welcome back to bbc news. the main headlines — syria's president says america is behind a sweeping rebel a sweeping rebel advance, saying the west is trying to redraw the map of the middle east. the bbc masterchef presenter, gregg wallace, apologises for his response to allegations of misconduct against him. number 10 had described his reaction as inappropriate and misogynistic. the german chancellor, olaf scholz, is making an unexpected visit to the ukrainian capital, kyiv.

millions of us use technology for exercise routines and sleeper doctor say they are conscious about how useful that kind of is. —— they are cautious. more on those stories. now with all the latest sport here's. hello from the bbc sport centre. west indies are back at the crease on day 3 of their weather affected second test against bangaldesh in kingston. they started the day trailing by 94 runs and have moved to 9a—3. at sabina park in response to bangladesh's161i. captain kraigg brathwaited was dismissed for 39 adding just six to his overnight total. west indies are one up in the two—match series. fiorentina midfielder edoardo bove remains in intensive care after collapsing during their serie a match at home to inter milan. in the past hour, the club has released a statement saying he is currently awake, alert and oriented. the 22—year—old, on loan from roma,

fell to the ground in 16th minute of their match, with both sets of players immediately signalling for the medical staff and forming a protective ring around him before an ambulance took him to a hospital close to the stadium. the match, which was goalless, was abandoned shortly after the incident and will be replayed at a later date. ruud van nistelrooy is preparing for his first match as leicester city manager. the 48—year—old who was appointed on friday takes over from the sacked steve cooper and will be in charge for tuesday night's home match against west ham. his side are 16th, just one point above the relegation zone and have lost their last three league games. england's chloe kelly and fran kirby will miss the friendly with switzerland tomorrow. they picked up injuries in the goal—less draw with the united states on saturday. manager sarina wiegman says the team willjust have to try something new against the side who host next summer's euros. before we go into a tournament

you want clarity and everyone knows knows her role, which we know in top sport can which we know, in top sport can change very quickly. but now you're trying out things, now you want everyone to compete at the highest level, compete against opponents, but also compete with each other. that's what you need to become better and that's uncomfortable. and also trying out things. those are new things. of course, we're not going to get everything right, but we're learning and it gives us information. to the nba now, where james harden became thejust the second player to hit 3,000 three—pointers in his career as the la clippers held off the denver nuggets. harden scored 39 points as the clippers ran out 126—122 winners, their eighth victory in a row at home. despite posting 28 points himself and being third on the all time triple double list, reigning nba mvp nikola jokic couldn't stop the nuggets falling to defeat in california. it was one of those accomplishments that you never take for granted. you know,

just the amount of work that i have put in. countless days and nights where put the work in and a lot of people don't see it but the results happen. so i am just thankful. the cleveland cavaliers ended boston's seven—game winning streak with a 115—111 victory over the celtics. donovan mitchell scored 20 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter. the cavaliers had won their opening 15 games of the season before boston finished that run. victory means cleveland stay top of the eastern conference while the celtics see their own seven—game winning streak ended. buffalo bills quarterback josh allen starred as his side were 35—10 winners over the san francisco 49ers in a game that saw heavy snowfall. allen became the first quarterback in nfl history to score a passing, receiving and rushing touchdown in the same game as his franchise secured the afc east division title and a play off berth. with five games left it's the earliest a division has been won for 15 years.

i kind of threw a bad ball, so i was just chasing it. it was kind of tipped around. he made a heck of a catch. yeah, i threw it. it was kind of a sticky hand. ijust kind of chased the balljust to be there. we made eye contact and i had to go make a play. that's what it was, yeah. and that's all the sport for now. more now on syria, where the government's military says more than 400 rebels have been killed in air strikes by russian and syrian warplanes in the last 2a hours. officials in damascus say they attacked around aleppo and idlib. rebel forces continue to occupy aleppo, and there are reports of fighting around hama, about 140 kilometres south of aleppo. the kremlin has said it will continue to support the syrian government. they're facing a rebel coalition, made up of several groups which appear to have

