welcome to bbc news, broadcasting to viewers in north america and around the globe. my name is nkem ifejika. our top stories: the un security council yet again delays a vote —— the bombardment continues as the un security council delays a crucial vote on a resolution calling for a ceasefire in syria. one of donald trump's former aides admits to conspiring against the united states and lying to investigators. as pressure grows for action on gun ownership, the american president suggests that classroom teachers should be armed. and an emotional reunion — a cuban family overcomes big bureaucratic hurdles to reunite in the united states. hello. the un security council has postponed a vote on a ceasefire in syria until later on saturday.

the resolution would have allowed vital aid supplies to reach eastern ghouta. opposition activists say hundreds have now died in aerial attacks. our middle east editor jeremy bowen reports. this is what happened in eastern ghouta as diplomacy stuttered — the enclave was pounded. 400,000 or so people spend most of the day underground. —— 400,000 or so people spent most of the day underground. above them, russian jets with their syrian allies were in action. as the russians demanded guarantees that rebel fighters would respect any truce, in eastern ghouta, men from civil defence risked their lives to rescue civilians, even though the buildings could collapse and the planes could come back. in the dust and confusion, these children were separated from their parents.

the rescuers ignored the dangers. the eu condemned what it called "brutal attacks". diplomacy is supposed to find words and deeds to stop this happening. they were rushed into underground hospitals. it is hard to end a war, or even a battle, with words. especially when one side — in syria, the regime and its allies — believes victory is close. in syria, military power, the capacity to inflict pain and death, sets the pace of events. treating the wounded is one way for humanity to push back. another is to create small pockets of normality, kindness and decency. this girl is 11 years old and, like most people in eastern ghouta, explosion.

these men waited for a lull in the bombing to try to bury a member of their family but they ran out of time. jeremy bowen, bbc news.

one of donald trump's former senior advisers, rick gates, has admitted conspiring against the united states and lying to investigators. more serious charges have been dropped in return for his cooperation on the investigation into russian interference in the us election. a short time ago, peter bowes talked us through the significance of the charges. i suppose the charges in themselves are not as significant is the fact that it has now reached a clear agreement which means he will get a shorterjail agreement which means he will get a shorter jail sentence agreement which means he will get a shorterjail sentence but he is also agreed to co—operate in all and any matters associated with the russian investigation and is what is so crucial about it because he was at the heart of the donald trump election campaign in 2016 with his long—time colleague paul manafort.

they were both there, they were both at the republican convention that year, they were both involved with organising that campaign, they were in crucial meetings so the question is what does he know, what information does he have? that could perhaps incriminate former collea g u es perhaps incriminate former colleagues and shed some light on whether there was any collusion between the trump campaign and the russians. this isn't just between the trump campaign and the russians. this isn'tjust about potential meddling between russia, 01’ potential meddling between russia, or at least meddling that would affect the election campaign, those claims have been made as well, indeed 13 russians last year were indicted on both claimed meddling with the election. this goes much deeper. crucially, peter, so far no g has been directly indicted, this one has been directly indicted, this is within the trump campaign, directly indicted for collusion with the russians, we should just stress

that, shouldn't we? yes, and certainly paul manafort strongly denies those allegations against him and you are right, no one has been indicted in terms of any potential alleged collusion, at least no one associated with the trump campaign. but this is an investigation that is ongoing. the special counsel is certainly digging very deep and i think the indictment we have seen over the last few days and the one against paul manafort which continues shows that he is leaving no stone unturned in terms of the that he will go to to go to the debt that he will go to to go to the heart of the mart. —— the depths. will only be a matter of concern to some of the investigation is now indicating that he will talk and reveal everything he knows. president trump has repeated his call for teachers to be armed with guns. pressure is growing for action after the shooting at a school in florida last week in which 1a students and three members of staff were killed. meanwhile, florida's governor wants to restrict the sale of guns. our north america editor

jon sopel reports. staff and teachers return to the marjory stoneman douglas school today as a nation continues to grope for explanations of what happened. for some, it's all about guns. for others, it's mental health and societal breakdown. but today, a new culprit — scot peterson, a deputy sheriff who arrived outside the school 90 seconds after the shooting started, but for whatever reason didn't act. and he's taking a mighty kicking from the president. he was there for five minutes, during the entire shooting. so he certainly did a poorjob. but that's a case, where somebody was outside. they were trained. they didn't react properly under pressure, or they were cowards. speaking to conservative activists, the president also restated his belief that some teachers sheulér weapons in school. and the beauty is it's concealed —

