0:00:05 > 0:00:07Tonight at ten:
0:00:07 > 0:00:09The desperate plight of people in Eastern Ghouta,
0:00:09 > 0:00:15as Syrian Government forces step up their bombardment.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19The suburb, held by rebel forces, is being flattened by the heaviest
0:00:19 > 0:00:23bombardment of recent years.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26Some 200 people have been killed in the past three days and many
0:00:26 > 0:00:28injured, including children.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32Despite the evidence, the Syrian regime denies targeting civilians
0:00:32 > 0:00:36in its unrelenting airstrikes.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39As the bombing campaign intensifies, our Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen
0:00:39 > 0:00:42will examine whether this a turning point in the seven-year conflict.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44Also tonight:
0:00:44 > 0:00:47Oxfam bosses come to Parliament to face questions
0:00:47 > 0:00:49about their handling of the crisis involving allegations
0:00:49 > 0:00:56of sexual misconduct.
0:00:56 > 0:01:02Please allow me to begin by saying how sorry I am
0:01:02 > 0:01:04Scientists find the cause of a rare disorder that can lead
0:01:04 > 0:01:12to serious disfigurement and be life-threatening.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19My hopes and dreams for the funding
0:01:19 > 0:01:22and the research is we'll one day find a cure
0:01:22 > 0:01:25And Christie goes down before they reach the very first corner.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28More heartbreak for Team GB's Elise Christie,
0:01:28 > 0:01:31as her hopes of a Winter Olympic medal have disappeared.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34And coming up, I'm at Stamford Bridge with the latest
0:01:34 > 0:01:40as Chelsea take on Barcelona in the Champions League.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44And coming upon Sportsday on BBC News, could Chelsea get the better
0:01:44 > 0:01:47of Barcelona in the first leg of their last 16 tie
0:02:09 > 0:02:11Good evening.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14The United Nations says it's deeply concerned about the fate of hundreds
0:02:14 > 0:02:16of thousands of people in the Syrian district
0:02:16 > 0:02:20of Eastern Ghouta, which is still under rebel control.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22Syrian Government forces have carried out some of the heaviest
0:02:22 > 0:02:28bombardments of recent years, supported by the Russian military.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31Activists say that in the past three days of airstrikes
0:02:31 > 0:02:35and artillery fire, some 200 people -
0:02:35 > 0:02:37including many children - have been killed in Eastern Ghouta.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40This report by our Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen
0:02:40 > 0:02:41contains some distressing images.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44This could be the beginning of the end of a rebellion
0:02:44 > 0:02:46in Eastern Ghouta that began in 2012.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50All the other smaller rebel-held enclaves around Damascus have been
0:02:50 > 0:02:53starved and bombed into submission.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58EXPLOSION, SCREAMING
0:02:58 > 0:03:01Now, it looks to be Eastern Ghouta's turn as the regime
0:03:01 > 0:03:05pushes for decisive victory around the capital.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08SCREAMING
0:03:10 > 0:03:12SIRENS
0:03:12 > 0:03:17Activists in Eastern Ghouta say this is as bad as it's been.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21You can hear the shout and crying of women and children
0:03:21 > 0:03:27through the windows of their homes and the missiles and mortars
0:03:27 > 0:03:31dropping on us like rain.
0:03:31 > 0:03:37There is nowhere to hide from this nightmare in Eastern Ghouta.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41A generation has been born into the war.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43Dozens have been killed by it in the last few hours
0:03:43 > 0:03:45in Eastern Ghouta.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47Over the years of siege,
0:03:47 > 0:03:51they've set up a network of underground hospitals.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54This girl, named in Arabic "Angel", escaped the worst,
0:03:54 > 0:04:00but will have to go back to the streets to get home.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03And this is her area.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10With a regime plane dropping what appears
0:04:10 > 0:04:16to be a barrel bomb, unguided - an indiscriminate killer.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20The Syrian regime denies attacking civilians.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24It says it's trying to liberate Eastern Ghouta from terrorists.
0:04:24 > 0:04:29Eastern Ghouta is a sprawling mix of concrete suburbs and farmland,
0:04:29 > 0:04:33starting about nine miles east of Damascus' city centre.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36starting about nine miles east of Damascus city centre.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39The Syrian rebels who have controlled it since 2012 include
0:04:39 > 0:04:40several Islamist militias,
0:04:40 > 0:04:42including one with its roots in Al-Qaeda.
0:04:42 > 0:04:48Eastern Ghouta is surrounded by Syrian government forces.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51Before the war, it was just a short drive from the Syrian
0:04:51 > 0:04:53Presidential Palace.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57Officially, it's been designated a de-escalation zone,
0:04:57 > 0:04:59that is an empty phrase.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03Force decides what happens in Syria.
0:05:03 > 0:05:08After seven years, Syria's war isn't ending, but it's changing.
