i hope i can forget them". a military victory looks close here, but there are fears about is sleeper cells, and about the future that may await this broken city. 0rla guerin, bbc news, mosul. donald trump's created another twitter storm and has been accused of inciting violence against the media, after he tweeted a spoof video showing him wrestling a man with a cnn logo super—imposed on his head. the us president's shown slamming a man to the ground and punching the logo on his head repeatedly. it's an altered version of an old appearance he made on a wrestling show. 0ne cnn contributor says the president will end up getting someone in the media killed.

joining me live, now, from montclair, newjersey, is isaac dovere, chief washington correspondent for politico. thank you forjoining us. first of all, i wonder how seriously this is being taken in the united states. well, it is being taken seriously by some, but not others. it raises the question of how we are supposed to interpret the tweets of donald trump. this is a serious statement from the president of the united states 7 from the president of the united states? is this what is going on in his head? this is a message that is putting out there for his followers and everybody else. 0n the other hand, republican defenders of whom have said they are just tweets. they just think that he puts out there and does not pay much attention to

them. —— defenders of him. one day they stay issued be taken seriously, it is how he gets his message out, and then the next day, they said i worry about it, it is just a tweet. away from leaders and media outlets who have condemned his tweets, how is this plane with his bass? and he has made a big deal about campaigning against the press and reporters all through his over two yea rs reporters all through his over two years is declaring his candidacy. —— his base. this is credit consequences. there are cnn reporters who during the campaign last year, given the threats made against them then, and his trashing of them in their speeches, had to hire security guards to defend them and to make sure they were not incidents at rallies. at his

rallies, it became a regular thing through his campaign that supporters would scream at the area where is reporters were, and for them all sorts of names. there was a constant issue threats to reporters. and i don't mean nasty e—mails, which is just a regular part of the game, now, but really in—depth threats that certain reporters have gotten. many of them are cnn reporters who end up being turned up against by the president doing what he does. we have to live there. fascinating as always. thank you forjoining us. let's take a look at some of the other stories making the news, now. 20 people are reported to have been killed in the syrian capital damascus by a car bomb that exploded north of the old city. syrian officials say the bomber

was in one of three cars that had been pursued. saudi arabia has said it will extend its deadline for qatar to meet its demands by 48 hours. the arab states' ultimatum includes shutting the broadcaster, al jazeera, and downgrading ties with iran. the foreign ministers from egypt, saudi arabia, the uae and bahrain are to meet in cairo to discuss the planned sanctions. -- the uae. following the devastating tower block fire in london last month, the uk government has identified a further 32 high rise buildings that have failed fire safety tests, taking the total number to 181. tests are continuing nationwide, in an attempt to identify buildings encased in cladding similar to that used on the grenfell tower. the french president, emmanuel macron, says he's determined to help eradicate terrorists in the sahel region of north africa. he was speaking at a security summit in mali, alongside the leaders of five countries in the region.

they're seeking support for a 5,000—strong regional force to combat islamist militants. thomas fessy reports. the french president, emmanuel macron, and his west african counterparts together to launch a regional force. mali, chad, niger, but also mauritania and burkina faso, will each provide 1,000 troops. france will support them with equipment and it will help them convince western countries to fund their operations. only the eu has so far pledged nearly $16 million, a fraction of the force's total cost, but france remains keen to see it deployed as soon as possible. translation: our enemies want only one thing — to destroy our civilisation. and they feed themselves on our weaknesses, the complexities

of our past, and our ineffectiveness as a collective. but together we can make the decision to proceed differently. to tell ourselves everything, whether it pleases us or not. to expect things of one another, because we believe that our future is in common. the regional force will face jihadi groups linked to al-qaeda, drug traffickers as well as smugglers of migrants bound for europe. this deployment is part of a huge security build—up in mali where a foreign military presence has dramatically increased in the last few years. french troops are seen here in mali. the us and germany are also operating in the region. the french may be here for the long haul, but they are hoping that they won't remain the only ones standing guard. stay with us on bbc news. plenty still to come, including

plans to restrict foreign fishing in british waters. the uk says it is pulling out of an international agreement. china marked its first day of rule in hong kong with a series of spectacular celebrations. a huge firework display was held in the former colony. the chinese president, jiang zemin, said unification was the start of a new era for hong kong. the world's first clone has been produced of an adult mammal. scientists in scotland have produced a sheep called dolly that was cloned in a laboratory using a cell of another sheep. for the first time in 20 years, russian and american spacecraft have docked in orbit at the start of a new era of cooperation in space. challenger powered past the bishop rock lighthouse at almost

