this is bbc news, i'm lukwesa burak. the headlines at apm: three cabinet ministers face a call to resign after going public with a warning they're prepared to delay brexit rather than leave the eu without a deal. if ministers or cabinet ministers cannot support the government's position, then they have to resign. clashes in venezuela between soliders and protesters — as opposition activists attempt to move humanitarian aid into the country from colombia. here's the scene live on the border — where self—declared presidentjuan guido says aid is now on its way. votes are being counted in nigeria after the biggest presidential and parliamentary elections in african history. the singer r kelly is due to appear in court in chicago on a series of sexual abuse charges.

in rugby, wales go for a record 12th win in a row, as they host england in the six nations. kick off is at 4:45. and coming up in half an hour — witness history hears how the women's movement inspired one woman to start her own publishing business. good afternoon. three cabinet ministers have said brexit should be delayed if mps don't approve the prime minster‘s deal in the coming days. in a newspaper article, the work and pensions secretary, amber rudd, thejustice secretary, david gauke, and the business secretary, greg clark, say time is running out and that leaving the european union, without a deal, would be disastrous.

downing street said theresa may is working hard to get a deal, adding, "that is where the cabinet's energy should be focused." our political correspondent susana mendonca has more. no comment from the business secretary as he left his home earlier but greg clark's views on a no deal brexit are now loud and clear. along with amber rudd and david gauke, he is one of three cabinet members to come out publicly against the government line. in an interview with the daily mail, they warned it would be better to seek to extend article 50 and delay the date of departure rather than crash out of the european union on march 29th. their comments have angered some conservative brexiteers. if ministers or cabinet ministers can't support the government's position, then they have to resign. the government's position is very clear, we are leaving on the 29th of march, something the prime minister has said i think 108 times in the chamber

of commons, 29th march. he also raised suspicions that teresa's could be behind the move. as an attempt to pressurise brexiteers into backing her withdrawal agreement into the european union. downing street hasn't responded to the accusation and said the prime minister is working hard to get a deal. the liberal democrat leader said the comments from members at the heart of cabinet made leaving with no deal less likely. we knew that the attempt to take no deal off the table would be the big issue in parliament in the coming week and i think this tips the balance towards stopping the folly that the prime minister is trying to inflict on us. with time running out, the government has another tough week ahead. it hasn't confirmed yet whether there will be a new deal to vote on and backbench mps are putting forward their own plans to take control of the process, including one amendment to delay brexit if a deal isn't done by mid—march. but we've had a democratic vote. i understand the chaos it caused. that can't make you feel good. it doesn't.

at the end of a week of defections, one mp who resigned from the conservative party has faced voters in nottingham. the question will be how far cabinet members unhappy at the prospect of a no—deal brexit may be willing to go to stop it in the in the commons. anna soubry, one of three mps who left the conservative party this week to join the new independent group, said the warning from the cabinet ministers was a sign of the continuing division within the government. i like to think that what we have done will actually be a message and give them courage and strength, actually. because obviously as you can imagine amber rudd will always be and is a huge friend, big respect for david gill and of course greg clark. i think the amazing thing is itjust says the complete chaos that is existing at the top of government that you have three cabinet ministers who go out

into the press because they cannot win the argument in a deeply divided cabinet and i'm afraid to say a prime minister who is just not listening. what a mess this is. that is what people are really cheesed off about, that it is such a bloody mess. i've been speaking to our political correspondent susana mendonca about the significance of this challenge to the prime minister's authority. we've heard about divisions within cabinet about the direction of the brexit process, and this seems to suggest that those cabinet members who want there to be no chance of there being a no—deal brexit, you know, making it very clear that they are willing to take action. the key question is what action are they willing to take? we've got various amendments coming up this week. would they be willing to vote with some of those amendments to block a no—deal brexit, to delay the article 50 process? that remains to be seen. if they did do that, realistically speaking you'd expect cabinet members to resign from their positions if they were to vote

