hello and welcome to bbc news. welcome to bbc news — broadcasting to viewers in north america and around the globe. my name is nkem ifejika. america's envoy to the united nations has warned president trump could authorise further attacks on syria if the assad regime used chemical weapons again in future. nikki haley was speaking after the us, britain and france launched an initial round of strikes in response to last week's suspected chemical attack on the town of douma. the russian president, vladimir putin, a close ally of syria, said he condemned the action "in the most serious way". our north america editorjon sopel starts our coverage. from a french warship in the eastern mediterranean to a british raf base in cyprus to the uss monterey in the red sea, days of planning was replaced by execution, with the bombing and missile strikes. the president said britain, france and the us had marshalled their "righteous power

against barbarism and brutality." a short time ago, i ordered the united states armed forces to launch precision strikes on targets associated with the chemical weapons capabilities of syrian dictator bashar al—assad. and he singled out syria's two principal backers. to iran and to russia, i ask, what kind of nation wants to be associated with the mass murder of innocent men, women and children? the nations of the world can be judged by the friends they keep. in damascus last night, flashes, bangs and streaking missiles lit the night sky. those launching the attack seemed as keen to define what this mission wasn't as what it was.

this was not about intervening in the civil war. it is not about regime change. as i discussed with president trump and president macron, it is about a limited and targeted strike that does not further escalate tensions in the region and that does everything possible to prevent civilian casualties. daylight reveals the extent of the destruction. this is all that's left of the scientific research centre near damascus, one of the targets that took the greatest pounding. at a pentagon briefing this morning, the defence chief said all targets had been hit with no casualties suffered. we're still conducting a more detailed damage assessment, but initial indications are that we accomplished our military objectives without interference from syria. i'd use three words to describe this operation, precise, overwhelming and effective. but in damascus this morning, regime supporters were celebrating a success in repelling american aggression. perhaps more accurately, this strike was more limited

than they'd anticipated. this apparently is president assad strolling to work today, although we don't see a close—up of his face. if he is able to walk tall, it's only because of the support he's receiving from the russians. today at the un they turned theirfire on britain, france and the us. translation: the us and its allies continue to demonstrate blatant disregard for international law. but as permanent members of the security council, they must be especially firm in protecting the un charter. that was positively restrained compared to what syria's ambassador had to say. translation: i say that you a liars, you are spoilers, you are hypocrites. you are attempting to see failure in actions of this organisation which do not pursue your interests. tonight, some of the french jets returned home. along with the british and the americans, they are hoping this isjob done.

but now the world waits to see if there will be retaliation or any further use of chemical weapons. jon sopel, bbc news, washington. there's more detail on our top stories on our website including full coverage on what's going on in syria as well as the latest developments from the us and its allies as to whether or not action might be taken. head to bbc.com/news michael singh is managing director of the washington institute, and a former senior director for middle east affairs at the us national security council. he's in washington for us now. is it mission accomplished? the

mission was to impose a cost on a bashar al—assad for the chemical weapons use and that was successful. is there any point if there is no endgame? i think that is really the big question. it is one thing to uphold this international norm against chemical weapons usage but syrians continue to die by their thousands and assad has made strategic gains through this episode because he has consolidated control in douma where those were used. he controls more of the ground in syria now than he has in any point since the beginning of the conflict. now than he has in any point since the beginning of the conflictm now than he has in any point since the beginning of the conflict. is is one of the scenarios where the united states and its allies just has to accept that president assad will be in charge at least the foreseeable future? can you still

hear us? foreseeable future? can you still hearus? i'm foreseeable future? can you still hear us? i'm just asking, foreseeable future? can you still hear us? i'mjust asking, is foreseeable future? can you still hear us? i'm just asking, is this a scenario where the united states and its allies just have to accept that president assad will be the pre—eminent power in syria?” president assad will be the pre-eminent power in syria? i think the us and others basically feel as though there can't be an endgame is assad remains. it is about putting together all of the parts of the diplomatic, military, to try to affect. unfortunately, we seem to be losing the sound, you are coming in and out. thank you forjoining us. it isa and out. thank you forjoining us. it is a shame because you have a lot to say. the strikes may have been clearly targeted that they are being seen as some as a limited punishment on a syria. what impact will they have on a syria's chemical weapons programme