nobody would ever see it unless they needed it. it's concealed! so this crazy man who walked in wouldn't even know who it is that has it. that's good. that's not bad, that's good. and a teacher would have shot the hell out of him before he knew what happened. cheering and applause. and in florida, the governor has announced a range of measures to tighten security. the goal of this plan of action is to make massive changes in protecting our schools, provide significantly more resources for mental health, and to do everything we can to keep guns out of the hands of those dealing with mental problems or threatening harm to themselves or others. the president has just told a news conference "we are well on the way but so far, there have only been sketchy proposals and no class of weapon is being banned. well on the way? well, that might be wishful thinking. jon sopel, bbc news, washington. well, earlier, ispoke tojim irvine

of the buckeye firearms association in ohio, where they run a training camp for teachers who are armed and taught to deal with attacks. well, we do not want our kids to keep getting killed. but looking at all the evidence, for example, compiled so far, they have seen no evidence that arming people in these sorts of situations prevents this from happening or stops the perpetrators. i beg to differ. imagine if that coach had a firearm. he was there, he went to the gunmen. we got these people at the school. all we're talking is a select group. there is no disagreement that the vast majority of school staff do not want to carry a firearm. no—one should ever be forced to do this. if we have people who are going

to be seen to die in the event, how about we give them training so they live through the event. i don't understand how that is controversial. giving them the tools to do that. what are the practicalities of this? american high schools are very big. unless there is an armed teacher almost at the door of every classroom or at every single entrance, you willjust have fag? héé “fit in rani??? 5? ééhiile there is no problem and they have not been killing at schools. so you say that the reason this school in florida was attacked i don't know why it was attacked. but what we do know, when we study active killer events, almost every one in this country happens in the few places where the victims are not allowed to shoot back. there is a trend there.

when you lookaiiile_tesult.- it is time we realised the unintended consequence of a well—meaning policy. the bottom line is that results matter and the results of gun control are failure and dead kids. it is enough. let's take a look at some of the other stories making the news. the united states is to extend its stop—and—search operations on ships suspected of violating sanctions against north korea. it's the latest us effort to stop pyongyang's nuclear programme. 18 people have died in two bomb blasts in the somali capital mogadishu. 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. the president of the european council has described as "pure illusion" any attempt by britain to pick and choose the terms of its future relationship with europe. speaking at a summit of eu leaders which was not attended by britain, donald tusk, sei'd'he' hepedtcrget

what britain's proposals were when he meets theresa may next week. from brussels, damian grammaticas reports. france, germany, italy — europe's leaders all in brussels today, all waiting to hear what the uk wants from its future ties. but if theresa may's plan is to seek special access to the single market for parts of the uk economy, it was immediately rebuffed. it's not an a la carte. it's not possible to be aligned with the european union when it suits and not what it doesn't. that's not possible. the eu doesn't yet know what was decided by mrs may and they said again today, she can't pick and choose only the parts of the single market she likes. i'm glad that the uk government seems to be moving towards a more detailed position. however, if the media reports are correct,

i'm afraid that the uk position today is based on pure illogic. —— i am afraid that the uk position today is based on pure illusion. it looks like the cake philosophy is still alive. but the uk's exit poses problems for the eu, too. today, its leaders were tackling perhaps the thorniest issue of all — the eu's looming budget problem. than ten billion euros a year — that's at least 10% of its annual spending. there is a hole in the budget. is your government prepared to accept less and see cuts to spending? well, you know, if you listen to politicians that say there's a hole in the budget, but finally, things are financed. so if we want to finance more, we have to pay more. it's very simple.

is your country prepared to pay more after brexit? no. if i would keep my answer short, i would say no. so, hints at divisions between the eu countries that might just give the uk some leverage in negotiations to come. damian grammaticas, bbc news, brussels. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: made in north korea — a graphic design exhibition opens prince charles has chosen his bride. the prince feels-see: three weeks ago. she accepted, she says, without hesitation. as revolutions go, this had its fair share of bullets. a climax in the night outside the gates of mr marcos's sanctuary, malacanang, the name itself symbolising one of the cruellest regimes of modern asia. scientists in scotland have produced a sheep called dolly using a cell

from another sheep. citizens are trying tereemetegers though there is joy and relief today, the scars are everywhere. not for 20 years have locusts been seen in such numbers in this 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 credibility and authority of the next pope, benedict xvi will, in his own words, be hidden from the world for the rest of his life. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: as the continue to as the - continue to bombard eastern a un security eastern ghouta, a un security council has again postponed a vote on the ceasefire.