against the government but we don't know at this stage whether that's what they'll be doing. it's a very busy few days, things haven't stopped this weekend for theresa may. she is off to a summit in eu, a middle east security summit, so there'll be chats there with donald tusk. but then there's this article, these three mps talking about this upcoming week. yes, exactly. theresa may, she's trying to get this deal and what we get from downing street when we ask them is always, you know, she's working towards getting tweaks to the deal so that she can put something back to parliament, unclear as to whether we'll actually get that in this coming week. there's a lot of talk about whether or not they would be another meaningful vote. it is looking as though that will probably be kicked further down the road some time in march. but what we are expecting this week is for mps to again take the opportunity to try and seize control of the process. for example, there is an amendment which is about basically delaying the article 50 process if there is no deal done by mid—march, and that is something that last time around they didn't

get enough support for that type of amendment. this time around, they might get that support. we understand that a lot of conservatives are very concerned and are thinking about voting with that amendment. there is another amendment which is talking about potentially mps backing theresa may's deal on the proviso that then there is a confirmatory vote. so effectively another referendum, though they are not calling it that, but where people would be able to vote on whether to accept theresa may's deal or to stick with the status quo, so presumably stay in the eu. all of these various manoeuvrings going on with mps trying to find alternative ways out. of course, if any of those amendments get through, that creates more problems for theresa may at a time that is already extremely difficult for her as she is trying to get mps to back her deal and she constantly says, it's my deal or its no deal or it's no brexit. i think she is hoping that will sway the brexiteers on one side, remain as on the other. the labour leader,

jeremy corbyn, has said that anti—semitism within his party and in society is unacceptable. nine labourmps quit the party this week with some complaining of a culture of anti—semitism within the party. mr corbyn was speaking at a rally in broxtowe in nottinghamshire — the contituency of the former conservative mp anna soubry. a little earlier i spoke bbc nottingham's political reporter, hugh casswell, who was at the rally and heard mr corbyn speak. i am sure it is no coincidence that mr corbyn was campaigning in this very marginal seat, no coincidence it is the seat of the recent tory defector, no coincidence that he had three members of the labour front bench with him. of course, there was a pretty huge elephant in the room, in the shape of nine labour defections in the course of this week. mr corbyn said he was very sad at what he seems keen to emphasise as a very small number of mps leaving the party. so, a definite attempt at a show of strength,

a show of solidarity, assuring of his leadership. he seemed particularly keen to emphasise addressing the comments of the dudley north mp, ian austen, the most recent of those defectors who yesterday was citing what he calls the leadership‘s complete failure to tackle anti—semitism within the party. when people, as i said, are racist towards each other, then we oppose it, in any way whatsoever. if anyone is racist towards anyone else in our party, wrong, out of court, out of order, totally and absolutely unacceptable. anti—semitism is not acceptable in any form in any way whatsoever anywhere within our society. i'm proud to lead a party, proud to lead a party that was the first ever to introduce race relations legislation and also to pass the equality act and the human rights act into the statute book.

and we are going to take all these issues further forward. well, believe it or not, there was a second elephant in the room here today. there were several eu flags, several labour against a brexit ban is here to create mr corbyn during the speeches. there were a few shouts of what about people have my vote? at one point, it even seems like people in the crowd were arguing between each other about it. a bit of a sign about some people's frustration withjeremy corbyn not having backed the people's campaign for a second referendum. where was anna soubry during all this? she was across town campaigning for the people's vote. clashes have erupted on venezuela's border with colombia, as supporters of the opposition

leaderjuan guaido prepare to move aid across the frontier. troops have fired tear gas at protestors after venezuela's president nicolas maduro ordered the border to be closed. the opposition leader mr guaido says without the help of foreign aid, thousands of venezuelans could die, as the country battles food shortages and hyper inflation. and in the past hour, he said said that humanitarian aid is on its way to the country. katy watson is in the venezuelan capital caracas. on the border, tensions are rising. tear gas has been fired. there have also been a number of soldiers who have defected and decided to side withjuan guaido. three or four people have already said they are going to back the interim presidentjuan guaido. but at the moment, the lorries are still waiting on the brazilian side and colombian side of the border. waiting for this aid to be allowed through.

