this is bbc news. i'm duncan golestani. our top stories: president trump says a republican memo alleging the fbi abused its surveillance powers shows the agency is biased against him. i think it's a disgrace what's happening in our country and when you look at that and you see that and so many other things, what's going on, a lot of people should be ashamed of themselves. anger in court. the father of three girls abused by the doctor of the american gymnastics team is held back during the sentencing hearing. abandoned in a mountain blizzard. how one syrian refugee survived after being left for dead by smugglers. is this what the fans really, really want? rumours of a meet we first meet up by the spice girls in more than 15 years. —— the first meet up.

hello and welcome to bbc news. the boss of the fbi has hit back at donald trump in a row over the release of a secret republican memo, which accuses the agency of political bias against the president. in an e—mail to staff, christopher wray said "talk is cheap" and that the bureau would continue to investigate "independently and by the book". democrats have said the release was another effort to undermine the inquiry into alleged collusion with russia. our north america correspondent peter bowes reports. this is the memo that sank relations between the president and the fbi to a new low. the documents, written by republicans, makes the case that the justice department and the fbi showed bias against donald trump while spying on one of his advisers. a warrant for the surveillance

operation was based on a dossier of information compiled by a former british intelligence agent who was desperate to donald trump to lose the election. i think it is a disgrace what is happening in our country and when you look at that and you see that in so many other things, what is going on, a lot of people should be ashamed of themselves and much worse than that. but the democrats say the memo does not tell the full story and is a shameful effort to discredit the ongoing investigation into the trump campaign's links with russia. the head of the api is defined, addressing his staff, christopher wray said... —— head of the fbi. donald trump is smiling again that this is a vicious fight at the heart of the us government. some are saying the only winners are the russians. earlier, i spoke with former cia

analyst and now adjunct professor at new york university's centre for global affairs, yael eisenstat. i began by asking if she thought president trump's allegation that the fbi is biased against him is in fact supported by what's in the memo. actually, i think if anything, the memo proves the opposite. it is so cherry—picked from things that we actually already know, we already know that the investigation was launched because of the conversation with the australians that papadopoulos had and yet, this memo is trying to build this whole case against steele so, if anything, i think it really proves the opposite, but i think the most interesting thing is if the allegations that the president is trying to put forward, that the fbi is biased, well then, why didn't the fbi put this information out before the election? the fbi had been investigating these allegations against page and others before the election even happened, and they didn't make any word public of any of these allegations

until the investigation continued on into january, when the dni, the director of national intelligence, put our their memo. so ijust think it's interesting, if really the fbi had been out to get donald trump, they could have put this information out in the public eye before we even went to the voting booth. yes, many people arejumping on the timeline, aren't they? you use interesting wording there, which is "cherry picking". put this into context for us. with your knowledge of the intelligence community, is intelligence normally treated in such a partisan way as it has been in the last few hours? i personally have never seen this happen before. in general, even though parties disagree and they have different policy options, when it comes to protecting classified information, protecting national security, those are the types of things that usually do not fall into such partisan showmanship and partisan football like this has been, so i've never seen anything like this myself, and i used

to co—ordinate the president's daily brief, i used to also work on fisa warrants and requests and all of these things, and i have never, i mean, from the inside, from when i was in the cia, i never, ever saw anything like this happening. so, the idea that this is not a complete political stunt is just absolutely unfathomable for me. what do you think of the political ramifications for those intelligence organisations being dragged into the mud like this? well, i mean, i know the men and women inside of these agencies continue to put their head down and do their work, and i know they will continue to do so. i mean, of course i'm concerned about morale, because these are people who can't stand up and defend themselves and they can't in any way say what is accurate or not accurate, and if you have the american people and you are saying their agencies are political like this, of course it is going to be

