this is bbc world news today. our top stories. the un security council prepares to vote on a new ceasefire in syria — as government forces continue to target eastern ghouta, these are live pictures from the united nations in new york. the vote has been postponed several times. one of donald trump's former campaign aides omits to conspiring and lying to investigators. a blunt assessment from the european council president of the uk's plans for a post—brexit relationship with the european union. if the reports are correct, i am afraid that the uk's position today is based on pure illusion. were you the mastermind that cheated the olympics? yes. the man who revealed russian doping, now in fear for his life, says russia should not be allowed at the closing of the winter olympics. this is the most important moment in

the history of the international olympic committee and if the flag is allowed to appear, it will be the worst decision. the olympics could die. hello and welcome to world news today. intensive diplomatic efforts are under way at the un security council, which holds the fate of the residents of eastern ghouta in its hands. the security council is currently debating resolution and these are live pictures, calling for a30 these are live pictures, calling for a 30 day humanitarian ceasefire in syria. the vote due earlier has been postponed for hours and on thursday it was called off. russia has

previously objected to the resolution and still has reservations. let's go to the un in new york, and our correspondent, nada tawfik. is clear if any deal is likely yet? negotiations are ongoing and i asked one diplomat if we would see a vote tonight and he said, who knows? there is the old saying, nothing is agreed until everything is agreed and so diplomats have been waiting to see if they can agree on a final language, and i am told there is no final draft yet, so as they say, negotiations are still fresh and getting under way but these negotiations over the original draft put forward by sweden and kuwait have been going on for two weeks and i have to say the mood music is that we are much closer to agreement on a ceasefire family have been at any point. given russia and syria's

position that basically president assad is fighting terrorists on the doorstep of damascus, the capital, what is it that russia might have agreed to to allow some deal? there we re agreed to to allow some deal? there were several amendments that russia put forward, that they wanted to be considered. they said it was an unrealistic draft, they did not think they were getting enough reassu ra nces think they were getting enough reassurances that the rebels would abide by it and also they wanted extremist groups like isis and al-qaeda and even their associates to be excluded from the ceasefire so that the syrian military could continue its campaign against those groups. again, there are negotiations going on so i have not seen the latest draft but as of last night, at least the consideration about keeping extremist groups exempt was included in the draft and so exempt was included in the draft and so that very well could be enough to get russia to agree. some of the

other russian amendments were not put into the new draft. again, it is unclear at the moment but the final words or unclear at the moment but the final words oi’ passages are unclear at the moment but the final words or passages are that the diplomats are negotiating. thank you very much. gates was a deputy campaign manager for trump during the 2016 election. special counsel robert mueller had been investigating him as part of his probe into alleged russian meddling in the election. gates was facing more serious charges before entering his guilty plea earlier today. laura trevelyan has more from washington. what rick gates pleaded guilty to is not actually relating to the specific issue of collusion between the trump campaign and russia. previous charges had been

brought against him by the special counsel about money—laundering and tax evasion. what is highly significant here is that gates seems to have co—operated with robert mueller in the hope he will then get a reduced sentence for these other crimes. remember, rick gates was deputy chair of the trump campaign, deputy chair of the trump campaign, deputy chair of the trump inaugural, soa deputy chair of the trump inaugural, so a very significant figure and he joins the third former trump campaign aide to be cooperating with the special counsel. but also, in corroborating he puts more pressure on paul manafort, the former chair, who maintains his innocence about money—laundering. in order to get a plea deal with an investigator, you need to be giving up some investigation and information in return so the question is, what information is rick gates giving up on the question of collusion between

the trump campaign and russia that the trump campaign and russia that the special counsel is interested in? we don't know the answer yet but thatis in? we don't know the answer yet but that is the big question. he is an important figure, deputy chair of the trump campaign and after paul ma nafort left the trump campaign and after paul manafort left in 2016 under clyde, gates stayed with the campaign and was deputy chair of the trump inaugural as well so he is a perk —— person in a position to know a lot about what did or did not happen in terms of length between the trump campaign and russia. the special counsel, he was appointed to look at whether there was collusion between the trump campaign and russia and thatis the trump campaign and russia and that is all he is interested in. if he has someone willing to give him information in return for a reduced sentence, you must assume that the information pertains to that key question of whether there was was not collusion and admits tremendous pressure on paul manafort, who not so far cooperating and maintaining