nicolas maduro has remained firm, he says this aid will not pass, that it is a us orchestrated show and he told the armed forces to remain loyal to him. this will be a test today, to see exactly how many people are still remaining loyal to the nicolas maduro and how many feel they actually want to change a venezuela. i'm joined now by noris soto, a venezuelan reporter based in caracas. there appears to be a lot of activity taking place around the three border posts, on the border with venezuela and colombia. what are the latest details you can tell us? well, the latest details for example art that here in caracas the situation is somehow peaceful, still. protesters a re situation is somehow peaceful, still. protesters are gathering slowly, the concentration points

caught by the opposition but we think and we are expecting that they will be a lot of tension or a little bit of tension as the opposition protesters are trying to approach the nearest military barracks which is the aviation headquarters in caracas. it is important to remark that this is a historical protest opposition point in ourfamily, we have seen tension before there because it is forbidden zone to protest. also, we saw that some military join protest. also, we saw that some militaryjoin one grade oh —— protest. also, we saw that some militaryjoin one grade oh "juan guaido, a former officerjoined, a sergeant. it is not the majority of the military forces. instead, that they are still loyal to nicolas maduro rest. so we might see a little bit of tension in a few minutes or hours here in the capital as they try to approach the military

headquarters in caracas. mr cueto made a personal promise that he would get humanitarian aid into venezuela today. he is at the colombian border post. how much support does he have internationally for this move? well, the international support has been overwhelming to juan guaido. international support has been overwhelming tojuan guaido. a lot of countries support and recognise him as president. so, this support, this international support has been the key to make a difference in terms of what we have seen before historically when the opposition tries to make a country —— a change in the country. the answer to that question is that there is a lot of international support and that is what he is counting on to make the humanitarian aid enter the country. i know there was a concert last night at that colombia border and a

numbering —— a number of neighbouring presidents attended to show their support. but the military resolve it's really being tested here, isn't it? because the opposition, juan guaido, has made a direct appeal to the military to join them. yes, what we believe is that there is a lot of fear on the military ranks, thatjuan guaido won't be able to fulfil the promises he made of amnesty and for giving all the military officers who joined the opposition forces. they need to stand by the constitution and by the people. but there is a lot of fear that nicolas maduro was ill the presidency and they will be imprisoned or even judged by presidency and they will be imprisoned or evenjudged by treason to their homeland. i think that is the key, that if the opposition managed somehow to gain the military trust, that would be the definite

change in the country. just to update you, we are getting reports from the reuters news agency that a convoy of trucks carrying that a convoy of trucks carrying that humanitarian aid have left warehouses in colombia and has started heading for the border crossing to try and head into venezuela, so really dividing president maduro's order not to let aid cross into the country. so, that is one of the oil tanker that mr maduro had put a the bridge to stop aid coming into the country butjuan guaido, who were seen earlier on that colombia border crossing, he was seen on top of one of those tracks, speaking to the crowd that had gathered, the activists, then, i'm going to get that aid across. it will be interesting to see what actually happens at these border crossings. not only borders with colombia but also with brazil, where we saw some violence breaking out

yesterday. time for the headlines. three senior cabinet ministers threaten to defy the prime minister and vote for a delay to brexit, if a deal is not voted through the commons in the coming days. clashes in venezuela — as opposition activists attempt to bring humanitarian aid into the country from neighbouring colombia. counting begins in the biggest election in african history — as millions of people in nigera vote in presidential and parliamentary elections. in sport, it is defeat for scotland in paris as france ran out 27 — ten winners in their six nations clash. burnley had stunned tottenham in the early premier league kick—off, beating them 2—i, putting a big dent in tottenham's title ambitions. manchester city have won the first silverware of the women's season,

