this is bbc news. i'm sharanjit leyl. our top stories: the british foreign secretary accuses president putin of being behind a nerve agent attack. we think it overwhelmingly likely that it was his decision to direct the use of a nerve agent on the streets of the uk, the streets of europe, for the first time since the second world war. as the conflict in syria continues — aid agencies say over 50,000 people have fled afrin, in the last few days alone. weeks after stepping down — former south african president jacob zuma is charged with corruption, over a billion—dollar arms deal. three african countries — home to most of the continent's elephants — call for a ban on the sale of all antique ivory. more elephants are being killed every yaer than are being born. it's still a big crisis for africa's elephants. jumping to safety — a dozen people are injured when a ski—lift goes out of control in the russian resort of georgia.

hello and welcome to bbc news. there's been a swift and angry response from the kremlin after the british foreign secretary said it was "overwhelmingly likely" that vladimir putin personally took the decision to use a nerve agent on a former russian spy in the uk. moscow said borisjohnson‘s comments were "shocking" and "unforgivable". 0ur diplomatic correspondent james landale's report contains some flashing images. boris johnson brought the polish foreign minister to a battle of britain museum today, a memorial to a warfought in the air. every single plane that britain had, was up in the sky. and the foreign secretary used the opportunity to push forward

britain's current battle with russia — fought this time over the airwaves, blaming vladimir putin personally for the nerve agent attack in salisbury. 0ur quarrel is with putin's kremlin, and with his decision — and we think it overwhelmingly likely that it was his decision — to direct the use of a nerve agent on the streets of the uk, on the streets of europe, for the first time since the second world war. that is why we are at odds with russia. today, president putin visited a medical centre in st petersburg ahead of sunday's elections. his spokesman issued an angry statement, accusing mrjohnson of a "shocking and unpardonable breach of diplomatic etiquette." the kremlin confirmed that some british diplomats, based here at the embassy in moscow, would be expelled, an announcement officials said could come at any moment. a response to the uk's decision to expel 23 russian intelligence officers who will leave london next tuesday. once again, russia's foreign

minister denied any involvement in the salisbury attack. translation: i don't really want to comment on the current situation any more. let it stay on the conscience of those who have started this shameless, groundless, russophobic game. and as for the undiplomatic language or the defence secretary, gavin williamson? translation: he says russia should go away and shut up. well, maybe he lacks education? i don't know. 0fficials here at the foreign office believe that the robustness of britain's response and the unity of the western allies has surprised russia, and they say they are ready for any form of retaliation coming from moscow. as one source said, "we've got more stuff in the locker." it's now almost two weeks since the former russian intelligence officer sergei skripal and his daughter, yulia, were poisoned with something russia's london ambassador named today as novichok a234, a delayed casualty nerve agent. downing street said officials

from the chemical weapons watchdog would come to britain imminently to start verifying the nerve agent. the investigation in salisbury focused on mr skripal‘s car, potentially containing clues about how he and his daughter were poisoned. the police here were still in their protective gear, still investigating, still making the streets safe. james landale, bbc news. well, meanwhile police in london have opened a criminal investigation into the mysterious death of another russian exile, nikolai glushkov, who was found at his home on monday. a postmortem examination suggested he'd been strangled. although he died just a week after the attack on sergei skripal and his daughter, officers aren't linking the two cases so far. here's tom symonds — again, there's flash photography. it was an ominous development, given what has happened elsewhere.

monday night a 68—year—old man found dead, his body taken for a postmortem examination. 0minous because nikolai glushkov was russian, a political exile, number one on that country's list of people it would like sent back to russia. not that his neighbours had much idea of his background. i think he presented as a normal englishman. i didn't know he was russian. it's horrible to be, i mean on your doorstep, for one thing, but to happen to him, it must be a horrid thing to have happened. the daughter must be terribly upset. all week, his house has been the subject of a detailed search. the tents were for protecting items of interest. a pathologist has concluded that nikolai glushkov died as a result of compression of the neck, suggesting strangulation, but detectives are clear they are keeping an open mind. they'll be looking at all aspects of his life, and of course his past. but the stakes for them are high, not least because of the possible

consequences for britain's relationship with russia. in the 1990s, glushkov was director of russia's state airline, aeroflot, but in 1999 he was charged with fraud and money—laundering. afterfive years in prison, he fled to the uk and was given political asylum. among his friends here was the russian billionaire boris berezovsky, a prominent critic of vladimir putin, found dead in 2013 at his former wife's berkshire home. the coroner recorded an open verdict, but nikolai glushkov was convinced that berezovsky and other russian exiles had been murdered. this week, glushkov was due to appear in court in london. the russian authorities were continuing to pursue him for more than £100 million of aeroflot‘s money. did his past make him a target? russia's sternest critics have no problem believing that. mr glushkov‘s death fits into a wider pattern over the last