demoralising, and even more importantly, for me, it could perhaps affect even the potential to recruit further cia and fbi and other government agency employees in the future, so i do think it is a really unfortunate situation for agencies but i also have faith that the men and women in those institutions, they continue to serve the constitution, to serve the american people, and they will continue to do what they're doing. the father of three victims of the disgraced us gymnastics team doctor, larry nassar, has apologised for trying to attack him during his final sentencing hearing. the court had been hearing from 150 women, sexually abused by nassar. randall margraves told the court he had "lost control" when two of his daughters finished their victim statements. nada tawfik reports. that a girl who had larry nassar as her doctor... another family stands, like so many before them, to confront the disgraced doctor. all three of the margraves' children were sexually assaulted by larry nassar. at this final sentencing hearing, two of them, lauren and madison,

speak of their grief and their parents‘ guilt. i see the look in their faces and i know they want to be able to do something, but they can't. and the guilt they have will never go away. and all this is because of you. to my parents, thank you for all your love and support through all of this. you have done everything that a parent could ever do. i love you. randall margraves then asked permission, as a distraught father, to speak. go ahead, sir. you son of a (bleep). no, we don't want to swear. we don't want to have profanity. the courtroom at first chuckles as he requests time alone with nassar. i want to ask you to, as part of the sentencing, to grant me five minutes in a locked room with this demon. i have a feeling...

would you do that? that is not how our... would you give me one minute? no, sir, i can't do that. you know that i can't do that. that's not how our legal system... well, i'm gonna have to... stay down. there have been numerous powerful moments throughout nassar‘s sentencing hearings, but this one father's reaction shows so clearly how raw emotions are. whatjust happened to you guys? when the court resumes, the judge shows compassion. there is no way that this court is going to issue any type of punishment, given the circumstances of this case. and i do... my heart does go out to you and your family because of what you've gone through. the reality that larry nassar sexually abused close to 300 girls over years has been regarded as a failure of society. this case has inevitably led to investigations, but more importantly, it's forced the nation to take

a hard look at how women are treated and valued. nada tawfik, bbc news, new york. let's take a look at some more stories making the news. the pentagon has published a policy document, saying the united states should extend its nuclear capabilities. it wants to develop new low—yield atomic bombs, largely in response to the threat it believes is posed by russia. the deputy director of strategy at the pentagon denied that the us was entering a new arms race. a report by united nations monitors says north korea earned nearly $200 million last year by exporting banned commodities in violation of international sanctions. the leaked report from the un security council said several countries, including china, russia and malaysia, had failed to stop the illegal exports. at least 90 people are feared dead in the latest migrant tragedy in the mediterranean sea off the coast of libya, that's according to the un migration agency.

only three people are known to have survived the sinking, which happened early on friday. the bodies of ten people have been recovered so far. 16 syrians, including several children died recently trying to travel across the mountains from syria into lebanon. they used a route taken by thousands before them, but were caught in an icy blizzard and froze to death. one of the few to survive was a small girl called sara — she's just three years old. 0ur middle east correspondent martin patience has been to meet her. meet little sara, just three years old. the black marks on her face are caused by frostbite. smugglers abandoned sara during a blizzard as she was crossing the mountains from the war in syria tojoin her dad. she only survived because the man who dumped her was forced at gunpoint to go back and get her. but sara's mum, big sister,

and granny all froze to death. now, in a lebanese hospital, sara's dad watches over her day and night. translation: i'll do my best to be a mother and a father to sara. i'll do everything i can to help her get over this. she's all i have now. 16 syrians died trying to reach safety that day. for the rescuers, it was the worst thing they'd ever seen. hello. but there is some good news. a couple of days after first meeting sara and her dad, we went to see them again. hello sara. sara's had an operation on herface. she's got her appetite back. her doctor says the surgery was a success. so you're hopeful there won't be too much scarring? yes, yes, i hope.