the continental cup, beating holders arsenal on penalties. i'll be back with more of those stories at around half past. polls in nigeria are closing as people have been voting to choose a new president and parliament. it is the biggest election in african history with more than 70 million voters registered to vote. election officials say they've solved logistical problems that led to it being delayed by a week. the main presidential candidates are, the current president, muhammadu buhari, and the former vice president, atiku abubakar. our nigeria correspondent mayenijones reports. keen to get on with it, many voters started voting from first light. the main presidential candidates also got in early. the incumbent president voted in his hometown in the north—west and shortly after, his main opponent, former vice president cast his vote in the north—east. both candidates are seasoned

politicians in their 70s but 50% of the electorate here is under the age of 35. i believe that i want to see more young people coming out to stand for election. many were concerned that a postponement has affected the turnout. we cast the vote last week,. the 16th of february. whoever wins this election will have to face a number of challenges. chief of which is insecurity. just this morning there were reports of attacks on the north—east of the country. the authorities say they were just trails but the timing on voting day has been questioned. nigerians will be hoping for someone who can handle these issues. i spoke to our africa correspondent tomi 0ladipo a little earlier. here's his report from abuja. millions of nigerians have come out.

we're not sure of the numbers, we have not been given official figures as to how many people did show up. but as you mentioned there, people who before two o'clock theoretically, those who arrived before two o'clock would be allowed to vote. but in many places, there have been delays and voting started much later. in some cases, hours after it was meant to begin. so i suppose in some places we will be hearing the voting going on well into the night. and today the country has been more or less under a state of curfew because you are not really allowed to move around whilst voting is going on, what is the atmosphere like? well, i think for a lot of nigerians they have braved the conditions here in abuja for example the heat has been pretty harsh. but people are still spending hours coming out to vote, but in some other parts

of the country, there have been disruptions, political tensions and thugs employed in certain parts to disrupt the vote going on there. so it depends on which part of the country you are looking at. in the north—east of the country, in the states where she had it groups are linked, boko haram and jihadist militants groups are linked, boko haram and jihadist militants and their offshoots have been disrupting the flow of the voting there. we have had people flee from certain town same are not able to vote there. nigerian politics is notoriously fluid. there are very blurred lines when it comes to allegiances and ideological differences but the challenges that the next leader faces are very clear. just what can they expect, whoever comes to power? you are right, this is more about the individuals so everybody goes after the personality that can rally then together and whoever also has the money to spend to rally people around them. but the issue is still remaining

the same, it is the economic problems at the country has had over the last few years, the economy has been struggling, providing jobs for the masses here, we are talking, as the report earlier said, a huge population of young people who have come through a poor educational system and have gone into thejob market and there are no jobs or very few jobs available for the whole lot. also, problems with security, as i mentioned. infrastructure as well, for example electricity is still a major problem. for example, electricity is still a major problem. these problems have been in nigeria for decades even, so people are rallying around who they think will be able to deliver. 0ur africa editor fergal keane is in the nigeria capital of abuja and he sent us this from one of the cities polling stations.

this is a polling station 030 in the centre of abuja. what you are seeing here is people, electoral officials, checking the balance and writing across them to make sure no one can steal them or try to use them fake them. the reason they do that, apart from it being the obligation of their job, from it being the obligation of theirjob, is that right behind me, if you look over, they are agents and supporters of the main parties keeping an eye on this process, determined that their candidate isn't going to be done out of what they see as their rightful victory. about 3,000 people havejoined former english defence league leader tommy robinson in a protest against the bbc. the corporation's confirmed an upcoming panorama episode will investigate mr robinson, whose real name is stephen yaxley—lennon. he's criticised the programme and he's showing his own film, "panodrama" in response outside the bbc‘s salford headquarters. about 500 people attended

a counter—protest by anti—fascists. the musician r kelly has surrendered himself to police and been charged with a series of abuse and assault allegations. the singer, whose real name is robert sylvester kelly, denies all of the charges and is due to appear in court in chicago today. at one point he was the biggest name in r&b, but here r kelly is being is escorted by security as he handed himself into chicago police. he has had massive crossover hits globally, through it all allegations and rumours of sexual abuse against underage girls were never far away. and in 2008 he went to trial on charges of child pornography, after a tape surfaced allegedly showed him having sex with a 13—year—old. but he was acquitted when the jury decided the tape wasn't clear enough. some women were paid not to talk and others started to come forward