his innocence but the fact that his business partner, rick gates, has flipped, but some in a very difficult position. laura trevelyan in washington. we can go live to washington because just outside the white house, this is the scene. our vehicle has rammed into a security barrier near the white house, according to the us secret service. this is the live scene. —— a vehicle. the white house was placed on lockdown, armed agents were seen running into positions and president trump was inside the building at the time, hejust trump was inside the building at the time, he just hosted the australian prime minister. it is reported that there was a female driver of the car, she was apprehended, although it is reported that no law enforcement personnel were injured and no shots were fired. but the secret service officers did take in

the female driver of that vehicle. it has been reported that it struck a security barrier near the white house at 17th and east but did not breach the security barrier of the white house complex. you can see a number of emergency personnel. as you can imagine, with that sort of incident. we will keep you updated as more information comes into us. saying in the united states... after last week's school shooting in florida in which 17 people were killed, president trump has called for some teachers to carry concealed weapons in schools. he was speaking to the conservative political action conference. this might be tempered scent or 20% of the population of teachers. it is not all of them. but you would have a lot. and you would tell people, they are inside. the beauty is it is

concealed, nobody would ever see it, u nless concealed, nobody would ever see it, unless they needed it. it is concealed, so this crazy man who walked in would not even know who it is that hazard, that is good. and a teacher would have shot the hell out of him before he knew what happened... applause. they loved their students, they loved the students, a member that. bbc‘s gary o'donoghue is at that conference. i spoke to him earlier about president trump's comments, and what the reaction has been so far. in terms of the shooting, you had the meat of it, that went down pretty well that this audience and i would not say they were overwhelmed with the idea of arming teachers but they certainly like his robust

support for the second amendment in general, the amendment that americans use to protect their right to own guns and weapons more generally. interestingly, his idea about arming teachers has not exactly gone down well with some teaching unions but also the governor of florida, rick scott, a republican. he is not too keen on that either. he is proposing raising the age at which you can buy an assault weapon in florida after the age of 21. which of course would have prevented nicholas cruz from getting that weapon he used last week. but the debate is on this teacher arming business. and i think that will define people significantly. on the one hand, donald trump says it will make schools safer and on the other, people will say the last thing america needs to combat gun problem is guns. ifi canjust

america needs to combat gun problem is guns. if i can just turn to another piece of news we're getting here... united states apparently will open a new embassy injerusalem in may to coincide with the 70th anniversary of israel? we knew this was coming but confirmation of the timing. yes, that is interesting and donald trump referred tojerusalem this morning in his speech and the moving of the embassy and that got an enormous cheer. it is surprising that they are doing it quite so quickly because obviously there are going to have to be some pretty heavy security arrangements for that building injerusalem heavy security arrangements for that building in jerusalem and heavy security arrangements for that building injerusalem and i think they have a consulate there already from memory so that might be partly it. yes, he will say, fulfilling a campaign promise. there will be many

in the republican movement and particularly on the christian right who will welcome this enormously but there will be, i can tell you, in european capitals and other parts of the world, where they have been trying for years to help age some sort of peace process, there will be anxiety about this move and a lot of america's allies do not support the idea and the palestinians are utterly opposed to it in its current form. it is going to cause a row, there is no doubt. gary o'donoghue. and indeed, senior palestinian officials have called this a blatant provocation, criticising the timing of it and the announcement was brought forward by at least a year, we think. we will keep you posted with the latest details. to stay with the latest details. to stay with us. much more ahead... eu leaders deliver an unusually blunt message to london a week before the british prime minister is due to set

out her brexit ambitions. prince charles has chosen his bride, he proposed three weeks ago and she accepted without hesitation. as revolutions go this had its fair share. a climax outside the gates of his sanctuary. the name itself symbolises one of the cruellest regimes of modern asia. the world's first clone has been produced of an aduu first clone has been produced of an adult mammal, it was a sheep called dolly, using a cell from another ship. citizens are trying to come to grips with their new freedom. there isjoy and grips with their new freedom. there is joy and relief today. but the scars are everywhere. but for 20 yea rs have locusts scars are everywhere. but for 20 years have locusts been seen in such numbers in this part of africa. some of the swarms have been ten miles long. this is the last time the public will see this pope, very

soon, for the sake of the authority of the next pope, benedict the 16th will in his own words be hidden from the world for the rest of his life. the latest headlines... syrian government forces continue to target eastern ghouta and intensive diplomatic efforts are under way at the un to approve a ceasefire. and one of donald trump's former campaign aides admits to conspiring against the united states and lying to investigators. john watson has the sport. the man who exposed the russian doping scandal has given his first international broadcast interview to the bbc. evidence from whistle—blower dr grigory rodchenkov on state—sponsored doping saw russia banned from the winter olympics and the fallout from the testimony forced him into hiding and in fear of his life.

