this is bbc news. the headlines: thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in venezuela on a day of rival demonstrations. police used pepper spray against supporters of the opposition welcome to bbc news. leader, juan guaido, in the capital caracas, i'm samantha simmonds. our top stories: while a huge number of pro—government demonstrators also gathered in the city. thousands join rival rallies in venezuela dozens of civilians in support of both the president have been evacuated from baghouz, and opposition leader the last village still held as the country's crisis continues. by the islamic state group in syria. dozens of civilians flee the last at least four trucks carrying people stronghold of the islamic state group ahead of a final assault left the village on saturday. western—backed syrian by western—backed forces. democratic forces are poised rescuers find the bodies of two climbers missing for almost to resume their final push on the area. a fortnight on a mountain in the himalayas. and r kelly has been released from prison after the payment and american singer r kelly of more than $160,000 is released from jail in chicago in overdue child support. after the payment of $160,000 the singer has previously spent three nights injail owed in child support. after being charged in four sex abuse cases, allegations he denies. internet users should have hello and welcome to bbc news. greater control over personal data

thousands of people have taken to the streets of venezuela as part of two rival demonstrations. at his rally, president nicolas maduro thanked the army for staying loyal, saying they had defeated an opposition coup attempt. meanwhile, police clashed with supporters of opposition leader juan guaido at the other rally in caracas. electricity is gradually being restored across the country after the longest blackout in a decade. 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's growing 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 blackout is a 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 leaderjuan guaido at the behest of washington. either way, both sides are taking their grievances to the streets. these people are already furious at president maduro for a whole 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 free fall. 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 on institutions and regime change in latin america. she supports the oppoistion leader and i've been speaking to her about the latest events. whenjuan when juan guaido followed the constitution and field and avoid because maduro was elected with sarah, unfree, he has started a transition to democracy, i hope so. but so far a concession. maduro‘s government is holding on only because the military supports him, thatis because the military supports him, that is it. many people have come out in support of president maduro as well. maduro has a base. the support is below 20% however right

now. it is at the latest polls suggest. we know from reports from people who work in administration that oftentimes a lot of these protesters are forced to go out on the streets based on the fact they rely on a governmentjob, government support. we know from polls 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. 70% of the country had made blackout of almost two days, people died in hospitals. venezuela has around 3 million refugees, it is expected to have wide million by the end of 2018. there is a stalemate situation. we note 50 countries have recognised juan guaido as the president. but he has the support of

the military. what happens next? where does the shift have to come from actual change to happen if that is what is going to happen? will it be violent? is that what will instigate change? perhaps it is necessary? i really hope there is no violence. i am necessary? i really hope there is no violence. iam hesitant necessary? i really hope there is no violence. i am hesitant to claim one way or another. there was a major shift in the opposition. the opposition since 2015 has been divided, they have been bickering between each other, different factions. in january 23rd, juan guaido came out in 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 has the support of the international community, the european union, most latin american countries rallied behind him to see

some kind of solution to the situation. the goal of the opposition right now is to get the military to break from the government. if that happens, hopefully maduro would beef balls to sit down at some kind of negotiation table so we can see the transition we have seen in the late 1980s and argentina perhaps, even the philippines. the kind of transition that would be peaceful over a negotiation, that would probably have some kind of transition of justice agreement for the people in the government. that is the expectation. having said that computing is very uncertain. we have no idea how or when the military is going to break. the british government faces mounting criticism over the decision to revoke the citizenship of shamima begum following the death of her baby son in a syrian detention camp. ms begum left london to join the islamic state group when she was 15, and now at19,

wanted to return to britain. the opposition says the decision to stop herfrom doing so was "callous and inhumane." but the british 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 people from the islamic state group and their 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 north—eastern 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 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 will 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. at least four lorry loads of people have been evacuated from the village