0:05:08 > 0:05:13President Assad, with the help of Russia and Iran, is now secure,
0:05:13 > 0:05:19but Syria is linked into a web of war and power politics,
0:05:19 > 0:05:22which guarantees more bloodshed.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27How many times in the last seven years have Syrians dug through
0:05:27 > 0:05:30the rubble for survivors?
0:05:30 > 0:05:34There's talk of safe corridors out for civilians,
0:05:34 > 0:05:37but, based on past form, the regime wants victory
0:05:37 > 0:05:41in Eastern Ghouta and the surrender of the rebels.
0:05:41 > 0:05:48Jeremy Bowen, BBC News.
0:05:48 > 0:05:54Jeremy Hunt is with me. If Assad's forces do manage to gain control of
0:05:54 > 0:05:57Eastern Ghouta, will that constitute a turning point in this conflict?It
0:05:57 > 0:06:01will be really important for the regime and the area around the
0:06:01 > 0:06:05capital Damascus. It is not, though, the end of the war. Back when the
0:06:05 > 0:06:10war was starting in 2012, 2013, I was able to cross into Eastern
0:06:10 > 0:06:15Ghouta. It was very difficult then, impossible recently, but there were
0:06:15 > 0:06:20real high hopes because there were other enclaves around the edge of
0:06:20 > 0:06:23the capital and they hoped this would really be a knife to the heart
0:06:23 > 0:06:26of the regime. As we see, it looks now very much as if Assad is
0:06:26 > 0:06:31preparing to try and roll up this final enclave around Damascus and
0:06:31 > 0:06:34that will secure his victory around the capital and so for him and for
0:06:34 > 0:06:38the capital, it's a very big moment. The reason I say the war isn't over
0:06:38 > 0:06:43is because of what is happening elsewhere. Up in a zero, very
0:06:43 > 0:06:48tangled, some big, important powers involved. Russia is involved, Iran
0:06:48 > 0:06:59is involved, the Turks, Americans and British special forces
0:06:59 > 0:07:01and British special forces there as of people competing for influence in
0:07:01 > 0:07:03that particular area. Power politics coming to get -- together with the
0:07:03 > 0:07:06threat of war and also the whole position of Iran, perceived as a big
0:07:06 > 0:07:09threat by the Israelis, who are also getting involved their increasingly,
0:07:09 > 0:07:13by the Americans and the Saudis, who have been big players in the war as
0:07:13 > 0:07:17well, so we are seeing a different cast of characters but we are
0:07:17 > 0:07:20continuing to see bloodshed and all that means is it is certainly not
0:07:20 > 0:07:24over.Jeremy, thank you very much.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26And for more details on the background to the war
0:07:26 > 0:07:28in Syria, you can visit bbc.co.uk/news for our analysis
0:07:28 > 0:07:31on the seven-year conflict.
0:07:35 > 0:07:36Pieces by Jeremy and other colleagues, too.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39That's bbc.co.uk/news.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42The charity Oxfam is now investigating 26 allegations
0:07:42 > 0:07:48of sexual misconduct, which have been reported since
0:07:48 > 0:07:52allegations were made against some of its workers in Haiti.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54The charity's leaders were questioned today
0:07:54 > 0:07:56by a Parliamentary committee at Westminster, when they admitted
0:07:56 > 0:07:58that thousands of people had cancelled their monthly donations
0:07:58 > 0:08:00since the the scandal broke, as our diplomatic correspondent
0:08:00 > 0:08:02James Landale reports.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05In 2010, Haiti was flooded with aid workers,
0:08:05 > 0:08:08most there to help the country recover from the earthquake.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12But seven men from Oxfam were also hiring prostitutes
0:08:12 > 0:08:14and bullying colleagues,
0:08:14 > 0:08:18men who were eventually dismissed or allowed to resign.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22Today, the charity's most senior executives were summoned
0:08:22 > 0:08:25to Parliament to explain what had gone on and why Oxfam hadn't been
0:08:25 > 0:08:28more open and done more to stop it happening again.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31Sorry wasn't the half of it.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35I am sorry, we are sorry, for the damage that Oxfam has done.
0:08:35 > 0:08:40On behalf of the Council of Oxfam, that we are ashamed of what happened
0:08:40 > 0:08:43in Haiti, we don't think it was well handled.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46Please allow me to begin by saying how sorry I am
0:08:46 > 0:08:49about what has happened.
0:08:49 > 0:08:50I am ashamed.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54In particular, Oxfam's chief executive apologised for suggesting
0:08:54 > 0:08:58the criticism the charity was getting was disproportionate,
0:08:58 > 0:09:01saying it wasn't as if babies had been murdered in their cots.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03I do apologise.