this exclusive report is by our sports editor, dan roan. he said the integrity of the olympic movement is at stake if russian athletes competing under a neutral banner impaled china can parade under the russian flag at the closing ceremony. does british sport have a problem with cheating? do you think? honestly? yes. i hear some several cases in british sport and this is the most important moment in the history of the olympic committee and it should show how they are consistent with the fight against doping. you know that russia rejects

any charges. they say that i am a liar and if the flag will be allowed to appear, it will be the worst decision. the olympics could die. you can see more of that interview across bbc news and over the website. if athletes competing as a big athletes from russia or allowed to march under their own flag, speed skating sensation sigurd toner says she will carry it, the 15—year—old won herfirst she will carry it, the 15—year—old won her first gold—medal for the away with a stunning routine to become the second youngest olympic gold medallist in figure skating since 1998 after she can so that lay hereford training partner. the woman who inspired her to take up the sport in the first place. caitlin osmond from canada to bronze. elsewhere at the winter olympics, germany's men shocked the reigning champions canada to reach the ice hockey final, they will play the oar tea m hockey final, they will play the oar team in the gold—medal match after

they beat the czech republic. casey sarah ware pulled away from his compatriot to claim ski cross goal as canada scored the one, two, finish ahead of switzerland. world champion kelton as power to gold in the men's 1000 champion kelton as power to gold in the men's1000 metres ahead of no where. it is a second gold, who also won the 1500 metre title. away from the winter olympics, the third round of the six nations championship is already under way. france taking deadly mrsa at the stade velodrome, the first time they have played at six nations match away from paris. the latest score is 14—10. on saturday wales will look to topple ireland from the top of the table in dublin before scotland and england battle it out for the calcutta cup at murrayfield. man city manager pep

guardiola has been charged by the fa are wearing a yellow ribbon which shows his support for those imprisoned in the fight for catalu nya and imprisoned in the fight for catalunya and independence. he revealed in november he were surrendered in support of the politicians imprisoned in his native catalonia, where he was born, played and previously managed. football ‘s governing body said he was in breach of its kit and advertising regulations. in cycling, phil babb pipped his german compatriot marcel kittel and paschal ackerman to take victory on stage three. lian viviani finished fourth but retains the overall race lead. usa hold the two shot lead heading into the third round of the lpga tour event in thailand, two biggest eight birdies and a closing eagle to post a personal best and course record of ten under par. fantastic conditions as well, that course. playing very

well and stands a good chance of winning. and that is all the sport. back to you. the president of the european council, donald tusk, has told reporters in brussels that london's position on brexit is based on ‘pure illusion'. he made the comment at the end of a meeting of leaders from 27 eu countries, excluding britain. one of the topics discussed at that meeting was the bloc‘s joint stance on ties with britain after brexit. if the media reports are correct, i am afraid that the uk position today is based on pure illusion. it looks like the cake philosophy is still alive. from the very start it has been a key principle of the eu 27 that there can be no cherry picking and no single market a la carte. this will continue to be a key principle, have no doubt. our correspondent, adam fleming, has been following developments in brussels, and i spoke to him earlier about the significance

of donald tusk‘s comments. the first thing to say is donald tusk was responding to reports of what the british government agreed adam ate our long meeting of the cabinet at the prime minister's country residence yesterday and he does not to the british position in detail and will not until he meets theresa may in london next thursday and the rest of us won't know until the prime minister gives a speech detailing it the day after on friday. having said that, that was a pretty brutal put—down of what donald tusk, the sort of thing he has been hearing from london. when he talks about this philosophy, he is talking about the idea that the eu has all along had the idea that britain cannot pick parts of the single market it was to stay in and enjoy the benefits of while leaving others to decide. it cannot pick which rules it wants to follow and riders are the rules, which is the brexit policy of the eu and has been

since last year when the talks started. the way he delivered the words as well, he seemed pretty glum andi words as well, he seemed pretty glum and i would say he was angry but he was verging on anger as well. while this will be doubly annoying for the british government, they think that big meeting they had yesterday with the big beasts of the cabinet, some have different views of brexit, they think that went really well and they managed to coalesce around a position that was workable for the british so those comments from donald tusk will have gone down very badly in london tonight. this informal leader of the —— formal meeting of the 27 leaders was not there to be a brexit, donald tusk was just assured that all the headlines tomorrow will be exactly about brexit. let's look at some other stories. there have been two large explosions in the somali capital mogadishu, killing 18 people and injuring 20. the police say a suicide bomber blew up a car near the presidential palace and a second blast was close to the national intelligence agency.