of baghouz in syria where a final assault is expected soon. these pictures have come from near the enclave where hundreds of civilians were evacuated after sunset. 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. once all civilians are out of baghouz, the syrian democratic forces will resume their final assault on the area. many civilians travel to camps for the displaced and those facilities are now overwhelmed with people. earlier, i spoke to dr fran equiza, the unicef representative in syria. he says harsh conditions in the camps are having deadly consequences. so far there are 106 people dead. it isa so far there are 106 people dead. it is a very, very harsh winter with cold and not the proper at support in the camp. some of them are so wea k in the camp. some of them are so

weak that any compensation in the health condition may end in a fatal casualties. and is unicef, is the camps getting any outside help from the international community? some people are working in the camps. they are working in different sectors, save the children, they make sure people receive the support that they deserve a riding to the camp. —— arriving in the camp. let's get some of the day's other news. the mexican navy says it's seized six tons of illegal drugs in operations off the coast of the state of sonora in north—west mexico. a mexican sailor descended from a helicopter onto boats that had been hidden under camouflage. night vision released by the navy also shows sailors boarding a boat allegedly carrying an illegal haul of marijuana, methamphetamines and heroin. nigerians are voting to elect governors in most of the country's 36 states. turnout is reported to be low so far. two people were killed and 35

vehicles destroyed in violence between party supporters in lagos state on the eve of the election. almost 90 passengers have been injured after a ferry hit what appears to have been a whale in the sea ofjapan. there were 125 on board at the time and at least five people are said to be in a serious condition. the ferry sailed to its destination after the collision. 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 assets in winter. joining him on what be his final challenge, italian climber daniele nardi. they waited weeks for a weather window before setting off to climb the mountain known as mackellar mountain. at international search was launched after contact was lost with the pair. it was a particularly treacherous route. afterjimmy carter they went missing came the news their bodies had been spotted. tom looking from a reassuring cuddle from his mum. in 1995 she became the first woman to climb everest without oxygen 01’ first woman to climb everest without oxygen or existence. when we go climbing, which obviously minimise the risks and if we thought it was that whiskey, we would not go climbing. anybody who went off thinking there was a higher chance they would not come back, it is a

very un— fair thing to do, they would not come back, it is a very un— f with ing to do, they would not come back, it is a very un- fwith ing to do, - that especially with a young family. that same year, she died while descending from the summit of k2, the world's 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 was five when she died but he was aware of what a great lady she was and what it wait climber she was herself. i am what it wait climber she was herself. iam not what it wait climber she was herself. i am not that religious, but i have to think that tom is going to meet his mum. it is so sad, he was fine young man, really, tom. daniele nardi also knew the risks. if family released a written statement today which included a written statement he left for his son should he not return. do not stop, do not give up. climbing was all tom ever wanted to do. he died doing what he loved. sarah campbell, bbc news.

r kelly has been released from prison after paying more than $160,000 in overdue child support. the singer has previously spent three nights injail after being charged in four sex abuse cases. allegations the singer denies. i promise you we're going to straighten all this stuff out. that's all i can say right now. i promise you. i love my fans. thank you, guys. his lawyer also spoke to reporters outside cook county jail in chicago. so we are going to focus on the evidence. we will fight in the courtroom. the state is yet to give us one courtroom. the state is yet to give us one single piece evidence. we haven't seen an interview, we haven't seen an interview, we haven't seen a police report, we haven't seen a police report, we haven't seen a videotape. when we get those things, we will fight this case like we fight any other case, in the courtroom, based on the evidence. stay with us on bbc world news. still to come: his case got worldwide attention through a podcast.

but there will be no new trial for adnan syed. the numbers of dead and wounded defied belief. this the worst terrorist atrocity on european soil in modern times. in less than 2a hours then the soviet union lost an elderly sick leader and replaced him with a dynamic figure 20 years his junior. we heard these gunshots in the gym. then he came out through a fire exit and started firing at our huts. god, we were all petrified. james earl ray, aged 41, sentenced to 99 years and due for parole when he's 90, travelled from memphis jail to nashville state prison in an eight—car convoy. paul, what's it feel like to be married at last? it feels fine, thank you. what are you going to do now? is it going to change your life much do you think? i don't know really.