that her face will be...? yes, yes, will be normal, like a normal baby. fantastic, it'll look normal? yes. sara's dad captured herfirst moment after the operation. she's got a long way to go, but she's still smiling. martin patience, bbc news, lebanon. the man who drove his van into muslim worshippers outside a mosque in north london has been sentenced to life with a minimum of 43 years in prison. darren 0sborne killed makram ali and injured 12 other people during the attack in finsbury park lastjune. daniel sandford has more. back! everyone back now! darren 0sborne was seized at the scene of the finsbury park attack after ploughing his van into a group of muslims, trying to kill as many as possible. just have a seat for us up there, mate. convicted of murder and attempted

murder yesterday, his 102 previous convictions for violence, dishonesty and drugs offences were outlined to the court today. as was the devastation caused to the family of makram ali, the man he murdered. 0utside court, his daughter, with his tearful wife by her side, spoke of the family's love for him. he will never be forgotten. he will always stay in our hearts. his laughter will echo the walls of our home. his smile will be reflected in our eyes and his memory will be alive in our conversations. darren osborne's absurd defence that a man called dave was driving during the attack was scorned by thejudge. addressing him directly, mrs justice cheema—grubb said: she then jailed him for life, saying:

which means he can't be released until he's at least 90 years old. the judge drew attention to how 0sborne was rapidly radicalised over the internet, how in a matter of a month he'd allowed his mind to be poisoned by those who, she said, claimed to be leaders but who were determined to spread hatred of muslims. today, the judge also chose to praise the imam who protected 0sborne after the attack. she said mohammed mahmoud had the strength to do the right thing under pressure, to respond to evil with good. daniel sandford, bbc news, at woolwich crown court. stay with us on bbc news. still to come... the makeup artist who transformed gary 0ldman into winston churchill for the darkest hour tells us what it's like to be nominated for an oscar. this is the moment that millions

in iran had been waiting for. after his long years in exile, the first hesitant steps of ayatollah khomeini on iranian soil. south africa's white government has offered its black opponents concessions unparalleled in the history of apartheid. the ban on the african national congress is lifted immediately, and the anc leader, nelson mandela, after 27 years injail, is to be set free unconditionally. the aircraft was returning from belgrade, where manchester united had entered the semi—final of the european cup. two americans have become the first humans to walk in space without any lifeline to their spaceship. one of them called it a piece of cake. thousands of people have given the yachstwoman ellen macarthur a spectacular homecoming in the cornish port of falmouth after she smashed the world record for sailing solo around the world non—stop. this is bbc news.

the latest headlines: president trump says a republican memo alleging the fbi abused its surveillance powers shows the agency is biased against him. the father of three sexual abuse victims has lunged at the disgraced usa gymnastics team doctor larry nassar during his final sentencing hearing. the afghan capital kabul has seen three large attacks over the past fortnight, with more than 120 people killed. two were carried out by the taliban, one by the so—called islamic state group. despite controlling less territory than the taliban, is has launched more major attacks in kabul than any other militant group over the past year. is is growing in influence in afghanistan just as it's being pushed out of syria and iraq.

0ur correspondent, secunder kermani, was given exclusive access to one jailed is member in kabul. inside an afghan prison, a man who was once willing to kill in the name of the islamic state group. translation: i took part in fighting and executing people. we used to make people sit on top of bombs and blow them up. like many is fighters in afghanistan, the detainee we spoke to was previously part of the taliban. he asked us not to show his face out of fear of reprisals. we interviewed him with members of the security services present. translation: for the taliban, if someone from the government repents, he should be forgiven. but is say he should be killed.