0:09:03 > 0:09:07I was thinking under stress.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10I had given many interviews, I had made many decisions
0:09:10 > 0:09:12to try and lead Oxfam's response to this.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15Oxfam, he admitted, had not been explicit about what went
0:09:15 > 0:09:19on and was now paying a price.
0:09:19 > 0:09:217,000 people have cancelled their regular donations
0:09:21 > 0:09:22in the past ten days.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24Corporate sponsors were reserving judgment.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26And...
0:09:26 > 0:09:31How many more revelations have come to your notice?
0:09:31 > 0:09:38Across Oxfam Great Britain, we have had about 26 stories,
0:09:38 > 0:09:43reports, come to us that were either new reports come out
0:09:43 > 0:09:50as a result of the stories, or earlier stories, where people
0:09:50 > 0:09:53said, "I didn't necessarily report this at the time."
0:09:53 > 0:09:56MPs just couldn't hide their frustration.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00You as an organisation are dealing with these women and girls
0:10:00 > 0:10:03as if they are just trinkets, and you can pay for them and give
0:10:03 > 0:10:06them a bit of aid and that's OK.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10And you don't, when you know about it, the organisation does not
0:10:10 > 0:10:12report it to the Haitian authorities.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14That's pretty shocking.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16It's really heartbreaking that...
0:10:16 > 0:10:17It is.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19That we are in this situation.
0:10:19 > 0:10:24But I want to assure you that we are not doing nothing.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28From our point of view, does it not look like Oxfam was more interested
0:10:28 > 0:10:30in protecting its own brand than protecting vulnerable
0:10:30 > 0:10:32women and girls?
0:10:32 > 0:10:35It may look like that, Mr Law.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38I can't do anything other than say I think it was wrong.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40I am conscious of the fact you didn't hold
0:10:40 > 0:10:42responsibility at the time.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46The committee chairman said he would now hold a full enquiry,
0:10:46 > 0:10:48the fourth that Oxfam is now facing, to ensure it
0:10:48 > 0:10:50gets its house in order.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53So, Oxfam is apologising to MPs, it's being more transparent.
0:10:53 > 0:10:59But what is clear from today's evidence is that to recover public
0:10:59 > 0:11:02trust, it will have to change a culture that tolerated the
0:11:02 > 0:11:03exploitation of vulnerable women.
0:11:03 > 0:11:04Thank you, Mr Speaker.
0:11:04 > 0:11:09In the Commons, Oxfam was warned that if new safeguarding procedures
0:11:09 > 0:11:12were not in place by the end of next week, then current government
0:11:12 > 0:11:14funding could be cut.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18The UK Government reserves the right to take whatever decisions
0:11:18 > 0:11:20about present or future funding to Oxfam or any other
0:11:20 > 0:11:23organisation we deem necessary.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26The real test will come, of course, not in Haiti but the next time
0:11:26 > 0:11:29there is another natural disaster and the world's aid industry
0:11:29 > 0:11:37is deployed once again.
0:11:37 > 0:11:43James is with me now. We have been focusing, understandably, on Oxfam's
0:11:43 > 0:11:47difficulties but tonight, another charity facing difficult questions.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51These allegations about somebody called Justin Forsyth, former
0:11:51 > 0:11:54Downing Street adviser and former chief executive of Save The
0:11:54 > 0:11:59Children. Radio 4's PM programme revealed Mr Forsyth was subject to
0:11:59 > 0:12:02three separate complaints of inappropriate behaviour towards
0:12:02 > 0:12:07female members of staff before he left the Save The Children in 2015.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11Mr Forsyth said in a statement he had made personal mistakes and "I
0:12:11 > 0:12:15recognise that on a few occasions I had a unsuitable and thoughtless,
0:12:15 > 0:12:20stations with colleagues which I now know caused offence and hurt. I
0:12:20 > 0:12:22apologise unreservedly to the colleagues involved and I thought
0:12:22 > 0:12:27the issue closed many years ago." Mr Forsyth is currently a senior figure
0:12:27 > 0:12:31at the UN charity Unicef and it said tonight it is discussing the matter
0:12:31 > 0:12:37with him "So we can take appropriate action." This of course is the
0:12:37 > 0:12:40second case involving the charity in recent days. Brendan Cox, the
0:12:40 > 0:12:44husband of the murdered MP Jo Cox, admitted at the weekend that he had
0:12:44 > 0:12:48made mistakes and behaved in a way that caused some women heard and
0:12:48 > 0:12:51offence when he had worked at the same charity.James, thanks very
0:12:51 > 0:12:53much.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56The Brexit Secretary David Davis has tried to reassure the EU that the UK
0:12:56 > 0:13:00won't pursue a radical programme of deregulation after Britain
0:13:00 > 0:13:03leaves the European Union.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05Speaking ahead of a meeting on Thursday when senior ministers
0:13:05 > 0:13:09will try to agree the Government's position on a final Brexit deal,
0:13:09 > 0:13:12Mr Davis told business leaders in Vienna that the UK wants
0:13:12 > 0:13:14to promote rights and standards.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18Labour says the assurance from Mr Davis is not worth
0:13:18 > 0:13:20the paper it's written on, as our political correspondent
0:13:20 > 0:13:22Vicki Young reports.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25The UK has decided to carve out a different path
0:13:25 > 0:13:27to the European Union.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30But ministers don't seem to be preparing for a sharp change
0:13:30 > 0:13:31in direction.