50 knots, shattering a record that had stood for 34 years. and there was no hiding the sheer elation of richard branson and his crew. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: a new wave of arrivals from north africa, italy warns the influx of migrants is unsustainable as european ministers meet for crisis talks. president trump is accused of inciting violence against the media after he tweets a spoof video showing him hitting a man with a cnn logo super—imposed on his head. staying with the donald trump story and joining me live now from los angeles is trump supporter and political commentator charlotte laws. thank you forjoining us on bbc

world news. iwonder, are thank you forjoining us on bbc world news. i wonder, are you becoming slightly embarrassed by your president? he's really not any different now to how he's been all along. i don't personally support the tweets because i think he should act more presidential but i can tell you a lot of his supporters disagree with me and they feel he's being authentic, he is genuine, he's down—to—earth, and filtered, the same guy he was during the campaign, he is willing to speak his mind and he is willing to speak his mind and he is willing to speak his mind and he is talking directly to the people and not letting those in the media filter his comments or change his comments. a lot of people like what he's doing and if you go on twitter you'll see that particular tweet with the mock wrestling has received almost 400,000 likes and if you go down his page you'll see his other posts haven't received as many, so they must like it. i'm a too and i haven't changed my mind.

they must like it. i'm a too and i haven't changed my mindlj they must like it. i'm a too and i haven't changed my mind. i went on the twitter feed and i can see the comments saying the media deserves this, do you have any concerns about this, do you have any concerns about this insight in to violence some people have accused him of? -- incitement. i don't think people believe that, it's a joke, it's a fa ke believe that, it's a joke, it's a fake video celebrating trump's victory over fake media, fake video celebrating trump's victory overfake media, that's fake video celebrating trump's victory over fake media, that's what it is, akin to the three stooges or a cartoonlike road runner, that's the kind of thing it is. i think it is more fake news to say it is inciting violence, that's absurd, any rational person would say it's a joke and a way for him to get his message out that cnn has been reporting inaccurate and biased news with regards to him. charlotte, thank you very much forjoining us, charlotte laws, political commentator and trump supporter. the british government has announced it's withdrawing from a 50—year—old convention that allows five european

countries to fish in waters close to the uk coastline. it's described the move as a first step towards a new post brexit fishing policy but one of the countries affected, ireland, has called it unwelcome and unhelpful. our business correspondent joe lynam reports. as formal brexit talks set off, britain has said that it would be taking back control over who fishes in its waters. so it is quitting a 53—year—old convention which allowed countries like france and belgium to fish right up to the british coastline. we are giving notice that we intend to quit that. it's a provision in the agreement that enables us to do that with a two—year notice period. and this is important to give us the legal clarity. we're absolutely clear that, when we leave the eu, we leave the common fisheries policy, and we will take control for managing fisheries resources in oui’ own waters. so what is the london fisheries convention? at the moment, trawlers from france, belgium, netherlands, germany and ireland can fish to within six nautical miles

of the british coastline. boats from these countries catch 10,000 tons of fish in this area a year. but that is a fraction, just over 1%, of the 700,000 tons a year caught by british fishermen. the real haggling between brussels and london will be over this — the much wider 200 nautical miles of water around the uk. but the decision has angered the irish government, which has the only land border with britain. its fisheries minister described the move as unwelcome and unhelpful. and scrapping the convention could also be meaningless. michel barnier, the eu's chief brexit negotiator, said in a tweet that the london convention had been superseded by eu rules covered by the common fisheries policy. but fishermen welcomed the government's action. what it does is make a strong commitment to achieving sovereignty over our. . . taking sovereignty over our waters, which international law states is ours at the moment of brexit.

and this is just another statement of intent that that will be what happens. so while some have welcomed the government's claim that it's taking back control, they may not get their ultimate wish. fisheries is a tiny part of britain's economy, and could be used as a bargaining chip in the frosty talks between britain and the eu. joe lynam, bbc news. stephen hawking is not only one of the world's greatest physicists, he's also spent most of his life struggling with the affects of motor neurone disease. professor hawking's been marking his 75th birthday with a lecture at cambridge university. he's been talking to our science correspondent pallab ghosh. when i was diagnosed at 21, i was told it would kill me in two or three years. now, 54 years later, albeit weaker and in a wheelchair, i'm still working and producing scientific papers. today, stephen hawking celebrates his 75th birthday.

but it's been a great struggle, which i have got through only with a lot of help from my family, colleagues and friends. at an event at cambridge university to pay tribute to his life, he was applauded for his scientific achievements. the legacy will be the scientists that he inspired. and there will be thousands of them, and they're still being inspired today. so there will be ten—year—olds today, or eight—year—olds, who are reading about stephen, and reading about the work that he did, and may go on to be the next einstein. hello, professor hawking. in an exclusive interview with bbc news, professor hawking told me that he was worried about the future of our species. what are your views on president trump's decision to withdraw from the paris climate agreement, and what impact do you think that'll have on the future of the planet? we are close to the tipping point

where global warming becomes irreversible. trump's action could push the earth over the brink, to become like venus, with a temperature of 250 degrees and raining sulfuric acid. stephen hawking has three children. his daughter lucy says his life is an inspiration, and not just to scientists. people who've lived in really extreme circumstances seem to find something very, very inspirational in his example of perseverance and persistence, and his kind of ability to rise above his suffering, and still want to communicate at a higher level. # happy birthday to you... his ideas have transformed our understanding of the cosmos. but what is also being celebrated is his determination and humanity. pallab ghosh, bbc news, cambridge.