is preach that they are the real muslims, not the taliban. the islamic state group might only control small pockets of territory in the country, but over the last year they've carried out at least 1a major attacks here in the capital, kabul. that's significantly more than even the taliban. is have repeatedly attacked kabul‘s shia minority. they killed over a0 people at this shia cultural centre in december. this man narrowly escaped with his life. translation: in the past, shias living in the countryside used to come to kabul because it was safer. now my relatives tell me to leave kabul because it's become so dangerous here. in the past two weeks, kabul has been repeatedly attacked by both is and the taliban. the groups have fought against each other at times. but officials here claim there is little difference between the two. and that in attacking kabul they share the same aims. their goal and their objective

behind this approach is to provoke people against the government and make them rise against the government. so then the government will fall apart. and then what happens, then in afghanistan we will have chaos. but this former is member says the group is different from the taliban, and it's more extreme. translation: they say they will do what taliban can't do and take over the whole country. outside the cultural centre, attacked by is, the shoes of the victims remain piled in a heap. whether it's further attacks by is or the taliban, this is a city braced for more bloodshed. secunder kermani, bbc news, kabul. a baby born on a migrant rescue ship in the mediterranean last year will take centre stage at the eurovision song contest in may with a french entry inspired by the story of her birth.

french duo madame monsieur were in the recording studio when they saw a picture of baby mercy posted on twitter. her mother had originally fled from nigeria. sarah corker reports. this is baby mercy, born against the oddsin this is baby mercy, born against the odds in the middle of the mediterranean sea. her image was the inspiration for france's eurovision song contest entry, the songs shining a spotlight on europe's migrant crisis. translation: there was the photo of

mercy on twitter who was only 15 minutes old and with it a word, simple, full of hope, and we were com pletely simple, full of hope, and we were completely overwhelmed and as we we re completely overwhelmed and as we were in the middle of the writing process we thought, this is a beautiful story to tell. and that gave the french you are told her dramatic story. mercy‘s mother was heavily pregnant when along with more than 500 up african migrants she was rescued one day last year. they are all attempting to dangerous crossing from libya to italy, fearing war —— fleeing war and poverty. she gave birth on a rescue ship as it headed for a dock in sicily. she was laying on the floor and she was in labour. so me and the midwife elizabeth took care of her and four hours later she delivered the perfect baby girl called mercy. the berth in the middle of tragedy

also reflect that last year alone around 3000 migrants died in the mediterranean. the duo are hoping this human story can help france to win eurovision for the first time in 1:0 win eurovision for the first time in a0 yea rs. darkest hour, the film about winston churchill and his war time efforts, could be set for a bumper month. it's been nominated for six 0scars. turning gary 0ldman into the former british prime minister has earned the film's make—up artist david malinowski a shot at the entertainment industry's biggest honour. brennan nicholls has been to meet him. you can't raise up with that tiger when your head is in its mouth! gary 0ldman‘s performance has already earned him many accolades and critical acclaim. turning him into britain's wartime prime minister has

been hailed as a masterpiece of make—up. been hailed as a masterpiece of make-up. we shake his head, applied make—up, it takes over three hours to apply the make—up and weak, plus getting him into his fat suit and costu me, getting him into his fat suit and costume, it was close to four hours. we then go to set for ten or 12 hours a day filming, we need to be there the whole time to maintain his make throughout that. then we have his make—up removed which takes one—hour and then once he goes lucy andi one—hour and then once he goes lucy and i stay for another hour or two. gary 0ldman convinced sugi to design the churchill make—up. he had just been working with david on another movie and it was gary 0ldman who asked into the onset of playing it alongside colleague lucy. it's the three of them who have been nominated for the sky. i'm extremely proud. it's the bestjob i've done so proud. it's the bestjob i've done so far today and i'm just so pleased it's getting the recognition that it deserves, because of the amount of effort that myself, lucy and the

others have put into it. it's such a big team involved. we are here now getting the credit and our names are on the award, but the amount of people in the workshops who have been involved is amazing. we are to receive our ward. the 39-year-old make—up artist has a cd full of blockbusters to his name, but this is his first ever 0scar blockbusters to his name, but this is his first ever oscar nomination. look at this text around here. on his nose and the colouration. that's why just his nose and the colouration. that's whyjust spending his nose and the colouration. that's why just spending that his nose and the colouration. that's whyjust spending that bit more time prepping, ijust whyjust spending that bit more time prepping, i just want to whyjust spending that bit more time prepping, ijust want to make sure i painted all of those pieces perfectly so that they match everyday. david flies out to los angeles for the oscar nomination might this weekend and then he is back to the bafta is before heading back to the bafta is before heading back to the bafta is before heading back to la for the oscars themselves on march four, for what could be his finest hour. the spice girls appear to have confirmed a reunion of some sort, after they met at geri horner‘s house to discuss reforming. they posted this picture, with emma bunton, better known as baby spice, commenting