12 years or so of kremlin opponents dropping dead across europe. the consequences for the kremlin of this were limited forfar too long. the uk response has recently been much stronger, but there's still an awful lot more that we could do. but it's clear to take the strongest possible action britain will have to rely on the gathering of solid evidence. so the world watches another complex investigation unfold. a turkish air strike has reportedly hit the main hospital in the syrian town of afrin, killing nine people. it's not immediately clear whether medical staff are among the dead. turkey's military, and its syrian allies, have denied hitting civilians in their offensive against the kurdish militia, who control the northern town. around 30,000 people have fled the area in recent days. lebo diseko reports. an exodus, a seemingly endless

strea m an exodus, a seemingly endless stream of civilians leaving afrin. desperation punctuated why the sound of despair. tens of thousands of people are said to have left the city near the border with turkey. the united nations says 50,000 have left in the last few days alone. translation: mack we have no money. we have nothing. we have kids. all of us left our houses. where can we go? translation: houses and buildings are bombarded and this is why we left the city of afrin. human rights organisations must speak about those things. translation: i am arabic. i have six children on the frontline. we will not abandon afrin. i want to return. ijust want to find shelter for those children and then i will return to afrin. this is what they are escaping. turkey is bombarding the mainly

kurdish town, trying to force our fighters from the ypg. turkey calls the kurdish militia terrorist. but the kurdish militia terrorist. but the group has been key in the fight against the so—called islamic state which is why the us has been backing it. it is perhaps afrin‘s proximity to the border that makes turkey feel so to the border that makes turkey feel so threatened. turkish fighters have now almost completely encircled the town. 0n the other side of the country, just outside damascus, another big military operation,. syrian government forces helped by russia are trying to retake the area from the opposition. calls for a ceasefire have been ignored. it is thought that 80 people were killed by russian airstrikes on write a. 14 of them were children. thousands of civilians have now made the journey out of town but seven years into this conflict and with no end in sight, the future for people here looks bleak. let's take a look at some

of the other stories making the news. an iraqi asylum seeker who set off a home—made bomb on the london underground has been found guilty of attempted murder. 18—year—old ahmed hassan planted the device on a train in south—west london in september. more than 50 people were injured in the explosion — experts say that if it had detonated fully, it could have claimed many lives. hollywood trade publications are reporting thatjohn bailey, the president of the organisation that oversees the oscars awards is being investigated over allegations of sexual misconduct. the reports, citing unnamed sources, say the academy of motion picture arts and sciences is investigating three claims of sexual harassment against its president. football's world governing body, fifa, has confirmed that video assistant referees will be used at this year's world cup in russia. var technology has been trialled in several major leagues this season and will allow for certain referees‘ decisions to be reviewed. the move was announced by fifa president, gianni infantino,

at the organisation's council meeting in colombia. leaders from across south east asia are meeting in sydney to agree on new measures to combat terrorism in the region. the special asean summit is being hosted by australia which is eager to work more closely member nations. 0ur correspondent hywel griffith is in sydney now. we know that they have notjust been talking terrorism, they have been discussing trade and protectionism and the rise of china. can you bring us and the rise of china. can you bring us date with what has happened?- of that is on the agenda. australia may not be a member of athey and that it may not be a member of athey and thatitis may not be a member of athey and that it is keen to work closely with them and to trade with and given the number of growing economies within that group of ten. the focus for the first day of the summit is, as you

mentioned, terrorism and the evolving terror threat. we expect some sort of communique to be signed before the end of the day where the ten members and australia alongside will try and harmonise their counterterrorism laws, security laws and effort to counter radicalisation. it is pertinent because last year we saw the siege in the philippines, illustrating that there has been a resurgence of violent extremism within the region. it does border closely with these nations, australia, but it is aware that the flow back of fighters from syria does create a threat within the region and therefore there is a need to work closely together. and all of it is coming amid some protest as well over the inclusion of certain leaders? absolutely. all those things are on the official summit agenda. what is not on there is any discussion of human rights breaches and in particular we think

the situation of the rohingya people. hundreds of thousands who fled myanmar. aung san suu kyi, the state councillor, is part of the discussion and she is here. the australian prime minister that he will discuss human rights with her but in bilateral discussions, not as a formal part of asean. and similarly, the anger of many cambodians here in australia, the president, hun sen, the prime minister of cambodia for over 30 yea rs, minister of cambodia for over 30 years, accused of human rights bridges and who silenced his opposition, his political opponents in cambodia, we have seen people here protest against that today. again, if australia does want to raise any concerns there they will do it diplomatically behind closed doors and not make it part of the asean formal summit. there is an informal agreement between the members of asean, they do not meddle in each other‘s business. i think australia will abide by that in the

asean summit. it may raise, however, concerns on the sidelines. stay with us on bbc news — still to come... 0ne one dozen people are injured after a ski lift malfunctions and moves into reverse at a resort in the mountains of georgia. today we have closed the book on apartheid and that chapter. more than 3,000 subway passengers were affected. nausea, fainting, headaches and the dimming of vision, all of this caused by an apparently organised attack. the trophy itself was on the pedestal in the middle of the cabinet here. it was an international trophy and we understand now that the search for it has become an international search.