and what do they say about the strategy of britain, the us and france? this is what provoked the strikes, last saturday's apparent gas attack on civilians in douma. britain, france and the united states are convinced this was the latest in a long line of assad's chemical attacks and had to be punished. so what was achieved? the strikes sent a deliberate, precise, if limited, message to president assad — you are not the target, your chemical weapons programme is. the united states fired missiles from two warships and from the submarine ussjohn warner. plus, in the air, two bi lancer bombers. the raf flew tornadoes from akrotiri in cyprus, staying out of syrian airspace to fire their storm shadow missiles. france launched missiles from its frigate languedoc, as well rafale and mirage strike aircraft flying from france. so the us was not acting alone, but with two close allies this time, and that's politically important. the targets of all this firepower, syria's chemical weapons production. the main target for 76 missiles was a research and development

centre close to damascus. but also a chemical weapons storage site near homs. 22 weapons were aimed there, including the raf‘s eight storm shadow missiles. and target three, a nearby chemical weapons bunker, the main french target for seven of their nine missiles. but has military action damaged prospects for eventual peace in syria ? definitely not according to the head of nato, america's wider military alliance. if you start to normalise the use of chemical weapons, then you seriously risk that chemical weapons will be used more and more. for me there is no contradiction between the strikes that took place last night and the efforts to support a politically negotiated solution. still, western strategy is to stay firmly out of syria's war on the ground. today, the syrian army declared all of douma under its control, the town apparently attacked

with chemical weapons last weekend and the rebels' last holdout in eastern ghouta. russia with its forces in douma now is helping president assad take back more and more of syria and it is that alliance which will surely dictate much of the terms of any eventual peace. james robbins, bbc news. russia has failed to win the backing of the un security council for its condemnation of those missile strikes. our moscow correspondent, steve rosenberg, explains the kremlin‘s reaction. since moscow is president assad's biggest backer, the russians were never going to mince their words about a us—led strike on syria. that's why the words we have been hearing today in moscow have been so strong. we heard about vladimir putin talk about an act of aggression. unlawful, unacceptable, said sergei lavrov, the foreign minister. we heard a senior russian senator saying that america was acting like a school bully.

so in this geopolitical school playground, there's lots of shouting and shadowboxing behind the bicycle sheds but crucially, it hasn't come to a fight between russia and america. neither want to go to war over syria and we know because the us ambassador in moscow said so today that before the strike, the two sides took measures to try to keep out of each other‘s way during the strike. of course, syria is a crowded theatre of war and the danger of this conflict spreading and growing still exists. what was the message to assad? you can do as you please and be in charge as long as you don't use chemical weapons? that is the message. you need to steer clear of anything that is chemical weapons or

biological. clearly,... anything that is chemical weapons or biological. clearly, . .. (audio problems). we will try and stick with you and see how we get on. how is the point? surely the syrians wa nt is the point? surely the syrians want more than this surgical strike. they want something more substantive. absolutely. that is the whole thing. the rebels have been there for so many years and will continue. the people of a syria are suffering and to see this and say this is not good enough. i don't think anybody had any expectation that this would go the way they preferred it to go. they all knew it would be a limited strike against chemical weapons facilities. what is

so terrible about accepting president assad at the helm in syria? because, president assad at the helm in syria ? because, of president assad at the helm in syria? because, of course there are issues, what replaces him? that is the key question and that is sort of what ironically brings the us and russian interests to converge. irrespective of whatever it was the obama administration or now that trump administration, it dc and moscow are more trump administration, it dc and moscow are more oi’ less on trump administration, it dc and moscow are more or less on the same page when they say they don't want regime change. regime change will create a vacuum that will be filled by either savary actors. the rebels are not exactly democratic nationalists that will usher in ear of democracy in syria. —— unsavoury

actors. what about the diplomatic talks? the geneva talks seem to have stalled. diplomacy works where both sides have an interest in and negotiation or solution. from the point of view of the assad regime, it is winning this war. it is taking back territory from various rebel groups around the country. it is in no mood to negotiate unless it is in a surrender or ceasefire. on the other side, the rebels have nothing to stand on and therefore, they can't negotiate other than from a position of extreme weakness. president obama used to talk about resident assad not being the leader ofa resident assad not being the leader of a unified, undivided syria. he used words along those lines. do you

think that is still the scenario or is that that the assad regime being soaked dominant recently that they could take all syrian territory back? —— being so. could take all syrian territory back? -- being so. president obama said was rhetoric. in reality, the obama administration did nothing to operationalise that aspiration. number two, there is no going back to the old syria. syria is shattered. this syria that we knew for decades since its independence from france, has long ceased to exist. what we have is a regime that controls roughly half of the country andi controls roughly half of the country and i don't think it is about to lose that half. this is a perpetual battle space. a reminder of our top story, more

