has filed a federal lawsuit over gun control legislation that had just been signed into law in florida. the nra says the law, which raises the legal age to buy guns, violates the second amendment, the right to bear arms. president trump has tweeted that a deal with north korea is, as he put it, very much in the making. earlier his spokeswoman said a proposed meeting between the president and the north korean leader, kimjong—un, would not happen unless washington saw concrete steps or actions by pyongyang. an aid convoy has successfully unloaded its food supplies in the rebel held enclave of eastern ghouta in syria. it was the third attempt this week to get lorries into the area to help trapped civilians. now on bbc news, time for the travel show. mauritius, a force of nature in the

middle of the indian ocean. mauritius is marking the 50th year of independence from british colonial rule, but the intriguing, rich and sometimes dark story of this island nation goes back way before then. on myjourney on my journey i'm on myjourney i'm going to explore the history of mauritius. see and taste how multiculturalism works here. that is nice. go on a day to the races. did we win? did we win? and visit a unique conservation project saving endangered species. this island is so often labelled as

just a luxury beach paradise, but the reality is so much more fascinating than that. mauritius, gorgeous beaches, turquoise waters and lush vegetation. but the cuban story is just as awe—inspiring. —— human. this mountain on the south—west of the island faces in the direction of madagascar and the stands 555 metres high. it's also at a 45 degrees incline. no walk in the park. for the likes of me, this is a challenging climb, i've got to say. in fact, i think for anybody it's

challenging. near the top ijoin a guy who's done this climb up to three times a day every day pretty much everyday for 13 years. its volcanic. this is volcanic rock? it's probably from the first eruption 10 million years ago. and actually it's very good for climbing. yeah, there's lots of good grip. the mountain marks a dark but symbolic chapter in the island's history, the days of slavery under dutch, french and british rule. this is where many escaped slaves called the maroons found refuge. they could have a look towards madagascar and for them... have a look towards madagascar and for them. .. that's home. that was home, that was the site and they expected one day may be to build, like, a craft and go back home and

just to escape from this prison. horrible. it's a world away up here from the beach resorts that populate the rest of the island, but actually this trek is almost a pilgrimage to get to the very hard of mauritius identity. there's a particularly poignant tale told about the maroons in what should have been their moment of celebration. when slavery was abolished here in 1835, soldiers climbed the mountain to tell the maroons they were free, but the escaped slaves thought they were being recaptured and instead chose tojump off the mountain. why do you think this is so important to the identity of people from mauritius? because i guess it's

a unique story. it's part of our story here in mauritius and it's one of the only places we know of that somehow the slaves resisted to their masters and for us, it's almost like a venerated mountain, a sacred mountain, not only for the descendants of slaves but for mauritius is as well. after slavery was abolished, the british brought in hundreds of thousands of so—called intention labourers from india and china in what was known as the great experiment. today port lewis is the country's capital with its colonial legacy and contemporary diversity everywhere to be seen. i'm about to get a personalised unit

for what this city and mauritius offers in terms of its diverse food and other wares as well. hi, how do you do, nice to meet you. nice to meet you. so this is a food place here? yes. but you'd never know to look at it, it's pretty low—key. yes, but it's pretty famous as well. he's making some deep—fried pits, you can deep—fried almost everything. he has this batter that he made, it's with flour, some herbs and salt. richards may seem isolated in the middle of the indian ocean, but it was actually nicely placed on the spice route which linked asia, africa and europe. —— mauritius.

the spice route which linked asia, africa and europe. -- mauritius. now he's adding all the herbs you need for the chilly bites. chillis. are they strong chillis? spring onions. there's a clear inference from gujarati traders whose forefathers came over from india in the 19th century but there's a distinctive mauritian accent there's a distinctive mauritian a cce nt to there's a distinctive mauritian accent to the food too. itjust hit me! now, this is a multi— ethnic multicultural multilingual multi— religion country, so hinduism is the majority religion but you've also got christianity, islam, chinese religions, buddhism. it's all here. where are we? we're in a small

market that is made up of street vendors. all these people used to be selling everything from clothes to food to electronic gadgets on the street but that was illegal so the state gave them some spaces. ca va? so this is after, he used to be on ca va? so this is after, he used to beona ca va? so this is after, he used to be on a street corner in chinatown selling dumplings with his father. so now he is here. chinese -- mauritian? yeah. this is the long fish? yes, the long fish. that is nice, that is really good. how many will years have you working? for myself, after schooling, nearly 50 years. 50 years! the sheer diversity of food is one benefit of the