one of donald trump's former campaign aides has admitted to conspiring against the united states and lying let's get more now on our top story: the ongoing crisis in syria and the un's decision to postpone a vote on a potential ceasefire. lina sergie attar is a syria—american writer from aleppo, and also ceo and co—founder of karam foundation — a non—profit organisation that provides humanitarian aid to syrians. she joins us live via webcam from chicago, illinois. thank you so much forjoining us. first of all, why it has a proven so complicated to get the resolution? well, first of all thank you for having me on this very tragic week for serious, - we have seen the fer eerieuerwhenrweheve seenthe ‘ escalate even further, the war escalate even further, the syrian ground war. it has become the norm for these kinds of situations where the regime and russia are where the regime and russiefiere theory and billy naib ‘s eégfléiggiiflééig a??? ell§ 5352 el

areas 555555155i15551§ 5525 ell§ 5355 5| areas like eastern ghouta, like and areas like eastern ghouta, like we saw last year in aleppo. —— are like. to bombarding areas like. they need to give civilians the relief they deserve. i e was the deserve. [thought that was the here, -m min-l [rm- é where they 53.53 well, when it gaps where they exist? well, when it comes to syria, what we have seen over the past seven years, so many resolutions that - aimed towards resolutions that were aimed towards protection of civilians against airstrikes, chemical weapons attacks, against the sieges that used starvation as a weapon of war, used starvatiog gg g gggggg 2; £2; all used starvatiog gg g figgggg g; fig; all of the war crimes that are and all of the war crimes that are being used against the syrian people over almost seven years, with hundreds of thousands of people dead, millions of refugees, millions

of displaced, over 5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance inside the country and still, these resolutions get vetoed by russia. so, it would seem that this if it can be gotten through, would bejust a sticking plaster? true, but it would be also saving lives, as many lives as we can save, at least opening up humanitarian corridors to reach the people of eastern ghouta, who even before this latest and :;;— ..: russian air had russian air- had been russ from - had been russ from malnutrition, ween russ from malnutrition, lack of suffering from malnutrition, lack of any kind of basic necessities. humanitarian agencies need to reach the people i eastern ghouta. over the people of eastern ghouta. over 400,000 people are living in this siege and people must be able to reach them and to help them and to be able to help as many people as to be able to survive. how possible to be able to survive. how can people, how can the people of

eastern ghouta be assisted at this point in time? first of all, we need have enough, or just have enough, orjust a complete to have enough, orjust a complete stop the airstrikes on eastern ghouta. there has to be a cessation of the hostilities first and then we need to open up humanitarian access corridors for the agencies to be able to enter eastern ghouta, evacuate the people in - of evacuate the people in need of medical assistance and reach the and the elderly who are children and the elderly who are suffering from extreme malnutrition. 0k, suffering from extreme malnutrition. ok, thank you very much. that is lina sergie attar, the syrian american writer, aleppo. when america announced last september that its embassy in havana would no longer be issuing visas, it marked a serious cooling of relations with cuba. it also meant that cubans would have to travel to the embassy in colombia instead — a trip which is beyond the reach of many, in the us. andrew plant reports.

a hotel room in colombia. this man is already a long way from home. to try to get a visa to enter the usa and visit the family he hasn't seen for almost six years. “553555“??- moment. all the effort will be worth it. to be with my family — that's my one and only wish. cubans used to get us visas through an embassy in havana, now, though, they must travel 2,000 kilometres to bogota in colombia. last year, president trump announced the us was suspending in place by barack obama. the number of immigrant visas issued to cubans has since crashed. the extra travel cost simply too much for many.

pedro, a pastry salesman, is one of the lucky ones finally getting the paperwork he needs. translation: today i have got what i most desired, to reunite with my family and share time with them in the united states, to see my children and grandchildren, all my family. now united after so many years with his daughter, overcoming the extra difficulties that are now stopping so many cubans from stepping foot on american soil. barbara alston, lead singer of the 60 us girl group, the crystals, has died at the age of 74. she was crucial to the sound of hit singles such as da doo ron ron and there's no other like my baby. she died a week ago in north carolina after contracting flu, but the news has

only now emerged. also, tributes are being paid to eddy amoo of the band the real thing, who also died aged 74. famous for hits such as you to me are everything in the 1970s, the band were considered pioneers in the uk music industry after becoming the first all—black band now, as we've been hearing, the united states has unveiled and washington, and the fact that we know so little about the regime and its people. but a new exhibition opening in london is aiming to change that — when you think of north korea, these

are the sort of images that public come to mind. military parades, marching, closed off, decision marching, closed off, isolated country, and mystery to the rest of the world. that is why this exhibition is such an eye—opener. it is trying to provide some insight into what life is really like the koreans. we do not understand north korea, it is a very competent 55r55. it: 15 5 55.155 ffiet55 hf. 5555. it: 15 5 555555 5555755 hf. understand 5555. it: i5 5 555555 5755755 hf. understand elements 5555. it: i5 5 555555 i5 51555 hf. understand elements of country. we understand elements of it but we tend to have a very black—and—white viewpoint, so i think this is one of these elements that if we start to understand it, it will improve our knowledge. their propaganda posters, packaging for sweets and soft drinks, even packets! north sugar. it is sweets and soft drinks, even packets! north - sugar. it is not all of north korean sugar. it is not all inward looking, your collection of sta m ps inward looking, your collection of stamps featuring princess diana, made to commemorate the birth of prince william. i would be very