i've never been married before. this is bbc news. 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. dozens of civilians have left the last stronghold of the islamic state group — ahead of a final assault by western—backed forces. the man at the centre of the true crime podcast serial has been told he won't get a retrial, almost 20 years after he was convicted of the murder of his ex—girlfriend. adnan syed, now 37, was convicted of killing hae min lee in 2000. her body was found the year before in a park in baltimore, maryland. syed's case resurfaced in the media when the podcast serial — which had 175 million downloads worldwide — raised questions about his conviction. but on friday, the highest court in maryland overruled an earlier decision that would have led to a retrial for syed.

the court found "there is not a significant or substantial possibility that the verdict would have been different" if syed's lawyer at the time had presented the alibi witness asia mcclain. i spoke to adnan syed's lawyer justin brown in baltimore and asked him about the new evidence that's at the centre of the case. well, our main issue that we presented to the courts, which we have been presenting for the last ten yea rs have been presenting for the last ten years is that there was an alibi witness who was willing to testify at the original trial. however, the original trial attorney never reached out to that witness and never even called the phone, and never, of course, called her as a witness at trial. so that is the issue we have been litigating for about ten years now. that is a very long time, a decade, that you have

been trained to get a retrial. the court said that they did agree that there was a deficiency in failing to investigate an eyewitness, but they disagreed this deficiency prejudiced the original trial. tell us more about what they had to say, there are slated for refusing the retrial. well, —— eric suwon eight and for refusing. well, it was a shocking conclusion where they found there was a mistake made, but they said even though there alibi witness covered the exact time that the murder took place, according to the state and that alibi witness said she was with adnan syed at a precise time, but that would not have affected the outcome of the trial. 0bviously that's something we strenuously disagree with. and what has been a adnan syed's reaction?” was able to speak to him yesterday evening and he is obviously extremely disappointed, but he also

remains pretty optimistic and he actually gave me a pretty amazing p9p actually gave me a pretty amazing pep talk. he said we are going to keep fighting on, he believes in his case, and he believes in his innocence. innocent people never give up on their fight. so what is next, legally, then? we have a couple of options. we can ask of this court, the court of appeal to reconsider its decision. we can also potentially go to federal court. we can also go to the united states supreme court. and there are even other option is how we can raise new claims and new types of defences in the other maryland's state courts. what kind of reaction, given the huge number of listeners that this podcast has in which this case has been listened to by hundreds of millions of people, have people been getting in touch with you? there has been an amazing outpouring of

support. there are literally hundreds of thousands of people, not only in the us, but around the world, who believe in a adnan syed, and who believe in his innocence, and who believe in his innocence, and to continue to support him, and i think those ranks will only grow in the coming months. justin brown talking to me a little earlier. the italian government has ordered a halt to further work on its side of a controversial high speed rail link to france — after a dispute between the two populist parties in power. the prime minister, giuseppe conte, instructed the engineering company running the project to stop issuing tenders temporarily, due to rising costs, italy's coalition five star party say they want the project scrapped altogether in favour of projects the country needs more. 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. 0ur reporter in brussels is adam fleming. he filed this report on the latest

in the negotiations. there are technical talks happening in brussels over the weekend between the uk and the eu. technical talks means they are being done at the level of civil servants, of officials. this is not government ministers or the prime minister coming over to seal a deal. now what they are working on if they have three work streams, as they call them, the first works team is looking at a roadmap for exploring alternatives to the irish backstop thatis alternatives to the irish backstop that is in the brexit deal during the transition period after brexit daily. albin two says look at different options to avoid the backstop? —— how well. the second is what kind of legal guarantees and reassurance can be provided to the eu about how that could work and how it could be brought to an end if it ever came into force? that is the subject of michel barnier, tweets on