0:13:31 > 0:13:36The message here in Vienna was more about reassurance.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39David Davis denying accusations from Labour that the Government
0:13:39 > 0:13:43plans to sweep away rules that protect workers or the environment.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46They fear that Brexit could lead to an Anglo-Saxon
0:13:46 > 0:13:48race to the bottom.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51With Britain plunged into a Mad Max style world borrowed
0:13:51 > 0:13:54from dystopian fiction.
0:13:54 > 0:13:58These fears about a race to the bottom are based on nothing.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02He argued that high standards could help ensure trade with the EU
0:14:02 > 0:14:05remained as frictionless as possible, with both sides
0:14:05 > 0:14:09recognising each other's rules and institutions.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Some of the business leaders in the audience who want to keep
0:14:12 > 0:14:16close ties to Britain were encouraged by Mr Davis' words.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20I think his tone is now different to what it was maybe one year ago.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23In reality, hopefully it will bring us together.
0:14:23 > 0:14:29In the end, there will be closer relationships
0:14:29 > 0:14:31In the end, there will be close relationships
0:14:31 > 0:14:33between the EU and the UK, otherwise nobody will win.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37David Davis' words today are a far cry from what many in his own party
0:14:37 > 0:14:40have been saying about the need to break away from the burden of EU
0:14:40 > 0:14:44red tape that's been stifling British business for decades.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48He prefers to talk now about ongoing cooperation and mutual trust with
0:14:48 > 0:14:52the European Union after Brexit.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54But, tonight, signs that some Tory MPs have their doubts
0:14:54 > 0:14:57about the Government's approach.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00More than 60 Eurosceptic MPs have written a letter to Theresa May,
0:15:00 > 0:15:04calling for her to grasp the opportunities of Brexit,
0:15:04 > 0:15:08urging her to stand firm in negotiations and make sure
0:15:08 > 0:15:12Britain really does have the power to make its own decisions.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15Labour says it is the Cabinet that needs to make up its mind.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19The problem is that you got David Davis saying one thing,
0:15:19 > 0:15:22The problem is that you've got David Davis saying one thing,
0:15:22 > 0:15:23Boris Johnson saying something else
0:15:23 > 0:15:25and the Prime Minister saying almost nothing.
0:15:25 > 0:15:27It's got to be resolved.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30And that's the aim of Thursday's meeting of senior Cabinet ministers.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34David Davis says he is certain a good deal with the EU
0:15:34 > 0:15:36is on the cards, but discord amongst his colleagues
0:15:36 > 0:15:38needs to be dealt with first.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41Vicki Young, BBC News, Vienna.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48A brief look at some of the day's other news stories.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51Labour's Jeremy Corbyn has warned the press that "change is coming,"
0:15:51 > 0:15:59as he accused them of publishing "lies and smears" over his contacts
0:15:59 > 0:16:01with a Czech spy back in the 1980s.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03He suggested the reporting showed how "worried" media bosses
0:16:03 > 0:16:05were by the prospect of a Labour government.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08A High Court judge has ruled that doctors in Liverpool can stop
0:16:08 > 0:16:10providing life support to a boy who's seriously ill,
0:16:10 > 0:16:14against his parents' wishes.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16Alfie Evans, who's 21 months old, suffers from an undiagnosed
0:16:16 > 0:16:19neurological degenerative condition.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21The judge said he agreed with medical specialists that
0:16:21 > 0:16:25further treatment was futile.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29The KFC fast food chain says disruption is expected to continue
0:16:29 > 0:16:33for the rest of the week after a change of delivery supplier
0:16:33 > 0:16:35meant that hey ran out of chicken.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38Just under half of the 900 UK outlets are still closed.
0:16:38 > 0:16:44The company says a new delivery contract with DHL has
0:16:44 > 0:16:52disrupted their supplies.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57President Trump says he wants officials to look at banning any
0:16:57 > 0:17:00devices that would turn legal, semi-automatic rifles into automatic
0:17:00 > 0:17:06weapons.