to say what had gone on. i did realise that he had a problem and i couldn't fix it. now prosecutors feel they have enough evidence to press charges relating to four victims. earlier today, robert kelly was indicted before a cook county grand jury on ten counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. it appears a recent tv series speaking to alleged victims gave others the confidence to come forward, too, to try and getjustice against one of the biggest selling us stars — for abuse allegations going back more than two decades. monika plaha, bbc news. the documentary maker ben zand made a film for the bbc called r kelly: sex, girls, and videotapes. he explained the background to the allegations against the singer. it's been decades of claims, to be honest. it started, really, with aliyah. he was thought to have married the singer aliyah

when he was 37 and she was 15. he's only ever been charged once before and this there's been numerous allegations around him. he has been charged with ten counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, all based around for alleged victims, three of which are thought to be between 13 to 16. the significance is really that there have been a lot of rumours, a lot of allegations for a long time, and this is the second time it has been taken to court and he could actually face jail time so it is quite a big moment. for years and years, he has been one of the most famous singers of all time but he has never been able to shake these allegations and over the last three years, more and more women have been coming out saying very similar things, saying he has been mistreating them, he has been locking them in rooms, there was allegations around sex cults, like her arm of women that he lived with. beyond that, allegations of sexual

interactions with underage women. the allegation is based on a sex video that allegedly showed r kelly having sex with a woman who was claimed to have been 14 years old. he was acquitted of that because they couldn't identify who was in the video. it is thought now there may be another sex video that is even clearer that people in the video are saying specifically the ages of the people involved. that could change everything, really. but he denies all of this as he always has, but it will be a long court case. a man and woman in their 70s have died after a car they were in was hit by a van being pursued by police in south—east london. officers say a van was being driven erratically at speed in eltham and failed to stop before colliding with a carjust after midnight. the driver of the van has been arrested on suspicion of causing

death by dangerous driving. the incident itself has been referred to the independent 0ffice for police conduct. a 16—year—old boy stabbed to death in a park in birmingham has been named. abdullah muhammad was found in sara park in the small heath area on wednesday evening. he's the second teenager to be stabbed to death in the city in a week. a murder investigation is under way but no arrests have been made. victims of clergy sexual abuse are gathering in central rome to demand justice on the third day of a vatican summit on the protection of minors. participants have been meeting at one of rome's main squares and will be marching towards the vatican. pope francis is set to have talks with other roman catholic leaders from around the world to discuss the clerical sexual abuse crisis in the church. at least 84 people have died and 200

others have been taken to hospital after drinking bootleg alcohol in north east india. 12 people have been arrested in connection with making the drink in assam state. the deaths come less than a fortnight after more than 100 people died elsewhere in the country from drinking lethal spirits. the luxury apartment block which belonged to colombia's infamous drug lord, pablo escobar, at the height of his power and fame, has been demolished. the building in the colombian city of medellin had become a popular tourist attraction, which many local residents found offensive. a ceremony was held outside the building to honour the victims of the criminal organisation led by escobar. beavers will become a protected species for the first time in new measures announced by the scottish government. farmers have condemned the decision after complaints over damns flooding prized agriculture land.

beavers have been extinct in scotland for over 400 years, but were illegally released into the wild in tayside several years ago. now it's time for a look at the weather with nick miller. it is england and wales that have had the lion's share of the china today. we have a weather front in northern ireland and western scotland, bringing rain in places. any rain from that will die away tonight. there is an area of low cloud, mist and fog in the irish sea, northern england, southern scotla nd sea, northern england, southern scotland and northern ireland. there will be some fog elsewhere as well, dense in places into the morning. south—east england and northern scotla nd south—east england and northern scotland are likely to see clear skies, here, frost in the cold spots as temperatures drop below freezing. light wind tomorrow, taking a while for the fog to clear, parts of yorkshire may see it into the afternoon, holding the temperature down compared to elsewhere. most of

us down compared to elsewhere. most of us will come out of