come together to fight president assad's regime. let's speak to james jeffrey, who was previously us special representative for syria engagement and special envoy to the global coalition to defeat isis. just tell us more about this main rebel group that we are seen fighting here.— main rebel group that we are seen fighting here. well, each ts has been — seen fighting here. well, each ts has been a _ seen fighting here. well, each ts has been a fascinating - seen fighting here. well, eachl ts has been a fascinating group to follow because they started off as being part of the same ideological camp as the islamic state and others, but since they have gotten a hold of a idlib province they have rebranded themselves as a very different kind of entity that can be trusted to be somewhat of a normal de facto government. statements that i have been working on from the group over the last few days now talk about protecting

diplomats, respecting people of all faiths within a little, different ethnicities, i would hesitate to describe religious secular —— i would hesitate to describe the language are secular but that is how they are characterising themselves as the eyes of the world are upon them. as the eyes of the world are upon them-— upon them. someone collet rebranding _ upon them. someone collet rebranding but _ upon them. someone collet rebranding but i _ upon them. someone collet rebranding but i know - upon them. someone collet rebranding but i know that i rebranding but i know that ordinary syrians have fear of the jihadist.— the jihadist. there are a number _ the jihadist. there are a number of _ the jihadist. there are a number of other - the jihadist. there are a i number of other anthonys the jihadist. there are a - number of other anthonys in there with them in this rather vague branding as the military administration allows all of these different groups to align themselves without having to

categorise who they are and what they stand for exactly. so there are justified concerns over what happens next and who remains in the driving seat and the degree to which the sort of jihadist or islamist groups will have a fringe.- jihadist or islamist groups will have a fringe. what you see is the — will have a fringe. what you see is the major _ will have a fringe. what you see is the major implication j will have a fringe. what you i see is the major implication to your? see is the ma'or implication to our? ~ ., see is the ma'or implication to our? . . ., , see is the ma'or implication to our? . . ., i, your? we are certainly seeing an entirely — your? we are certainly seeing an entirely new— your? we are certainly seeing an entirely new phase - your? we are certainly seeing an entirely new phase of- your? we are certainly seeing an entirely new phase of the i an entirely new phase of the conflict and it is a case of whether they are consolidating territory were whether they will try to push on south. i fell in the islamic state in syria. they are bitter rivals of hts but also looking for opportunities because they themselves have been expanding over the last 12 months and getting bolder in their attacks. so instability means that hard—line jihadists will definitely have an opportunity after a period where they had seemed more on the back foot. thinks for taking us through

that —— thanks. let's talk to another expert. another thought to start with. it has been an astonishing four orfive it has been an astonishing four or five days, it has been an astonishing four orfive days, has it has been an astonishing four or five days, has an?— it has been an astonishing four or five days, has an? thank you for having _ or five days, has an? thank you for having me — or five days, has an? thank you for having me on. _ or five days, has an? thank you for having me on. but _ or five days, has an? thank you for having me on. but i - or five days, has an? thank you for having me on. but i want. or five days, has an? thank you for having me on. but i want to | for having me on. but i want to underline it has been an extraordinary four or five days following an extraordinary 13 months throughout the middle east in what we have as regional conflict which is not specific to syria but part of a larger conflict. we specific to syria but part of a larger conflict.— larger conflict. we were 'ust listenint larger conflict. we were 'ust listening now i larger conflict. we were 'ust listening now to i larger conflict. we were 'ust listening now to our i listening now to our correspondent taking us through the major group hts who, of course, have a long history of jihadist support although as he was saying, having an effort to rebrand. but is this at the heart a return to jihad is and

their influence? 0h heart a return to jihad is and their influence? oh i don't think so. that is a threat that is always out there. by the way, i agreed with everything your previous correspondence said. the islamic state is still a threat against assad's forces. we still have to watch us and is why the us keeps forces there. but the major threat to forces there. but the ma'or threat ., , , forces there. but the ma'or threa- ,_ , threat to stability, security, the major — threat to stability, security, the major loss _ threat to stability, security, the major loss of— threat to stability, security, the major loss of life, - threat to stability, security, | the major loss of life, about threat to stability, security, i the major loss of life, about1 million people over the last 20 years has been due to an expansion... and going too far in the attack over israel we are seeing a powerful push back at first by israel and then by turkey. interestingly, the united states well in various