0:17:06 > 0:17:11The devices - known as 'bump stocks' -
0:17:11 > 0:17:13were used by the gunman who killed 58 people
0:17:13 > 0:17:14in Las Vegas in October.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17Scientists have discovered the cause of a rare blood vessel disorder that
0:17:17 > 0:17:18can cause serious facial disfigurement and life-threatening
0:17:18 > 0:17:19bleeding in children.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21The research, involving Great Ormond Street Hospital,
0:17:21 > 0:17:23pinpoints the genes responsible for the condition and,
0:17:23 > 0:17:25for the first time, identifies existing cancer drugs
0:17:25 > 0:17:26as a possible treatment.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28Our medical correspondent, Fergus Walsh, has the story.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31OK, so we need to do the eggs, and froth the eggs.
0:17:31 > 0:17:3313-year-old Nikki Christou never knows when her face
0:17:33 > 0:17:34will start to bleed.
0:17:34 > 0:17:39She has a rare disorder, which means high pressure blood
0:17:39 > 0:17:42in her arteries feeds directly into her veins.
0:17:42 > 0:17:47It causes swelling, facial disfigurement and life-threatening
0:17:47 > 0:17:50bleeds from her nose, and even her tear ducts.
0:17:50 > 0:17:56It's very scary because you don't really know if it's going to stop,
0:17:56 > 0:17:58how much blood you're losing, and if it is really bad,
0:17:58 > 0:18:00then I can, you know, become very light-headed
0:18:00 > 0:18:03and things like that.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06So I think when these bleeds happen, you just know that it's
0:18:06 > 0:18:09time for an ambulance.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13Nikki has not let her condition, known as AVM, hold her back.
0:18:13 > 0:18:19The winner of Junior Bake Off is...Nikki.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23As well as winning Junior Bake Off in 2016, she's also interviewed
0:18:23 > 0:18:27the Prime Minister for CBBC.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31So what were you like as a teenager? Oh, gosh.
0:18:31 > 0:18:36Nikki has had hundreds of appointments at Great Ormond Street
0:18:36 > 0:18:37Hospital, and 30 operations.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39How are you doing? It's lovely to see you.
0:18:39 > 0:18:40You, too.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43I'm just going to have a little feel of your face.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45And is now part of ground-breaking research,
0:18:45 > 0:18:48which is led by her consultant.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51The team at UCL's Institute of Child Health sequenced the DNA
0:18:51 > 0:18:56of more than 150 children with her condition and found
0:18:56 > 0:18:59it could be triggered by four faulty genes.
0:18:59 > 0:19:06This is really an enormous step for us.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10Having discovered the genetic causes of these in individual patients,
0:19:10 > 0:19:13we're now able to suggest treatments which could potentially slow
0:19:13 > 0:19:16the growth, stop the growth or perhaps even reverse the growth
0:19:16 > 0:19:18of this condition in the longer term.
0:19:18 > 0:19:23And those drug treatments come from an unlikely source.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27The gene mutations discovered in this lab, which are responsible
0:19:27 > 0:19:30for these faulty blood vessels, also play a key role
0:19:30 > 0:19:36in the growth of some cancers.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39Now, the good news is, there are several cancer drugs
0:19:39 > 0:19:41which inhibit these faulty genes, which can now be repurposed
0:19:41 > 0:19:42to treat Nikki's condition.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45This is your right eye and this is the AVM.
0:19:45 > 0:19:50Nikki's one of two patients who are taking the targeted cancer drugs.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53Today, she's finding out the results of some new scans.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55This looks good.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57It looks exciting that, after six months, it seems
0:19:57 > 0:19:59to be holding the growth.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01That's really good, isn't it?
0:20:01 > 0:20:04Yeah, that's so good. Thank you.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08It'll be at least a year before doctors know for sure
0:20:08 > 0:20:11whether the cancer drugs Nikki is taking are working,
0:20:11 > 0:20:14but the discovery of the faulty genes has given hope to patients
0:20:14 > 0:20:15with this debilitating condition.
0:20:15 > 0:20:22Fergus Walsh, BBC News.
0:20:22 > 0:20:27One of Scotland's largest councils will provide free lunches
0:20:27 > 0:20:33to children from low-income households every day of the year.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37North Lanarkshire Council say that they'll use sports centres and other
0:20:37 > 0:20:38facilities to provide meals when schools are closed.
0:20:38 > 0:20:46The pilot scheme will begin this spring.
0:20:46 > 0:20:47Our Scotland editor, Sarah Smith, tells us.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49Yeah, there's all different food you can get.
0:20:49 > 0:20:50My favourite's chicken curry.
0:20:50 > 0:20:51It's tomato pasta.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53So this is your favourite meal you've got today?
0:20:53 > 0:20:55Yeah.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58You get lettuce and you have tomato and you have all the pasta.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00When I was at school, school lunches were not something
0:21:00 > 0:21:02you looked forward to, but are they actually good here?