if people saw them and were worried if people saw them and were then deciding to defects in north then decidingte defectsin north then decidingrte defectsin north but then decidihgrte defectsin north but i think it is - to be korea, but i think it is going to be more likely that people will understand more and want to understand more and want to understand more. for so many people, north korea - become an enigma. north korea has become an enigma. people are unknowable, its its people are unknowable, its future uncertain. at this exhibition could change thatjust a little. —— but. for a running race to celebrate men's day. the snow and ice was no obstacle for the men, as they sprinted through the streets of minsk. shuba krishnan reports. it isa it is a race like no other. one shirtless men running through the icy streets of minsk in —10 celsius. why, you ask. well, it is all in

celebration of their manhood, of celebration of their manhood; of translation: is and exciting course. translation: is and exciting event that really allows you to show your masculine qualities, to show that you are worth something. —— it is. i is that you are worth something. —— it is.iisa that you are worth something. —— it is. i is a big challenge for our is. it is a big challenge for our quys is. it is a big challenge for our guys and for me personally. is called the real man racing is held annually on the day of the defender of the fatherland. the event originated in russia in 1918, when the red was originated in russia in 1918, when the red - was created. and while the country's military it honours the country's military servicemen, it has now transformed into a day that as a whole. translation: it does not masur whether you are celebrating men or not, the atmosphere of the day is great, the race is great. it is beautiful. and it looks like many of

the spectators certainly agree with that. why not just the spectators certainly agree with that. why notjust celebrate with a cup of hot chocolate? that is a way to celebrate how manly you. don't forget you can get in touch with me and some of the team on twitter. i'm @nkemifejika. bye bye. hello there. the weekend is upon us and it should be a lovely one to get out and about, if you are appropriately dressed. the skies will often be blue, but underneath those blue skies it is going to feel chilly, particularly when we add in the strength of a biting cold easterly wind. now, we start saturday morning on a very chilly note. you can see the blue colours on the chart here. a widespread frost, temperatures below freezing for many. perhaps not quite as cold for northern ireland, because there's a bit more in the way of cloud here. where you see this white shimmering effect on the map, that shows where we have atooch now, that frost will slowly melt away to reveal a lot of dry weather

and some spells of sunshine. but, with that chilly breeze down towards the south, it is going to feel quite cold, despite the fact the temperatures on the thermometer will reach around six, possibly seven degrees in parts. but sunny skies for much of wales and northern england. northern ireland brightening up after the cloudy start and things turning brighter again in western scotland, after a cloudy start. in eastern scotland up towards the northern isles, we should see a fair amount of sunshine. then we go through saturday night, we do it all again underneath these largely clear skies. it is going to turn cold. perhaps at this stage, a little more cloud feeding in towards parts of eastern scotland and north—east england. notice still some green shading on the map here. maybe not quite as cold underneath the cloud. the chilliest weather will be underneath the clear sky. again, here's the frost to start sunday morning. that frost only slowly lifting as temperatures rise slowly on sunday morning.

but then again, a lot of sunshine. but that extra cloud for eastern scotland and parts of north—east england could start to produce the odd snow flurry. still with that chilly feel, still that cold easterly wind, particularly noticeable in the south. so when we add on the strength of the wind, this is what it will feel like — subzero for the likes of birmingham and norwich. and that's because we're bringing in the air all the way from siberia. we really start to tap into that very cold air as we head into the new working week. not only will it be cold, with temperatures struggling to get of some snow showers, particularly in eastern areas. perhaps some areas with more persistent snow at times, but even further west, not completely exempt. perhaps not quite as many showers but just about anywhere, we will have the potential for a little bit of snow. so, to sum up things for next week, it will be very cold with bitter winds. some snow at times and

widespread frosts and ice. this is bbc news. the headlines: a vote on a un security council resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in syria has now been postponed until later on saturday. there's been deadlock since thursday because of objections from russia. more than 460 people have been killed in the past week. us investigators examining russian influence on the 2016 election have done a deal with donald trump's former campaign aide rick gates. mr gates has admitted lying to the fbi and has pleaded guilty to conspiracy. reports say that other more serious potential charges, including bank fraud and money laundering, have been dropped. the head of the european council says the uk is under "pure illusion" if it thinks it can pick and choose the terms of its future relationship with europe. donald tusk says he wants to get more clarity on britain's proposals from theresa may next week. in around ten minutes you can see newswatch,

but now on bbc news, it's time for click.