above all, this was a triumph for the christian democrats of the west, offering reunification as quickly as possible, and that's what the voters wanted. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: the british foreign secretary accuses president putin of being behind the nerve—agent attack on sergei skripal and his daughter. the kremlin calls the comments shocking and unforgivable. aid agencies say over 50,000 people have fled afrin, in the last few days alone. syrian allies deny hitting civilians in their offensive against the kurdish militia,

who control the northern town. president trump has signed legislation that allows us officials to travel to taiwan to meet their counterparts. the chinese foreign ministry said on friday that it was opposed to the move, urging the united states to abide by its "one china" policy, and cease official exchanges with taiwan. 0ur correspondent chris buckler has the latest from washington. america doesn't have formal ties with taiwan, but it has long been regarded as being one of taiwan's allies and protectors, probably its most important protector. now, what this travel act is effectively going to do is not change that, but it will allow officials from america to travel to the island in order to meet officials there. so that is regarded as being somewhat of a step towards greater diplomatic relationships, even if there isn't formally one. and it's key to point out at this point that the white house has been very careful in its language. it has very much set up to this point that this bill is non—binding,

that it wouldn't go into effect, even with president trump's signature. but china has reacted by saying that it regards this as being something that it's totally against. it says that really america should stand by its one china policy, and of course, that goes back to this old relationship with china. china regards taiwan as being a place that should be under its sovereignty, and therefore america is potentially getting involved in a pretty diplomatic, sticky situation. south africa's former president jacob zuma will be prosecuted for corruption, just weeks after being ousted from power. the charges relate to a multi—billion dollar arms deal before he took office. he'll face trial on sixteen counts of racketeering, fraud, money—laundering and corruption. mr zuma denies any wrongdoing. the bbc‘s milton nkosi reports from johannesburg. the call forjacob zuma to have his day in court has been

a long time coming. he is facing 16 charges of corruption, including fraud, racketeering, and money—laundering. the charges had been controversially set aside nine years ago, paving the way for mr zuma to become president. in the light of the above, i have come to the difficult conclusion that it is neither possible nor desirable to continue with the prosecution of mr zuma. this case dates back to the early ‘90s, when the state purchased fighter jets, patrol boats and other arms, in a massive defence overhaul now known as the arms deal. the charges relate to allegations that mr zuma solicited bribes for his personal benefit from a french arms company, through his financial adviser, schabir shaikh. shaikh was tried and found guilty of corruption back in 2005, but the former president has always maintained his innocence.

this is what he told me when i asked him about these corruption allegations back in 2012. there's nothing to clear my name of. absolutely. nothing. i'm sure that is just politicking, more than anything. there is nothing. you know, there was only one issue that was raised some time ago, the arms deal, and i was never even involved in the processes of the arms deal. i was still a provincial minister, i was not even in the national. so i never got involved. there were allegations, and these allegations couldn't stick. i have got no corruption to clear. mr zuma is no stranger to controversy. two years ago, he was ordered by the highest court in the land to repay some of the public money

used for security upgrades at his private residence in rural nkandla. the current charges he is facing have nothing to do with his latest corruption scandal, involving his relationship with the controversial gupta family. the prosecuting authority said it has more than 200 witnesses lined up for this case. this is going to be a long and complicated trial. milton nkosi, bbc news, johannesburg. three african countries that are home to the majority of the continent's elephants have signed a petition asking britain and the rest of the eu to ban the legal trade in antique ivory. at a wildlife summit in botswana, the country's president said a complete trade ban would help protect the remaining elephants. 0ur africa correspondent alastair leithead reports from botswa na. botswana is the last sanctuary

for africa's elephants. half of the animals left on the continent live here and on its borders. but conservationists say the continuing trade in tusks, be it legal or illegal, to feed the market for ivory in china means the elephants are still seriously endangered. thousands of elephants are still being killed for their ivory across africa every year, leaving orphans, like these guys. although the scale of poaching is down from what it was a few years ago, more elephants are being killed every year than are being born. it is still a big crisis for africa's elephants. the political will has not been

there. if our neighbours can match botswa na's example, we there. if our neighbours can match botswana's example, we can match this process. —— crisis this -- crisis. this is one way to address it — cracking down hard on the poachers and traffickers. a demonstration at the giants club summit shows how lessons learned in counterterrorism are now being used for anti—poaching. making sure animals are worth more alive is important, but many here think ending trade is key. this ivory ornament was bought at auction in the uk as an antique, and therefore legal to sell. but radiocarbon dating proved it was from an elephant killed 13 years ago. if the experts can't tell, then how on earth are the public supposed to know? and i think the default setting when you have that level of uncertainty simply has to be, "we can't afford to sell ivory." that is why a global petition is pushing for an eu and uk ban of antique ivory sales, now signed by three african presidents. well, i think the way we are moving now, when you look at the other countries coming on board, for example, like china.