0:21:02 > 0:21:04Yeah. Really good.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07All the kids here do seem to really enjoy their school meals,
0:21:07 > 0:21:10and the teachers know that, for some of them, it's the best meal
0:21:10 > 0:21:11they're going to eat all day.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14When the schools close, quite a few of these kids
0:21:14 > 0:21:15do, sadly, go hungry.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18That's why North Lanarkshire Council are to pilot a scheme providing free
0:21:18 > 0:21:21lunches to kids who need them, not just on school
0:21:21 > 0:21:23days, but every day.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26Every so often, you can spot that somebody's hungrier
0:21:26 > 0:21:30than we would like them to be, after a weekend or after a holiday
0:21:30 > 0:21:31period in particular.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34It can be individual children, we know that food is an issue.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37If you're hungry, you won't learn and you won't achieve.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40Other councils in the UK provide meals during school holidays.
0:21:40 > 0:21:45North Lanarkshire will be the first to make free lunches
0:21:45 > 0:21:48available 365 days a year, from primary one, up to the third
0:21:48 > 0:21:50year of secondary school.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53I know there are children out there that don't get a meal.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56Some adults go without to give their kids during the holidays.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59The children get full meals at school, so in the holidays
0:21:59 > 0:22:02and that, you give them a piece for lunch, and they're, like,
0:22:02 > 0:22:04"Where's my hot dinner?", ken?
0:22:04 > 0:22:06About 40% of these children qualify for free school meals,
0:22:06 > 0:22:09but the school works hard to make sure it's not obvious who,
0:22:09 > 0:22:11to avoid any stigma.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13For the same reasons, kids won't be coming into school
0:22:13 > 0:22:16at weekends and holidays, meals will be served in leisure
0:22:16 > 0:22:19centres or community halls.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23It will cost around £500,000 a year to feed kids who might not otherwise
0:22:23 > 0:22:25eat a proper meal over the weekend.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29We know that at holiday periods and at weekends some parents,
0:22:29 > 0:22:33sadly, find it difficult to feed their children.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37We hope that this will give them the opportunity to do that.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41Hungry children can't learn properly or achieve their full potential.
0:22:41 > 0:22:45North Lanarkshire might be one of the most deprived areas
0:22:45 > 0:22:47in the UK, but they hope that doesn't mean that kids
0:22:47 > 0:22:49here have to go hungry.
0:22:49 > 0:22:55Sarah Smith, BBC News, Wishaw.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59The project to build Africa's biggest hydroelectric dam
0:22:59 > 0:23:02on the River Nile is threatening to provoke a major conflict between
0:23:02 > 0:23:09some of the countries affected.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12The dam is being built by Ethiopia and Sudan says it welcomes
0:23:12 > 0:23:15the prospect of cheaper power and the ability to reduce flooding
0:23:15 > 0:23:19in its vast irrigation projects.
0:23:19 > 0:23:24But the Egyptians are deeply unhappy, fearing the flow
0:23:24 > 0:23:28through the Aswan Dam and on to Cairo will be weakened,
0:23:28 > 0:23:30in a country already facing serious water shortages.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32Our Africa correspondent, Alastair Leithead, has travelled
0:23:32 > 0:23:39to all three countries and he sent this special report.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42The River Nile is the world's longest river, but these
0:23:42 > 0:23:46are turbulent times between three countries that share
0:23:46 > 0:23:51its life bringing water.
0:23:51 > 0:23:58The source of the row is this, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01Five years in and two-thirds built, this multi-billion dollar dam can
0:24:01 > 0:24:04already control the flow of the Nile, and that's what's
0:24:04 > 0:24:08upsetting downstream Egypt.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10When it's finished, this will be the largest hydroelectric
0:24:10 > 0:24:12power station in Africa, and one of the biggest
0:24:12 > 0:24:13dams on the continent.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16It will not only power this country, but the surrounding
0:24:16 > 0:24:18countries as well.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20Ethiopia didn't even ask the countries downstream before
0:24:20 > 0:24:22it started building.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25That is the scale of this country's ambition.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29The reservoir it creates will be bigger than Greater London.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31Hydroelectric dams don't consume water, but if it's
0:24:31 > 0:24:34filled up too quickly, the flow of the Nile,
0:24:34 > 0:24:4285% of which comes from here, will be reduced.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47Ethiopia is obsessed with electrification. 70% of people here
0:24:47 > 0:24:51don't have power. It's betting on economic growth and Industrial
0:24:51 > 0:24:55Revolution often at the cost of Hume rights and freedom of speech, to
0:24:55 > 0:25:00pull its people out of poverty and wipe out its historic image of
0:25:00 > 0:25:04drought and famine. One of theIt's most important flagship projects for
0:25:04 > 0:25:12Ethiopia. It's not about control of the flow. It's really about
0:25:12 > 0:25:15providing opportunity for us to develop yourselves.The power lines
0:25:15 > 0:25:19are ready and waiting to take cheap, sustainable electricity to Sudan,
0:25:19 > 0:25:26which has a lot to gain from the dam.