the two—time wimbledon champion petra kvitova has spoken of her fear that she would never play tennis again after being attacked in her home six months ago. suffering serious injuries to her left hand, she faced a gruelling fight to regain her fitness and will be competing at wimbledon, which gets under way on monday. 0ur sports correspondent david 0rnstein has been to meet her. she's a two—time wimbledon champion whose life was turned upside down. just days before christmas, petra kvitova was attacked in her own home by an intruder with a knife. her recovery has been remarkable. i presume you're not drinking from it yet? she suffered careerthreatening injuries to her playing hand. but the scars, physical

and mental, remain. i had all my fingers cut, so it was a difficult time for me. the lowest point, it's tough to say... i mean, of course, i had some bad dreams afterwards. i couldn't sleep well. i was still a bit tired from everything that happened, emotionally. i was very empty. of course i had bad thought that i would never play tennis again. kvitova underwent an emergency operation lasting almost four hours, but still faced an anxious wait over the outcome. i was worried to see my hand after taking the band off for the first time. it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be. is it right then you still can't fully close your hand? that's right. which can't be easy for a tennis player? on the other hand i'm lucky i'm playing tennis, not playing badminton or whatever where the grip is much smaller. this

was describing my situation... by march kvitova was able to hold iraq it again and two months later she even made it to the french open. and one that the wimbledon was always her target. she prepared by winning in birmingham and now incredibly she's being tipped by many for the title. i'm not here to win it. i'm happy already. david 0rnstein, bbc news, wimbledon. eu ministers have been holding talks in paris to work out a joint strategy to deal with italy's growing migrant crisis. so far this year 84,000 people have been rescued in the mediterranean and taking to italy. the government says the current wave of migrants is unsustainable. —— taken to. that's it. stay with us on bbc news. hello.

the weekend was something of a mixed bag across the greater part of scotland and northern ireland, but once we get into england and wales, at times it really did look as glorious as that. can we keep it up for the next few days? well, there will be some sunshine in our forecast. as early as tuesday, some areas will be seeing some significant rainfall, and then later in the week it will turn a wee bit hot and humid from the south. now, as i say, the weekend was something of a mixed bag, especially so in the western side of scotland, and into the first part of monday, i think we'll find some of those conditions slumping into the western side of england, through wales too. not a cold start here, 14 or 15, but with clearer skies across scotland and northern ireland, some of the temperatures may even be getting close to single figures. but under the influence of that front, it will be a damp old start across parts of the south—west, coming up into parts of wales. further east, enough cloud for there to be the odd spot of rain, not amounting to much at all. many of you will start the day dry and bright for scotland and northern

ireland. what an improvement on the dayjust gone. still, a speckling of showers, if not longer spells of rain, getting up towards shetland and through the north end of the 0rkney isles. but as we get on through the morning, into the afternoon, so some of that rain willjust tend to fade away across the far south—west, and indeed in the far north—east. we mayjust pick up one or two sharp showers in the east midlands, east anglia, maybe down into the south—east. just a chance of one or two of those getting down into the wimbledon area, as we turn on the heat. elsewhere, 16 to about 19 or 20 covers it. then, as we push that frontal system away, it rather links back, in fact, to a new development for tuesday out in the atlantic. now, i say tuesday, but as early as monday evening i think we'll see the first signs of that rain just beginning to pile its way into northern ireland, and then extending its influence into the southern part of scotland, the north of england, and by tuesday afternoon some of that rain mayjust be getting down towards anglesey and on towards the northern

shores of wales. to the south of it, i think there will be, with some sunshine, a little bit of heat. 24, 25 degrees further north. despite the sunshine, 13—16 will probablyjust about cover it. out of tuesday and on into wednesday, so those fronts will have quit the scene, although there will be a legacy of cloud across the borders area of scotland, the far north of england, to the south of that, the heat will be beginning to build up, feeling quite close and humid, and that mayjust spawn one or two thundery showers as we get on through thursday. a little bit of uncertainty about this, but i think generally those temperatures are on the up by midweek. this is bbc news. the headlines: eu ministers have been holding talks in paris to work out a joint strategy for dealing with italy's growing migrant crisis. so far this year more than 83,000 people have been rescued in the mediterranean and taken to italy. the government in rome says the current wave of migrants is unsustainable. iraqi special forces say they've recaptured more territory from the so—called islamic state.

troops and police are now closing in from three sides on the militants, who captured the city three years ago. iraqi commanders say thousands of civilians may be trapped behind is lines. president trump has been accused of inciting attacks againstjournalists after he tweeted a spoof video of himself assaulting a man with a cnn logo superimposed on his head. mr trump regularly accuses cnn and other critical media outlets of broadcasting what he calls "fake news." now on bbc news, the week in parliament.