missile strikes have been threatened if chemical attacks are used again. in syria and russia have condemned the attack calling it an illegal act of aggression. here in the uk, the opposition leader has called into question the legality of the airstrikes. the british prime minister has defended them, on the grounds that they send a clear signal that the use of chemical weapons will not be tolerated. with more on the reaction here in the uk, here's our political editor laura kuenssberg 2am at home. 4am at the target. raf jets take off to strike at assad's regime. by 9am, in number ten, the prime minister emerged to explain her case. there is no graver decision for a prime minister than to commit our forces to combat. and this is the first time that i've had to do so. we cannot allow the use of chemical

weapons to become normalised. either within syria, on the streets of the uk, or elsewhere. not just a punishment for president assad, but about a wider principle, too. we must reinstate the global consensus that chemical weapons cannot be used. this action is absolutely in britain's national interest. the lesson of history is that when the global rules and standards that keep us safe come under threat we must take a stand and defend them. will you do the same again if president assad does the same again? as you have suggested he has. and do you feel you have the public‘s consent, given you have not even consulted mps in parliament? we believe the action

was successful, but the syrian regime should be under no doubt of our resolve in relation to this matter of the use of chemical weapons. and i have taken this decision because i believe it is the right thing to do. ministers' legal advice justifies the strikes as... here's the proof! yet without explicit un backing, the labour leader believes strikes might not be legal. the consequences of any country taking unilateral, and action that has no legal basis, are that it's an encouragement for others to do exactly the same. and reduces our ability to complain when others do that. surely the united nations exists for a purpose. the prime minister will face questions from mps on monday, but no firm plans for a vote. mps have been powerless all week to hold the government accountable on this. and for us to have to wait another two days after the event really is not good enough.

there are major questions, major doubts. is this a one—off or a continuing operation. how much control do we have over what the americans are doing? we've got a very erratic american president who changes his position from one day to the next. this was not intended to end the war in syria. not part of an effort to remove assad. but the prime minister wants these attacks to be seen as a clear and grave reprimand to a country suspected of using chemical weapons. an effort to force respect for the decades—old rule that such weapons are illegal and must not be used. while theresa may's decision to act was in her gift, what happens next may well not be. the prime minister may hope her decisions have a straightforward outcome but the political fallout may not be clean.

laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. let's take a look at some of the other stories making the news. a militant attack in the malian city of timbuktu has left one un peacekeeper dead. another ten un personnel were wounded as a result of the assault. the un force said the situation was now under control. seven un peacekeepers have been killed in mali since the start of 2018. the us vice—president, mike pence, has urged regional leaders at the americas summit in peru to do more to isolate the venezuelan leader, nicolas maduro. mr pence told delegates meeting in lima, that the united states would not stand idly by as venezuela crumbled. mr pence called on mr maduro to allow humanitarian aid to reach venezuelans facing shortages of food and medicines, amid an economic crisis. the chief executive of the world's largest advertising agency, wpp, has resigned. sir martin sorrell, who had been at the helm of the firm for 33 years, stepped down even though an internal investigation

cleared him of misusing company funds. he said the claims had put "unnecessary pressure on the business". four years since more than 200 nigerian school girls were kidnapped by the jihadist group boko haram, their parents are renewing calls for their release. more than a hundred of the chibok girls are still missing. nigeria's president says disagreements within the militant group have led to setbacks in negotiations .but he insists his government would not give up. lebo diseko has more. it's a road no parent would ever want to walk. four years since their children were kidnapped by boko haram, mothers, fathers and the community in chibok march to demand action. truly our people are traumatised, especially the mothers. we are suffering for sin, for check and look about our children. we never see it, we cry, cry, cry, we never see our children. in april, 2014, islamist militants abducted more than 200 girls from their school in chibok

in the north—east of nigeria. some have since been released, but more than 100 have still not been returned. one journalist with links to the jihadists claims just 15 are still alive, but the government has told the bbc it is still in discussions with the group over the 112 still missing. the president says he's committed to getting all the girls back. i want to appeal to the chibok community, never to lose hope or to despair. we are determined, as never before, to bring back our remaining chibok daughters, and this we must accomplish and that it will be soon, by god's grace. president buhari had previously said that boko haram had been defeated, but as recently as february the group was blamed