0:25:28 > 0:25:35dam. Sudan has vast farming projects. And huge potential to be
0:25:35 > 0:25:39an agriculture powerhouse for Africa and beyond. Much of this cattle
0:25:39 > 0:25:44field is destined for the Gulf. The new dam would stop flooding and
0:25:44 > 0:25:52regulate the river's flow.For sue Danned Dan it's wonderful. It's the
0:25:52 > 0:25:55best thing that's happened for a long time. The combination of energy
0:25:55 > 0:26:01and regular water levels is a great blessing.Sudan has had a decade's
0:26:01 > 0:26:09long deal with Egypt, but is now at aodds with its neighbour about how
0:26:09 > 0:26:18much it can use. Egypt was ruled from here 2,000 years ago. Powers on
0:26:18 > 0:26:24the Nile rise and fall. Luxor's temples represent thousands of years
0:26:24 > 0:26:27of Egyptian power set in stone. The foundation of its proud national
0:26:27 > 0:26:32identity.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44Wahbi's livelihood depends on the river.They say the water won't be
0:26:44 > 0:26:48affected, but only God knows what would happen. If they dam the river
0:26:48 > 0:26:53there will be wars and fighting. It's not a fear to be taken lightly.
0:26:53 > 0:26:59Egypt relies on the Nile for almost all its water. With a vast growing
0:26:59 > 0:27:04population the UN pre-8 dibths water shortages by 2025.If the water that
0:27:04 > 0:27:14is coming to Egypt is reduced by 2%, loss about 200,000 acre of land. One
0:27:14 > 0:27:21acre at least makes one family survive. Family in Egypt, average
0:27:21 > 0:27:27family size five persons. About one million will be jobless.The impact
0:27:27 > 0:27:31of the dam hasn't been properly assessed. It's a battle between the
0:27:31 > 0:27:37traditional power of Egypt and the emerging ambitions of Ethiopia. War
0:27:37 > 0:27:43over water can be avoided through strong leadership and diplomacy. Now
0:27:43 > 0:27:50it's up to them to navigate tensions on the world's longest river.
0:27:50 > 0:27:58Alastair Leithead, BBC News on the River Nile.
0:27:58 > 0:28:01If you'd like more detail on that story, here's Alistair to explain
0:28:01 > 0:28:02how you can find it.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05Well, we took a camera that films 360 degrees with us
0:28:05 > 0:28:08on our journey up the Nile, to give you a different
0:28:08 > 0:28:09perspective on the story.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11This is what the dam might look like when it's finished.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14You can see it in virtual reality through popping a smartphone
0:28:14 > 0:28:15into one of these headsets.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18It looks a bit like this, you can see all around.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21It's the first time we've done it on this scale on BBC News,
0:28:21 > 0:28:23and it's certainly a different way of watching.
0:28:23 > 0:28:31Check out how to at bbc.co.uk/virtualreality.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36Alastair Leithead there for us.
0:28:36 > 0:28:38The Queen has made a surprise appearance in the front row
0:28:38 > 0:28:40at London Fashion Week.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42It's the first time the Queen has visited the event and sat
0:28:42 > 0:28:45alongside Dame Anna Wintour, the editor in chief of Vogue.
0:28:45 > 0:28:47Her Majesty praised the craftmanship of the British fashion industry
0:28:47 > 0:28:49before presenting the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award
0:28:49 > 0:28:54for British Design to Richard Quinn.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57At the Winter Olympics in South Korea, Team GB's
0:28:57 > 0:29:01Elise Christie was disqualified in her 1000 metre short track
0:29:01 > 0:29:04heat, ending her chances of a medal at the Games.
0:29:04 > 0:29:06These are the second Olympics that have ended with Christie failing
0:29:06 > 0:29:08to complete her events.
0:29:08 > 0:29:14Our sports correspondent, David Ornstein, reports from Pyeongchang.
0:29:14 > 0:29:16Just three days after leaving the ice on a stretcher,
0:29:16 > 0:29:19Elise Christie was back, her Olympic hopes on the line.
0:29:19 > 0:29:20COMMENTATOR:Away they go.
0:29:20 > 0:29:25And Christie goes down before they reach the very first corner.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28After crashing out of the 500 and 1500 metres, Christie's bid
0:29:28 > 0:29:35for 1000 metres gold got off to the worst possible start.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37But having been tripped, she earned a reprieve,
0:29:37 > 0:29:39the heat would be rerun.
0:29:39 > 0:29:43An ankle injury meant her participation was only confirmed
0:29:43 > 0:29:46in the hour before the race, and although slow to get going,
0:29:46 > 0:29:48she fought back impressively.