i think they are setting a wonderful example for others to follow, whether it is the uk, the european union or anyone else. banning the legal ivory trade won't stop the illegal killing and orphaning of elephants, but it is another step towards making ivory a less acceptable ornament. alastair leithead, bbc news, botswana. skiers in the republic of georgia were forced to jump for their lives when a ski lift suffered a severe malfunction in the causcasus mountains. at least 12 people were injured when the lift went into reverse at and began throwing people off at speed, near the country's border with russia. georgina smythe reports. holidaymakers watched in horror as a day on a mountain turns to mayhem. ski lift travelling downhill at georgia's resort fails, picking up speed and flinging skiers off

backwards off the slope. this ski in an orange jacket is suddenly hurtled into the carnage as lift chairs pile at the base. terrified onlookers are unable to do anything to watch. further uphill, ski is seeing the danger ahead jumped for their lives, abandoning the lift and scrambling out of the way while screaming for others to do the same. suddenly the lift comes to a stop and this is the destruction left behind this topic the injured extracted from the wreckage and treated close by on the snow. the resort, which is regarded as the country ‘s best and most popular ski station, confirmed at least 12 people received moderate injuries, but there are no reports of any fatalities. the incident has shot the industry, it was stated the

ski lift producer was contacted and the investing in —— the incident will be investigated. rupaul has big —— become the first rag queen to be given a star on the hollywood walk of fame. jane fonda said the star should have been three times size of all the others. now, here's one for those with a sweet tooth. the world's most expensive chocolate has gone on display in portugal. the diamond shaped treat is filled with saffron threads, white truffle, madagascan vanilla, and coated in 23 carat edible gold leaf. the chocolate is strictly limited edition — only one thousand are being made. but if you fancy one it's going to cost you — the precious sweet is priced at almost $9,500. hello there.

step outside this weekend and you may well have a bit of a shock to the system, particularly if you got to enjoy some sunshine during friday, because in southern areas, that lifted temperatures all the way up to 1a degrees. forget about that for saturday. two or three degrees will be much more typical, and not only will it be cold through the weekend, we'll see some snow and some ice, which brings the potential for some disruption. so here's how the early part of saturday shapes up. this band of snow drifting southwards and westwards, perhaps still some rain and sleet into the far south—west. but these showers following on from the east will all be falling as snow, because there is some very cold air racing towards us. i say racing — we'll have a really strong easterly wind blowing, and that will make it feel extremely cold. now, i've taken the cloud off the charts to allow us to focus on the snow. you can see this band of snow moving across southern areas. that could give a covering in places, then these showers feeding in across the east,

particularly in parts of northern england. all the while, for northern ireland in scotland, not as many showers. there will be some sunshine here, but wherever you are, a cold day. and then, when we add on the strength of the wind and factor that into the equation, well, it will feel like it is sub—zero across many parts of the country. and then, as we go into saturday night, we have met office amber "be prepared" warnings in force, initially across parts of eastern england, into the north midlands, also parts of the south—east, including the london area, and then into sunday, parts of south—west england and south wales. these are the areas most prone to disruptive snowfall as we head through saturday night and into sunday. lots of showers pushing in from the east, as you can see. and then later in the night, through the early hours, there is the potential for an area of more persistent snow to develop across the south—west of england and into the south of wales. temperatures dropping below freezing, so quite a widespread frost and some ice to take us into sunday morning. so on sunday there is the potential for significant and disruptive snow across the south—west of england

and the south—west of wales. worth staying in touch with our forecast through the weekend. but notice further east, the showers tend to fade away. more on the way of dry weather, some spells of sunshine. it will, though, still be cold. now, high pressure will be sitting to the north as we go through the weekend. during sunday night, that high drifts a bit further westwards, and eventually that will cut off the feed of easterly winds, giving something a bit more northerly. still not a very warm wind direction, but things will turn a bit less cold through next week. dry to start, more unsettled later on. this is bbc news. the headlines: awarof a war of words has broken out between london and moscow after the british foreign secretary said it was overwhelmingly likely that vladimir putin personally took the decision to use a nerve agent on the former russian spy and his daughter. the kremlin says the accusations are

unforgivable. aid agencies in syria say over 50,000 people have fled the rebel—held areas of eastern ghouta, in the last few days alone.