that the "future is looking spicy". it's the first time they've been seen together like this since 2012. the group were hugely famous in the 1990's with their girl power with their girl power philosophy. they split in 2000 and then performed at the olympics. this was one super—fan's reaction. if i'm going to be completely honest, i broke down in tears. i was in the back of a friend's car when i was like, "they're back!" there have been rumours for literally months, years, decades saying, they are going to get back together, they are going to do something, an anniversary special, another tour, and since the olympics there's been this craze, we want the spice girls are back. millions of people still want them and i think like now, especially with the me too movement and feminism being at the forefront of the news, which is great. good morning.

at long last the weekend is upon us, but, as the saying goes, red sky at night, shepherd's delight, i would get in touch with trading standards because while some of you had a lovely sunset to finish friday, what's about to come on saturday is far from delight. this is the cloud pushing in. it's a weather front moving in across cold air and that's bringing overnight some sleet and snow and an icy start for some into saturday morning. so temperatures at their lowest where it stays driest overnight, to eastern parts of england and eastern scotland. elsewhere, temperatures won't rise much through the day. the weather front in scotland, western england and wales to begin with. outbreaks of rain quite widely. there will be some sleet and snow mixed in, especially over the hills, but even to lower levels further north. at lunchtime, not a huge amount changes. parts of north—east scotland and aberdeenshire may get some brightness, staying dry through the day. it could brighten up in western parts of scotland, with sunshine and showers throughout the day in northern ireland. for much of england and wales, with the exception of lincolnshire and east anglia, where

you could stay dry after some morning brightness. but grey, gloomy, cold, damp and a little bit wintry in places for many, with temperatures at lunchtime only about 2—3 degrees. the greater chance of snow mixed in with rain will be across the hills. through the afternoon, the patchy rain and drizzle, sleet and snow, gradually fizzles out. most will stick with the cloud and that will be of course evidenced if you're going to and from cardiff for the start of the six nations. maybe a little bit damp here. a bit drier in paris, but here it will be similarly cold. as the weather front starts to lose a bit of oomph into sunday, we'll see a few more clear skies develop and there could be ice into sunday morning. this is the temperature profile across europe on sunday. the blue colours are the coldest conditions, towards the east. that's significant because it's an easterly wind which will develop particularly for england and wales into sunday and to take us into the start of next week. pushing the weather front back westwards again. that means brighter skies across much of england on sunday.

brightness also breaking through at times in scotland and northern ireland, where the winds will be lightest. but that south—eastern quadrant of england is where we'll see showers coming in on the raw wind. a mixture of rain on the coast, sleet and maybe snow. nothing too significant at this stage. the big story for england and wales is how cold it will feel — feeling close to freezing in many areas in that wind, which will still be with us in the south—east on monday and there could be some potent snow showers here to begin the day. most, after a frosty start, a dry and sunny day. bye for now. hello. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: the us congress has published a republican memo that accuses the fbi of abusing its powers to spy on president trump's election campaign. mr trump says the document tells a disgraceful story. democrats claim the memo is an attempt to discredit the investigation into russian interference in the election. there was a disruption during the sentencing of the former team doctor of the american gymnastics team, larry nassar, who's been found guilty of sexually

abusing girls in his care. randall margraves, whose three daughters were victims, apologised. thejudge said she would not punish him. as many as 90 migrants are feared drowned after a smuggler‘s boat capsized off the east coast of libya. the bodies of ten people have been recovered so far. only three people have been rescued. coming up at six o'clock, it's breakfast with charlie stayt