this is bbc world news. the headlines — thousands of anti—government protesters have ta ken to the streets in venezuela on a day of rival demonstrations. this is bbc world news today. police used pepper spray i'm samantha simmonds. against supporters of the opposition our top stories. leader, juan guaido. a huge number of pro—government thousands of anti—government demonstrators also gathered protesters have ta ken to the streets in venezuela on a day in the city centre. the british government has defended of rival demonstrations. the decision to revoke the citizenship of a british britain's government faces criticism after the baby teenager who joined son of shamina begum — the islamic state group. it's faced criticism who joined the islamic state group after shamima begum's baby — dies in a syrian camp. rescuers find the bodies of two died in a syrian camp. climbers missing for almost the british government has rejected two weeks on a mountain a proposalfrom the eu's in the himalayas. chief brexit negotiator to resolve and welsh fans leave the deadlock over the murrayfield happy as they watch northern ireland backstop. their team remain on course theresa may has appealed to mps to back her brexit deal next week. for rugby union's grand slam. and r kelly has been released from prison after paying more than $160,000 in overdue child support. the singer has previously spent three nights in jail hello and welcome to world news today. thousands of people have taken to the streets of venezuela as part of two rival demonstrations.

one rally — in support of president nicolas maduro — is being held in the capital. but police clashed with supporters of opposition leaderjuan guaido in the other rally in caracas. in electricity is gradually being restored across the country after the longest blackout in a decade. the power cuts started on thursday. will grant reports from caracas. it is venezuela's longest power cut in living memory. whole swathes of the country, including large parts of caracas, remain in darkness, more than 48 hours after the lights first went out. millions of families have been struggling without electricity, already coping with little to cook, now with nothing to cook it on. for those with serious health conditions like this woman, their lives are at risk. "without electricity i can't use my respirator," she explained. she is going desperate

for the power to come back. in fact, power is at the heart of the venezuelan conflict. opponents of president maduro want to see him out of it very soon and say the result of incompetence and corruption by his government. his supporters say it was sabotage, part of a coup attempt being carried out by the opposition leader juan guaido at the behest of washington. either way, both sides have taken their grievances to the streets. these people are already furious at president maduro for a host of reasons, from hyperinflation through to the lack of products on the supermarket shelves. and now they have the blackout, still affecting much of the country, at the forefront of their minds. the feeling in venezuela is of a country in freefall. hunger, anger, frustration, with no electricity or many basic services, the tension is in danger of boiling over once again. will grant, bbc news, caracas.

laura gamboa is a professor at utah state university focusing focusing on institutions and regime change in latin america. welcome, thanks for joining welcome, thanks forjoining us. we heard, of course, from juan guaido back on the 23rd january when he declared himself unilaterally the interim president of venezuela, since then, he has held rallies every weekend weather have been many protests. today we have seen it a of mass protest by both sides, and as we had fun will grant there is a fear that the protests could spill over “— fear that the protests could spill over —— heard from will grant there was a fear they could spill over into dangerous territory but what is happening in terms of regime change now? in january when ten when micro followed the constitution and filled the void because maduro was elected with unfair, unfree and fraudulent

elections, he started a position —— transition. maduro's is holding on only because the military supports him. there are many people as we can see from these pictures, i'm not sure which demonstration these are from, but there have been, those are opposition protest but many have, in support of president maduro as well. he has a base but it is below 20% right now. that is what the latest polls suggest. we know from reports that a lot of times these protesters are forced to go on the streets based on the fact they are relying ona based on the fact they are relying on a governmentjob, and government subsidies and support. what we know from polls is that maduro's support is below 20% right now. 90% of the

people in venezuela do not have enough money to have two meals a day, as you just reported, 70% of the country had a blackout almost two days, people died in hospitals. venezuela has so far around 3 million refugees. it is expected to have 5 billion by the end of 2019. there is a stalemate situation isn't there? we know 50 countries including united states have recognised juan guaido as the president but china and russia support mr maduro and he has the support mr maduro and he has the support of the military. what happens now. where does the shift have to come for some kind of change to happen if that is what is going to happen if that is what is going to happen, will it be violence? is that what in the n instigates changed and perhaps awfully but necessarily? —— in the end. changed and perhaps awfully but necessarily? —— in the endlj changed and perhaps awfully but necessarily? -- in the end. i hope there is no violence, i am hesitant to claim one—way the other. on january, there was a major shift in the opposition. the opposition since