0:29:48 > 0:29:50COMMENTATOR:With half a lap to go, Christie's
0:29:50 > 0:29:51in position to qualify here.
0:29:51 > 0:29:53Battling through a physical contest to finish second
0:29:53 > 0:30:00and reached the quarter-finals, or so she thought.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03As Christie was carried away in pain, her night would take
0:30:03 > 0:30:05another turn for the worse, the judges spotting two
0:30:05 > 0:30:11infringements and disqualifying the triple world champion.
0:30:11 > 0:30:13So it's heartbreak for Elise Christie yet again
0:30:13 > 0:30:15after failing to win a medal at the last Olympics,
0:30:15 > 0:30:19four years ago, history has repeated itself here in Pyeongchang,
0:30:19 > 0:30:22her dreams ending in bitter disappointment.
0:30:22 > 0:30:23Right now, I'm a bit shell-shocked.
0:30:23 > 0:30:27You know, I worked so hard to come back from this injury.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30I think a thousand people wouldn't have skated
0:30:30 > 0:30:33with my ankle the way it was.
0:30:33 > 0:30:36The only thing I can say is, I can promise Britain that I'll
0:30:36 > 0:30:39fight back from this, and I will come back for Beijing.
0:30:39 > 0:30:43And hopefully, you know, I can do Britain proud then.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46COMMENTATOR:It's going to come in nicely and pick up his three.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49There was better news for Britain's curlers as the men out dazzled
0:30:49 > 0:30:53the colourfully dressed Norway and, like the women who beat Japan,
0:30:53 > 0:30:56can progress to the semi-finals with victories tomorrow.
0:30:56 > 0:30:59In the figure skating, Penny Coomes and Nick Buckland
0:30:59 > 0:31:02finished 11th in the free dance final, an event that will long be
0:31:02 > 0:31:05remembered for the world record display of Tessa Virtue and Scott
0:31:05 > 0:31:09Moir.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11Skating together since childhood, the Canadians took a stunning
0:31:11 > 0:31:14second gold of the Games, and are now the most decorated
0:31:14 > 0:31:20skaters in Winter Olympic history.
0:31:20 > 0:31:26David Ornstein, BBC News, Pyeongchang.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29Football, and Chelsea have drawn 1-1 against Barcelona in the first leg
0:31:29 > 0:31:31of their Champions League tie at Stamford Bridge.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34Chelsea were leading until an equaliser in the 75th
0:31:34 > 0:31:37minute from Lionel Messi.
0:31:37 > 0:31:41Natalie Pirks was watching the action.
0:31:41 > 0:31:47He's Barcelona's little magician, Lionel Messi, scoring goals for fun
0:31:47 > 0:31:49- only never before against Chelsea.
0:31:49 > 0:31:51COMMENTATOR:Here's Hazard.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54Instead, it was the Blues creative maestro who almost
0:31:54 > 0:31:55caused some early damage.
0:31:55 > 0:31:58COMMENTATOR:Great little turn of pace.
0:31:58 > 0:32:03You always know Barcelona will dominate, and so it came to pass.
0:32:03 > 0:32:05Messi with a beautiful cross, Paulinho wide with the header.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08The best chances though fell to Chelsea, Willian
0:32:08 > 0:32:10becoming all too familiar with the woodwork, not once...
0:32:10 > 0:32:13COMMENTATOR:Willian didn't need him.
0:32:13 > 0:32:14..But twice.
0:32:14 > 0:32:15COMMENTATOR:Good position again.
0:32:15 > 0:32:17Oh, he's hit the other post now.
0:32:17 > 0:32:22Prompted howls of disbelief from the Chelsea bench.
0:32:22 > 0:32:26But if the first half you don't succeed, try and try again.
0:32:26 > 0:32:27COMMENTATOR:It's another one!
0:32:27 > 0:32:29Willian proving the third time is indeed a charm.
0:32:29 > 0:32:33COMMENTATOR:He gets it right for Chelsea.
0:32:33 > 0:32:41As the clock ticked down, Chelsea needed only to stay vigilant,
0:32:41 > 0:32:42punished by you know who.
0:32:42 > 0:32:43COMMENTATOR:Messi!
0:32:43 > 0:32:45Chelsea no longer Messi's bogey team, Conte left rueing
0:32:45 > 0:32:48what might have been.
0:32:48 > 0:32:53Chelsea knew they would need a near-perfect match tonight to beat
0:32:53 > 0:32:55the five times winners of the Champions League. They almost got
0:32:55 > 0:32:59their wish. One bad ball being pounced on by Barcelona and it's
0:32:59 > 0:33:03left the Chelsea players here feeling as if this was a defeat. How
0:33:03 > 0:33:10important will that away goal be, Huw, we will find out next month at
0:33:10 > 0:33:13the Camp Nou.Natalie Perks with the