for more kidnappings. activists say the government needs to do more to bring back the missing girls. the government has not done enough in bringing back the chibok girls. enough means having all of the girls come back. it's four years we're having to commemorate now. for the families, this is the most painful of anniversaries. all they can do is pray and plead once more for the return of their children. lebo diseko, bbc news. more than 100,000 people have attended demonstrations

in the hungarian capital, budapest, against the right—wing government of prime minister viktor orban, who was recently returned to power. speaker after speaker denounced what they called mr orban's "theft of the election". nick thorpe reports from budapest. it might be the swansong of opponents of viktor orban or the beginning of a new radical resistance of his rule. tens of thousands of hungarians marched from the opera house to the parliament to voice their anger with last weekend's election result. they blamed it on the electoral system mr orban and his fidesz party built. they blamed it on his domination of the media and they called for new elections.

translation: if we do not fight in a unified way, then we lose this battle. we don't want another 150 years of oppression. we do not want another era of eastern pressure and we do not want to see another wave of retaliation like in 18118. but while his opponents protested, the national election committee completed their tally of postal votes. more than 200,000 hungarians in neighbouring countries took part. 96% of them voted for viktor orban. the final result gives mr orban 67% of seats in parliament. he commands the devotion of the 2.7 million hungarians who voted for him. but while his voters see him as a champion of national sovereignty against communists in the past and liberals in the present, he arouses the disgust of those who believe he's turned the country into a business venture to enrich his own narrow circle. another protest rally has been called for next saturday.

nick thorpe, bbc news, budapest. a scottish marathon runner has collapsed from exhaustion as he was set to win a gold medal at the commonwealth games in australia. callu m commonwealth games in australia. callum hawkins was almost two minutes ahead when he fell, hitting his head on a barrier. he was talking when he was helped into an ambulance. a scottish team spokesman said there were no major concerns about his condition at this stage. the map on was eventually won by the defending champion, mike shelley of australia. —— marathon. and you can get in touch with me and most of the team on twitter — i'm at nkem ifejika. the weather now with ben rich. hello there. if scenes like these have left you wanting more spring warmth and sunshine, well, i have to say, the second half of the weekend probably won't live up to the promise of the first. that is how saturday ended across north yorkshire.

orkney shrouded in a bit of low cloud but some blue skies overhead as well. sunday does look a little bit different because of this area of low pressure, which is now pushing its way in from the west. it will strengthen up the winds. this frontal system will also bring some outbreaks of rain northward and eastward across the uk. so, sunday, a cloudy day. quite a breezy day as well. there will be some rain at times but not all the time. it is by no means a complete washout. we will, though, see some rain into the south—west, parts of wales, northern ireland, through the first part of the morning. that rain pushing its way across the midlands and northern england and southern scotland through the day. it will be quite on and off, quite sporadic, it will not be raining all day. as the main band of rain clears we'll be left with showers pushing into the south—west. very windy across northern ireland. the brightest of the weather across the north—east of scotland, i suspect, and perhaps the highest temperatures. inverness could get to 16 or 17 degrees. some showers drifting north and east through sunday night but by monday morning most places will be dry with some clear spells.

temperatures not dropping too far, six or seven or eight degrees. that's about it, as we start the new working week. during monday, not a bad—looking day for many. we'll see spells of sunshine. always more cloud and a few showers across scotland. the cloud will thicken up in northern ireland later in the day. outbreaks of rain here as well. particularly in the late afternoon. the wind is still pretty brisk in those western areas. temperatures not as high as they were on saturday, no, but 13, 1a, 15 degrees will not feel too bad if you get some sunshine. that relatively warm feeling will stick with this as we move out of monday and into tuesday. low pressure to the west, high pressure to the east, squeezing between the two we have this south—westerly wind. weather on tuesday, outbreaks of rain, which could spill down into north—western england and northern wales at times.

further south and east we'll see the best of the sunshine and the highest of the temperatures, 19, maybe 20 degrees. that's a mere taste of what's to come. as we get into wednesday and thursday, we will start to import some very warm air indeed from the near continent. watch these deep orange colours spreading across the map. how high will the temperatures get? perhaps 25 in the south—east, plenty of other places not far behind, so there is more spring warmth on the way. this is bbc news, the headlines. the united states has warned syria it will carry out further missile strikes if the government of president assad uses chemical weapons again. the american ambassador to the un, nikki haley, told the security council the us was ‘locked and loaded'. the strikes have been described as ‘hooliganism' by the russian ambassador, vassily nebenzia. he said there'd been a blatant disregard for international law. the un secretary general, antonio guterres, has appealed for restraint in what he called ‘dangerous circumstances.‘