2015 had been divided, they have been bickering between each other, different factions, all of them for the other side, on january different factions, all of them for the other side, onjanuary 23, juan guaido came out and every single person, leaders and the population, rallied behind him. that is a huge change in venezuela. it is amazing what he has been able to do since then. he gathered support from the international community who have broadly speaking, the european union as well as the united states, most latin american countries rallied behind him, seeking solution to be situation. the goal of the opposition right now is to get the military to break from the government. if that happens, hopefully maduro will be for stew sit down —— will be forced to sit down as a negotiation table and we will see teams like to lay in the late 1970 killing 1980s, or argentina. the

kind of transition that —— chilly in the late 1980s or argentina. there will be a agreement for the people in the government, thatis for the people in the government, that is the expectation. having said that, it is very uncertain. we have no idea how or when the military is going to break. today we received news that the military has refused might not be military, the police refused to control a demonstration in western caracas, so that is good news. it is also good news a couple of weekends ago, several military deflected over the border in colombia, roughly 400. that is also good news, but it's not definite. there is no way we can know for sure that the military will break, there are good incentives for the military to stick by maduro, in particular the fact that especially the higher ranking military benefit from the drug trafficking and also businesses and some kind of impunity was they

are part of the government. so we do not know. —— because they are part of the government. thank you for your thoughts and analysis. the government faces mounting criticism over the decision to revoke the citizenship of shamima begum following the death of her son in a syrian detention camp. ms begum left london tojoin the islamic state group when she was 15 and, now at 19, had wanted to return to britain. labour said the decision to prevent herfrom doing so was "callous and inhumane" — while charities say the life of the child wasn't sufficiently taken into consideration. but the government insists it was acting in the national interest. 0ur political correspondent chris mason reports. babyjarrah and his mum, 19—year—old shamima begum. she gave birth in a camp used to hold islamic state group fighters with their wives and children. at less than three weeks old, her son has died from pneumonia and is buried here.

the shadow home secretary diane abbott said leaving the two of them in a syrian refugee camp was "morally reprehensible", and "a stain on the conscience of this government". shamima begum is one of around 50,000 people, mostly women and children, living in this camp in northeastern syria. both a refuge and detention centre, those who chose to join is are now fleeing the fighting and ending up here. charities say the government had an obligation to step in. today is a national tragedy because this is a shared sorrow about the death of a british newborn child. so whatever we think about the behaviour and choices of the child's mother, a baby not yet three weeks old has died of pneumonia. last month, the home secretary sajid javid confirmed that the baby was a british citizen and said he had considered the child's interest when deciding to take away ms begum's british citizenship. but the central question now is could the life of an innocent child have been saved? as somebody who has served in the home office, i can tell you factually the home secretary

would have made a decision based on what he believes in the best interest of the security of the people of the united kingdom. the duty of a home secretary in this country is to keep british people safe, and he made a decision based on the advice he had about keeping british people safe. meanwhile shamima begum's family are still fighting for her to be allowed back to the uk. just before it was announced his grandson had died, ms begum's dad, who lives in bangladesh, begged for his daughter to be forgiven. translation: shamima was a teenager. she has done wrong, and as her father i apologise to everyone in britain. i'm asking the british people to forgive her and take her back. being in government often means making difficult choices. ministers could have allowed shamima begum and herson to return to the uk. but that could have proved deeply unpopular. in a statement a spokesman said the death of any child was tragic, but said that for the last eight years the government has consistently advised against travel to syria.