both were followed by heavy gunfire. a painting by the french artist edgar degas, which was stolen from a museum in marseille in 2009, has been found on a bus near paris. the artwork was discovered in the luggage compartment of the vehicle at a motorway service station. experts confirmed that it's "the chorus singers" — a pastel painting said to be worth nearly a million dollars. the man who exposed the russian doping scandal has given his first international broadcast interview to the bbc. evidence from whistle—blower dr grigory rodchenkov on state—sponsored doping saw russia banned from the winter olympics and the fallout from the testimony forced him into hiding and in fear of his life. now living in the united states, we interviewed dr rodchenkov from a secret location, where he said if he hadn't fled russia he'd now be dead. two russian athletes at the winter olympics have tested positive for doping. this exclusive report is by our sports editor, dan roan. it's one

of sport's greatest scandals. russian cheating reached its height at the last winter games in sochi. the mastermind, doctor grigory rodchenkov. in 2015, the former head of moscow's anti—doping lab turned whistle—blower, fleeing to the west. ever since, he's been in fbi witness protection. and we are on the way to meet him. for more than two years now, the man at the very heart of russia's doping scandal has been living in hiding, here somewhere in the united states. finally, he's agreed to speak to us, but such are the security concerns surrounding him, we've not even been told where we have to go. after hours on the road, we are taken to a location that we are told has to remain a secret, along with his new identity. if you had not left russia, where would you be now? you'd be dead? rodchenkov‘s role in russia's remarkable doping programme became the subject of an oscar—nominated film.

were you the mastermind that cheated the olympics? he said the conspiracy went right to the top, and that london 2012 was also targeted. so what does he say to british athletes whose games were tainted? the russian government says you are lying. you were cheating. it wasn't them, it was you. does british sport have a problem with cheating, do you think? despite russian claims he is part

of a western conspiracy, his information led to a ban from the winter olympics. 168 of the country's athletes competed as neutrals, but they may now be allowed to march under their national flag at the closing ceremony. the olympic athletes of the russian team... only clean russians were meant to be in pyeongchang, but today a second of its athletes at these games, nadezhda sergeeva, failed a drugs test. moving forward from sport's biggest crisis is proving no easy task. dan roan, bbc news. bye for now, see you soon. i want to

start this world weather forecast in north america. we have had states of emergency declared because of flooding, some rivers are as high as they have been since 1975 and that continues the risk in similar areas with the threat further north in the cold air of freezing rain and snow and it is because we have such a huge contrast in the temperatures, remember the record—breaking heat? that are still in southern states, bitterly cold canadian arctic air and where they meet we have this slow—moving weather front, similar areas affected by yet more rain, heavy rain over the weekend. heavy snow to the north of alaska, and other foot, and freezing snow to the north of alaska, and otherfoot, and freezing rain snow to the north of alaska, and other foot, and freezing rain and that was not enough, because of the contrast in temperatures at this time of year we concern ourselves with severe thunderstorms and tornadoes and that is a risk this weekend before the north and west it remains bitterly cold with further snow flurries across colorado and

into the rockies. more snow from minneapolis, temper dues have fallen away in new york but we hold onto the heat and sunshine for the south in tampa. severe thunderstorms to give us concern in parts of queensland and northern new south wales, warnings here widely. we have had flash flooding, dust storms and as you can see, towards the border with new south wales looks very wet over the coming few days. joining forces with another weather system living at the gold coast and more rain, for southern parts of new zealand. that is head towards the middle east because here, it looks very unsettled, big thunderstorms, gusty winds neither does thunderstorms could bring some big dust storms and you can see that band of rain moving southwards, snow over the hills into saturday and very disturbed weather, it could cause travel disruption. and closer to the uk we have a bitterly cold

air, —9 in moscow during the day and that cold air is gradually slipping further westwards and temperatures are forecast to be much lower in moscow so with that standard cold air in the north, all weather fronts are being forced further south so into the weekend, very wet weather for turkey and greece and more heavy rainfor for turkey and greece and more heavy rain for italy and the balkans, significant snow, possibly 70 centimetres, as next week we see some very centimetres, as next week we see some very wet weather for the canary islands, madeira and across iberia, significant still over the pyrenees. you can see how cold it is in the north, —16 in moscow next week and it is set to be bitterly cold here in the uk. for more details on that, louise will tell you more later. goodbye. this is bbc world news today.

our top stories: the un security council prepares to vote on a new ceasefire in syria — as government forces continue to target eastern ghouta, where hundreds have died. these are live pictures from the united nations in new york. that gates has to lying to investigators. president trump has said that arming teachers in us schools could prevent gun attacks. mr trump used a speech to conservative activists took office in teacher to carry concealed weapons. and the man who revealed the extent of doping in russia said the extent of doping in russia said the country should not be allowed to go to the closing of the winter olympics.