cultural hotpot in russia's. another is language, french, english and creole is all spoken here. and then there's music. —— mauritius. sega is a rhythm and genre indigenous to this island. and this lady is known as the voice of the indian ocean. be distinctive drum is called the ravan, a home—grown incident that the. —— the. on the tiny island here mauritius is playing host to unique conservation project which takes us back to a time five centuries ago before mankind ever set foot here. the ecosystem of an island like mauritius is extremely fragile, and

ever since mankind arrived in the 17th century, that ecosystem has been severely disrupted and that has led to the extinction of some very important species like, for example, the dodo. the dodo lost the ability to fly through evolution, because until man brought in predators, they didn't really need to. today the one remaining native mammal to mauritius, the fruit bat, can mammal to mauritius, the fruit bat, ca n fly mammal to mauritius, the fruit bat, can fly with elegant ease, but it's not a great favourite for some, like fruit growers. so this is the mauritius fruit bat. it isa so this is the mauritius fruit bat. it is a bat that is unique to mauritius. it can travel for 15 kilometres, 20 kilometres, a0 kilometres, 20 kilometres, a0 kilometres in one night. it's like man that's got hands, but these hands here have been modified amazingly to become a wing.

it's an animal that can see very, very well, despite what a lot of people think. they need to rest during the day to save their energy because it gets hot in the tropics, but at night, as it's getting arc, they leave their daytime roosts, as they're called, they leave their daytime roosts, as they‘ re called, and they leave their daytime roosts, as they're called, and they go out and they're called, and they go out and they look for food. they will first of all eat fruits to keep themselves alive, but also they will be dispersing fruits and they maintain their own survival by maintaining the forests. the larger project here is hugely ambitious and earning international acclaim. we actually are recreating the whole ecosystems. it's one of the few places on earth were we're notjust

trying to save a few odd plants and a few odd animals, we're actually piecing together as best as we can, it will never be perfect, but as best as we can the whole ecosystem as it existed prior to the arrival of man. should we be frightened of this animal, should i be frightened being this close to this animal now? well, i'm not frightened of any animal, i don't know why anyone should be. there are some countries where bats are disperses and carriers of diseases but in mauritius that's not the case. of course where they are carriers of diseases there are some precautions to be taken of course, but that's not the case here. would you like to hold the bat? ru sirius. yes, it will probably never all you a little bit if that's ok? nibbled the? it's claws are going to be quite sharp. wow. i can't believe

it. this is weird is all i can say. this is a magic moment. it. this is weird is all i can say. this is a magic momentlj it. this is weird is all i can say. this is a magic moment. i never thought i'd actually find a bat or an animal like this vaguely even cute, but you know what, it is kind of cute. and luckily not disease ridden as it bites my finger. no! do you want to fly off, shall we get you want to fly off, shall we get you to fly off?, men. animals are central to mauritius and identity in more ways than one. take this weekly ritual that has been tightly wrapped up in russia's culture, going to the races. the islands independence from

british rule was declared on this very racecourse in 1968. —— the champ de mars, in 1968. built more than two centuries ago, it is the old est than two centuries ago, it is the oldest racecourse in the southern hemisphere. and from the start, it is very and was to bring disparate communities together. oh, and to satisfy the local‘s love of gambling, of course. and today, there is one family who now dominate horseracing in mauritius. -- locals'. actually, it was my grandfather who introduced a family to horse racing. he was the first indian to be a member of the

national assembly of parliament. and in 190a, he was a businessman. at the beginning, he was a milk seller, but then he started doing business, buying land and buying and selling land and property. he also realise that buying a race horse would allow him to mingle with the big cheeses, especially french businessman, who ran the economy then, and loved racing. today is a very special day. it is the final, classic race of the season, the duke cup. and a chance for this family to great history in the national sport. what has happened in that we have been able, with a bit of luck, to win the first classic ‘s, and if we win the fourth one today, we will be creating history. —— classics. one today, we will be creating history. -- classics. and we got a

peek into the paddock to meet his cousin. i often see you on the bbc, all over the world! this is very much a family affair. that is the cup that we are looking for. this one here? can i touch it? anyone can touchit one here? can i touch it? anyone can touch it before, but i want to touch it after. afterwards... this is fantastic. i am getting a real insight, behind—the—scenes, with one of the most important men in racing. inside the jockeys' room, preparations are under way. down by the track, i can feel a sense of occasion here. here is where everybody gathers, rich, poor, everyone. whatever language or

culture they are from, which ever cultural group. and this is the first race of the day. i wanted to get a feel for the passion for racing and gambling here. so i approach a local punter. do you recommend any losses? a pink is one. number three, rogue runner, recommend any losses? a pink is one. numberthree, rogue runner, in this race. number three. i am not sure. there is my horse garment number three, rogue runner, and if! there is my horse garment number three, rogue runner, and if i put 100 rupees on it, it says i will get six under ruby ‘s back. can i have 100 and number three, six under ruby ‘s back. can i have 100 and numberthree, rogue six under ruby ‘s back. can i have 100 and number three, rogue runner? -- 600 100 and number three, rogue runner? —— 600 rupees back will stop do you

like rogue runner? is that a good one? and this is my horse. rogue runner. i like his colours. laughter .do runner. i like his colours. laughter . do you like number three? number three. here they come. ? ditty when!? it was three. here they come. ? ditty when! ? it was very close, or one? number three one! at the last minute! did