the case of shamima begum and her son is but one of thousands, and a dilemma for many governments around the world. what to do about those who left home to join an enemy, and now want to come back? chris mason, bbc news. rescuers have found the bodies of the missing british mountaineer, tom ballard, and his italian climbing companion, daniele nardi, in pakistan. contact was lost with the pair almost two weeks ago during an ascent of one of the world's highest mountains — nunga parbut, in the himalayas. mr ballard is the son of alison hargreaves, who died on the mountain k2 in 1995 — the same year she became the first woman to conquer everest unaided. sarah campbell reports. tom ballard was among the world's best and most fearless climbers. he specialised in taking on the most dangerous ascents in winter. joining him on what would be his final challenge — italian climber daniele nardi.

they had waited weeks for a weather window before setting off to climb nunga parbut, also known as killer mountain. an international search was launched after contact was lost, with the pair two thirds of the way up a particularly treacherous route. almost two weeks after they went missing came news that their bodies had been spotted. tom, as a youngster, looking for a reassuring cuddle from his mum, alison hargreaves. in 1995, she became a first woman to climb everest without oxygen or assistance. when we go climbing, we obviously minimise the risks. and if we thought it was that risky, we wouldn't go climbing. anybody who went off thinking that it was a very high chance they wouldn't come back, i think it's very unfair thing to do, especially with a young family. that same year, she died while descending from the summit at k2, the world's the second highest peak. fellow climbers, friends and family are now having to come to terms

with tom's death at the age ofjust 30. he wouldn't have remembered his mum as well. he was five when she died, but he was aware of what a great lady she was and what a great climber she was as well. i have to say, i'm not that religious, but if i was i would like to think tom has gone up to meet his mum. this is just so sad, it bears repeating. he was just a fine young man, really. daniele nardi also knew the risks. his family released a written statement today which included a message he had left for his son, should he not return. "don't stop", he told him, "don't give up". climbing was all tom ever wanted to do. he died doing what he loved. sarah campbell, bbc news. stay with us on bbc world news, still to come. wales watch their rugby team beat scotland to reamain on course for the six nations grand slam.

the numbers of dead and wounded to fight billy. this the worst terrorist atrocity on european soil in modern times —— defied belief. terrorist atrocity on european soil in modern times —— defied beliefm less and 24—hour is, the soviet union lost in elderly and sick leader and replaced him with a dynamic leader 20 years his junior. we heard gunshots, they came out with fire. we were petrified. james earl ray, aged 41 were sentenced to 99 years, available for parole when he was 90, travelled in an eight car convoy. all, what does it feel like to be married at last? it feels

fine, thank you. when it change your life? i don't know, really, as never been married before. —— i have never been married before. —— i have never been married before. —— i have never been married before. this is bbc world news today. the latest headlines. thousands of anti—government protesters have ta ken to the streets in venezuela on a day of rival demonstrations. police used pepper spray against supporters of the opposition leader, juan guaido. britain's government faces criticism after the baby son of shamina begum — who joined the islamic state group —dies in a syrian camp. — dies in a syrian camp. staying in syria, at least four lorry loads of people have been evacuated from the village of baghouz in syria, where a final assault is expected soon. over the past six years the so—called islamic state caliphate has shrunk from the size of britain to less than a square mile on syria's border with iraq. the syrian democratic forces today

paused military operations to allow the last civilians to leave. many travel to camps for the displaced and those facilities are now overwhelmed with people. joining me from damascus is dr fran equiza — the unicef representative in syria. thanks forjoining us. we have been talking especially about the death of the two and a half week baby son of the two and a half week baby son of the two and a half week baby son of the british teenager shamima begum and she was in a camp in north—eastern syria, what are conditions like in these camps, which ijust said, are now overwhelmed with people who have fled different cities? thank you for having me. we have seen in the camp that there were 10,000 people leaving in november, now it is 60,000 people. a huge number of people coming from baghouz where people coming from baghouz where people have been four months and the isis will. there has been a high escalation of hostilities. they are tired and traumatised, they have