ways support them, both countries have not played a major role but nonetheless this is generally to the united states' advantage.- is generally to the united states' advantage. what will ha - en if states' advantage. what will happen if assad _ states' advantage. what will happen if assad falls? - states' advantage. what will happen if assad falls? i - states' advantage. what will| happen if assad falls? i don't think assad _ happen if assad falls? i don't think assad will _ happen if assad falls? i don't think assad will fall. - happen if assad falls? i don't think assad will fall. actually j think assad will fall. actually correction, i don't think the assad regime will fall and be taken over by the opposition. i think that russia and iran will dig in. we are seeing very heavy casualty reports from russian bombings and we have seen that earlier in 2015 and 2016. so i think the turks who have general control or influence of the groups including hts will eventually try to arrange a ceasefire and of course, there are talks between the iranians, russians and turks back and forth. i think assad may have to go personally but a regime

reflecting his interests will stay in power because iran and russia simply cannot conceive of such a change. none the less, from the standpoint of stabilising the region, this can be as big a step in the right direction as the hezbollah ceasefire that we just experienced.— hezbollah ceasefire that we just experienced. you mentioned some of the _ just experienced. you mentioned some of the main _ just experienced. you mentioned some of the main players, - some of the main players, lebanon, turkey, iran, hezbollah implications, what are the key things you are looking out for in the coming days and weeks? element as i said, if my prediction holds the front will eventually stabilise much to the assad regime's disadvantage and it is under tremendous pressure because russia and iran have been clearly so distracted that they cannot help. this is the time for american and western and un diplomacy to follow through and resolution 2254

backin through and resolution 2254 back in 2015 which pressure and the us wanted, to get a real compromise solution to syria which would allow reconciliation of the previous group, a new government, and the ending of syria as a playground for iranians power protection against israel, jordan and other countries. james, we have to leave it there but thank you so much for joining us live on the programme. thank you for your time. ., ., programme. thank you for your time. ., ~' ,, , programme. thank you for your time. ., ~' , . the bbc has confirmed that tonight's episode of masterchef will still be shown on bbc one. a bbc source says that masterchef is life changing for the chefs that take part and it

is about more than one individual. so two critical lines there. one, confirmation from the bbc that tonight's episode will still be shown on bbc one in the second is the explanation to why they have come to that decision, because, of course, through the course of course, through the course of today we have been hearing from at least one labour mp talking about how that episode, notjust talking about how that episode, not just tonight's talking about how that episode, notjust tonight's but talking about how that episode, not just tonight's but future when should be pulled, talking about how hearing them would be triggering for some of the women who have complained and others making the broader point that by broadcasting the episode with gregg wallace somehow underlines that the bbc are somehow supporting gregg wallace despite the investigation that has been launched after the allegations from a number of women. of course, you are seeing their some of what he has posted in

the last little while. he apologised for those comments over the weekend where he described those who had complained as being middle—class women of a certain age. that, of course, triggered age. that, of course, triggered a huge tsunami of responses including from number ten through the course of today. they described those comments as misogynistic. he has apologised for those comments but the wider investigation is still going on. of course, all of those questions about whether the future episodes should be broadcast, well the answer to one of them to tonight, which will be shown. i will repeat again the reasoning— masterchef is life changing for the chefs that take part in the show is about more than one individual. we will have more reaction to that story with reaction in terms of that basic decision to the bbc here on the programme in a little while. around the world and across the uk, you are watching bbc news.

you are watching bbc news. the german chancellor, 0laf scholz, is making an unexpected visit to the ukrainian capital, kyiv. mr scholz said he wanted to use this opportunity to express solidarity with ukraine and has promised kyiv a fresh package of military aid worth more than 630 million euros. germany is currently the biggest european supplier of defence equipment to ukraine. let's speak to paul adams, who joins us live from ukraine. paul, interesting this visit because over the months, relations between those two countries, germany and ukraine have been strained at different junctures. i have been strained at different “unctures. ., , have been strained at different “unctures. ~ , ., junctures. i think it is fair to say that _ junctures. i think it is fair to say that the _ junctures. i think it is fair| to say that the chancellor junctures. i think it is fair - to say that the chancellor has a somewhat mixed reputation here. everyone is acutely aware that germany is, as you said in your introduction, the largest

european provider of military assistance by far. something in the region of 20 billion euros worth of military aid so far. he is bringing a fresh package with him today. on the other hand, there has been a reluctance to provide long—range missiles reluctance to provide long—range missile