—— did he win? at the last moment! yes! and now it is time for the climax to the season. the big one, the dukes cup, at a time for the family to make history. they have not left much to chance. they have three out of the 12 horses running, including the favourite, written by the most successful champion jockey in the race. our man is in his lucky spot to win the race next to his family. the favourite and there be hoping that is struggling. it does not look good. let him proxy when! —— don't let him proxy when. not look good. let him proxy when! -- don't let him proxy when. until from the outside another horse from

their stable stars making ground. —— dukes cup. ready to attack is, well, ready to attack. —— nacro one. —— starts. cheering. —— don't let him box you in. the family have done it and made history. now this is over, what do

you feel? a sense of relief, almost? frankly, i don't get worked up before a race. you know, the people around, and the well—wishers, the supporters, everywhere you go around the island, you know, theyjust wish you well. i wanted to win that race for them. and in this 50th anniversary year of independence, it seems that the people of this island have plenty to celebrate. during my time here, i have seen a strong sense of nationhood amongst mauritian is, and also realisation that precious wildlife must be protected. this is a relatively prosperous country, breaking free from its complicated and sometimes shameful colonial past. and what is

exciting that right now, it is unique cultural identity is still evolving and making so much more than just evolving and making so much more thanjust a evolving and making so much more than just a high—end evolving and making so much more thanjust a high—end holiday hotspot. hello there. very different feel to the weather this coming weekend. looks like we'll see some very mild conditions for most of us, compared to what we had last weekend. a big area of low pressure moving up from the south—west, feeding in this mild air, but also a lot of cloud, and also quite a lot of rain, too. rains continuing to move northwards during the overnight period, not really reaching the northern half of scotland, so here it will remain quite chilly. but much milder airfeeding into england and wales, and by saturday morning, we're looking at 10—11 degrees the overnight low here. whereas further north, again, cold across central and northern scotland, with some frost to start to the day. the weekend is looking mild, both saturday and sunday, for all of us, that mild air spreading to scotland as well. there will be a lot of rain at times, and it will be quite cloudy. but, given some sunshine, then that's where you really will feel the mild weather. one weather front moving northwards will be followed by another one

which will arrive later on in the day. so quite a messy picture to start saturday. the rain will be lying across northern ireland, northern england, pushing north into scotland. a little bit of snow over high ground there, as it encounters the cold air. central parts of the country will see a slice of dry weather, before this next band of showery rain pushes up from the south. some of this could be quite heavy. for orkney and shetland here, it will be a cool day. temperatures in single figures, with some sunshine. same, too, across the far north of scotland. but through the afternoon, it will be turning much wetter for the scottish mainland, into northern ireland, and for northern england as well. this showery band of rain will continue to move north. but notice the temperatures — 1a—15 degrees, we could even see 16 celsius, given some prolonged sunny spells. now, the drier weather across the south—west will continue to advance northwards during saturday night, so actually not a bad end to the night on saturday. into sunday, though, it looks like it'll be a bit of a cloudy, damp start. but there will be some brightness across the northern half of the country. further south, we'll start to see some showers developing. some of them could be quite heavy,

maybe even thundery. again, it's going to be mild. 12 or 13 degrees in the south, but even for scotland, double—figure values there, ten or 11 celsius. for lerwick, though, still in low single figures. this is the pressure chart into monday. this area of low pressure will bring some showery rain to the southern half of the country, fairly strong winds at times, too. so some heavy rain for england and wales. showery bursts of rain. a little bit of brightness moving into the afternoon. the best of the dry and brighter weather will be for northern ireland and also for parts of scotland. temperature—wise, again on the mild side, double figures for most, with a high of 12 or 13 across the south. set to stay mild for most of the week. hello, this is breakfast, with charlie stayt and naga munchetty. the attempted murder of a former russian spy and his daughter — the government will hold a second emergency meeting today. nearly 200 military experts in chemical warfare have been deployed to help the investigation.

good morning, it's saturday the 10th of march. also this morning, a deal "very much in the making." president trump strikes a positive tone over a potential meeting with kim jong—un, but the white house says north korea must take "concrete ste ps" before it can take place. tackling the recruitment crisis in england's schools. the education secretary promises to cut teachers' workloads. in sport, a first medal for britain at the winter paralympics,