poor health conditions. so clearly, the situation of the people is an extremely bad condition. numbers of women and children are we talking? 90% of the population living there as we are talking now our women and children. many are under 12 so clearly it is a massive amount of people, dodson and women, definitely. and these camps were not set out for vast numbers where they? —— children and women. set out for vast numbers where they? -- children and women. we are expecting 10,000 or 50,000 people, the massive numbers of people came in that was unexpected. we have been able to scale up and provide tents and health services and protection services, and wash facilities and seed for the people coming. itjust been completely around the clock to make sure everybody are treated as

they deserve as human beings. —— and food for the people coming. but women are people are dying are they? so far 106 people are dead. these people are coming from a poor condition and come from 150 kilometres and a harsh winter without proper support in the without proper support in and kilometres and a harsh winter without proper support in and some of them arrive so weak that any deterioration in the health condition could make them a casualties. it are the camps getting any help outside from the international community? or the alliances are working in the camps. all the family of the un is working in different sectors. in nutrition, education, health, definitely it is a joint effort to make sure those people receive support that they deserved arriving into the camp.

thanks forjoining us. thank you for updating us on the situation in the camps in north—east syria. holly hamilton has all the sport. manchester city have extended their lead at the top of the premier league. they're now four points ahead of liverpool — who play tomorrow — after they beat watford 3—1. it wasn't without controversy though, raheem sterling opening the scoring at the etihad despite looking to be well offside. he went on to score a hat—trick. big defeat for spurs, big win for southampton at st mary's. raplh hassenhuttl delighted as his southampton side won 2—1. they remain outside of the relegation zone — spurs though are having a big wobble, that's their third straight away defeat. lionel messi scored a penalty as la liga leaders barcelona came from behind to beat rayo vallecano and retain their seven—point lead at the top. rayo took a surprise lead early on,

but gerard pique equalised for the hosts before the break. after messi gave barca the lead in the second half, luis suarez made it three. it means ernesto valverde's side are now unbeaten in 14 league games. it's very, very tight at the top of the bundesliga in germany. bayren munich are now top. they leap—frog dorussia dortmund on goal difference after beating wolfsburg 6—0. dortmund themselve did get a good win against stuttgart, a welcome result given a recent run that's seen them win just once in their last eight games. the hunt for a first six nations grand slam since 2012 is still on for wales. they held off a second half fightback to beat scotland 18—11 at murrayfield. joe wilson was watching the action for us. murrayfield is done for another six nations, and scotland's players right now might feel a bit bruised and even confused. key question, how do you beat this welsh side?

scotla nd do you beat this welsh side? scotland had to try and come from behind today, first off wales were dominant, scored 13 tries then. but during the second half, scotland produced some scintillating attacking player but they have built their reputation on recently. a fine corner by darcy graham and the fans we re corner by darcy graham and the fans were then on their feet. but wales just restructured belief in their process , just restructured belief in their process, held their nerve to hang on and win with the penalty. right before the final whistle. so in the six nations, wales remain with the perfect record. there coach warren gatland —— gatland has led them to 11 matches against scotland in one them all. it was his reaction. i think in the past, we would have absorbed and correct and i think there were a few occasions when they we re there were a few occasions when they were pressing against us and we were driving them back defensively, we got 10—15 metres i got a turnover. they were big moments. we have a

dream at the moment and we will start planning for next week. so wales have done all they can do, remain in control of the six nations with an unbeaten record. everyone is chasing them including england, he did all they could do at twickenham with a convincing, predictably enough, victory against italy. eight tries for the english and abbey ‘s final weekend to come. that's all the sport for now. thank you, we will see you later. the british government has dismissed an eu proposal that northern ireland could remain in a customs union with the eu after brexit. stephen barclay, the uk's brexit secretary, said now was not the time to re—run old arguments. all this comes as mps prepare for significant votes in the commons this week. our reporter in brussels is adam fleming....he filed this report on the latest in the negotiations. there are technical talks happening in brussels happening over the weekend between brussels and the eu.