friday. some of which were straightaway disregarded by the uk. and the third work stream is about changes to what is called the political declaration. that is a separate document that sketches out the shape of the future relationship after brexit, that sits alongside the divorce treaty. and we don't know anything about the potential changes that have been worked on there. so i assume there will be some kind of end in written form, maybe on sunday, maybe on monday, but it will presumably be before tuesday, because that is when members of the british parliament will vote on the deal and they will wa nt to will vote on the deal and they will want to see what reassurances, what extra work has been brought back from brussels in advance of the vote on tuesday night. adam, there have been many crucial weeks in the past two years, running up to the deadline on march 29, but you mentioned is voting —— vote on tuesday in the british parliament, how crucial is this to the idea that brexit happens when it is supposed

to feel it is incredibly crucial for a number of reasons. on tuesday, it is crucial for the government because they want the vote to go through and if it doesn't go through that triggers a parliamentary process that in the government's you is the government losing control of the process. after tuesday we will have a series of votes, the first one will be on wednesday, where mps will be asked "do you want to take the threat of no deal at all of the table?". if the threat of no deal at all of the table? if they the threat of no deal at all of the table?". if they do that then it will move on to thursday, where there will be a vote on whether the british parliament wants to extend the uk's membership of the eu beyond march 29th, the official plant at date of brexit. and as i was saying, thatis date of brexit. and as i was saying, that is the government's view is that is the government's view is that if that happens it is quite unprecedented and it means they are losing control of the parliament to timetable. adam fleming derron brussels.

the fashion doll made her debut at the new york trade fair back in 1959 and has taken a more than 200 careers, from astronaut to surgeon since her debut. after criticism that the doll provided an unrealistic hoddy image for girls, the manufacturers try to make a more educational and they have released a number of new dolls to mark this anniversary. among those who celebrated the doll in the past work the artist anti—war halt and the louvre museum in paris. she hasn't aged a bit —— andy warhol. 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. they are certainly colourful. that is it from me for now. you can get

in touch with me on twitter. do stay with us. we have all the latest headlines coming up injust a moment. good morning. it is a pretty messy sunday story across the country. we have seen some heavy overnight rain gathering from this area of low pressure and that is moving its way across england and wales, but as that clears out of the way of the next few days it will be replaced by this little fellow, which will introduce more of a wintry flavour as the bumps into cold air sitting across scotland. so early birds may well start off with some rain around across northern england, a wintry flavour across the pennines. at that lives off into the north sea. and then behind is more of a significant chance of seeing some snow across scotland. now we will see several centimetres, perhaps, accumulating to higher ground and some sloshy deposits at lower levels, accompanied with gusts of why it

winds, a5, 50 mph. and after that renders off into the north sea, for the rest of england and wales as we go through the day it is a slow improvement with sunny spells coming through, but windy with it. gusts of winds 50—60 mph, that will make it feel quite cool. we keep the showers into the north and it will be quite cool with those wintry showers going 3- cool with those wintry showers going 3— five celsius at the best. the highest values further south of 7-11, but highest values further south of 7—11, but you have to factor in the strength of the wind, it will be a little disappointing. through sunday night into monday we see this little ridge of high pressure building. that will quieten things down for a time, but not really for long. and with some clear skies and lighter winds we are going to see those averages falling away. it will be a chilly start to monday morning with temperatures close to raising in many places. there will be a scattering of showers around as well. monday, on the whole, though, will be a largely fine and light

date compared to what we have seen over the weekend. highs values of 9— 11 degrees. don't get too used to it, as the closeout monday introduced there is another area of low pressure moving in that will bring yet more wet and windy weather. look at the isobars squeezing together, gale force gust of winds are quite likely and some of winds are quite likely and some of that rain will be quite heavy indeed. that slips its way through the south and east during tuesday, leaving a trail of wintry showers following in its wake behind, but also some sunny spells. it is not going to feel particularly warm with the strength and the direction of the strength and the direction of the wind. highs values of around 7-9d. the wind. highs values of around 7—9d. so week ahead looks pretty u nsettled, 7—9d. so week ahead looks pretty unsettled, i'm afraid. so if you do have outdoor plants it is worth bearing in mind. unsettled with rain and gales at times, but also a little bit of sunshine for some.