this means they are being done at the levels of civil servants and officials. this is not government ministers or the prime minister coming over to seal a deal. what they are working on is three work streams, as they call them. the first work stream is looking at a road map for exploring alternatives to the irish backstop that is in the brexit deal during the transition period after brexit day. how will the two sides look at different options to avoid the backstop? the second is what kind of legal guarantees and reassurance can be provided to the uk about how that backstop will work and from the uk's perspective, how it can be brought to an end if it came into force. that is the subject of michel barnier, the eu's chief negotiated's tweets on friday which works some projected by the uk. then there is the political negotiation, a separate document which sketches out the future relationship after brexit that sits alongside the divorce

treaty. we do not know anything about the potential changes being worked on there. i assume there'll be some kind of end product in written form, may on sunday or monday but it presumably will have to be before tuesday because that is when members of the british parliament will vote on the deal and they will want to see what extra reassu ra nces they will want to see what extra reassurances and work up in brought back from brussels. there have been many about back from brussels. there have been about how important and crucial is this now to the idea brexit will happen when it is supposed to?“ this now to the idea brexit will happen when it is supposed to? is it is incredibly crucial for a happen when it is supposed to? is it is incredibly crucialfor a number of reasons. on tuesday, it is crucial for the government because they want the deal to go through and if it doesn't go through, then it triggers a parliamentary process that, in the government's view, is the government losing control of the

process. after tuesday, they will then have a series of votes, the first four b on wednesday when mps will be asked, do you want to take the threat of no deal at all of the table? —— the first will be on wednesday. if yes, then there will bea wednesday. if yes, then there will be a vote on thursday on whether the british parliament wants to extend the uk plus membership of the eu beyond march 20 notes, the official planned of brexit. —— marks 29. the government view is if that happens, it's quite unprecedented and it means they are losing control of the parliamentary timetable. adam fleming there explaining what is happening in the next week. before we go: collecting from seasides and forming art: this is an exhibition of pebble stones converted into decorations and dolls. the exhibition at turkey's capital ankara showcases regional figures, as well as worldwide figures made with pebbles. before creating a figure, artists research a region, before working on each piece piece over a week. quite special. that's it for me, you

can reach me on twitter. goodbye for now. good evening. a blustery saturday but a saturday of sunny spells and scattered showers for most of us. you can see from the satellite picture where the best of the breaks for in eastern areas, showers further west by the end of the afternoon, the cloud and rain gathers and will bring rain tonight. behind it, this could cause some issues as it bumps into cold air, it could bring snow showers tomorrow. for the next few hours, it will turn increasingly wet and windy, the rain pressing steadily northwards, perhaps grinding to a halt across northern england and north wales. judith arsenal ‘s, and a clear skies, temperatures falling away, blue tones denoting temperatures below freezing, as low as —4 insulted rural areas. that cold air

will stay into scotland. this rain, a bit of wet snow across the pennines, going steadily south and east. then the next frontal system bumps into the cold air and we could see some wintry showers. so it will bea see some wintry showers. so it will be a blustery start to the day, it will be snow falling to higher ground, we could see accumulations ofa ground, we could see accumulations of a few centimetres and even at lower levels, some deposits coupled of a few centimetres and even at lower leve winds 1e deposits coupled of a few centimetres and even at lower leve winds at deposits coupled of a few centimetres and even at lower leve winds at times its coupled of a few centimetres and even at lower leve winds at times 42—50 jled of a few centimetres and even at lower leve winds 6 be 'nes 42—50 jled miles and it won't be pleasant. there will be showers and winter venus across west of england and wales. —— winter venus. venus across west of england and wales. —— wintervenus. it venus across west of england and wales. —— winter venus. it will be a bright and sunny afternoon but for many, the risk of showers with deposits threatening the west, with the odd bit of thunder and hail mixed enforced gold with cloud, went and rain, 5 degrees at the best, with maximum of 11. then we have in

monday, a brief ridge which quotes things down but not for long, make the most of it because it looked like it will be a quiet start to our working week then a significant area of low pressure looks likely to threaten from the west and it will bring more wet and windy weather with a spell of gales for a time. this may well develop into a storm. into next week, it looks likely to be is pretty unsettled, there will be is pretty unsettled, there will be rain and gales but also some sun at times.