>> this is "bbc world news america." funding of this presentation is made possible by the freeman foundation, newman's own foundation, giving all profits from newman's own to charity and pursuing the common good, kovler foundation, pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs, and aruba tourism authority. >> planning a vacation escape that is relaxing, inviting, and exciting is a lot easier than you think. you can find it here, in aruba. families, couples, and friends can all find their escape on the island with warm, sunny days, cooling trade winds, and the

crystal blue caribbean sea. nonstop flights are available from most major airports. more information for your vacation planning is available at aruba.com. >> and now, "bbc world news america." laura: this is "bbc world news america." reporting from washington, i am laura trevelyan. claims of a gas attack in the syrian city of aleppo. the un investigating reports that the government dropped chlorine on areas. donald trump says president obama is the founder of islamic state. the clinton campaign says that is false as she turns to her plans to lead the economy. we will talk to a woman who knows what it means to top the podium.

laura: welcome to our viewers on public television in america and around the globe. the united nations says it is investigating reports of a chlorine gas attack in the besieged syrian city of aleppo. the u.n. says such an attack would amount to a war crime. the syrian government denies any involvement. our middle east correspondent quentin sommerville has this exclusive report on one victims say was the aftermath of the attack. a warning, it contains disturbing images from the start. quentin: in this war without mercy, a baby' first breaths can be his last. the shock of a chemical attack brought him into the world. his umbilical cord is still attached as he struggles for life. we don't know his name, but we do know that these doctors in aleppo saved his life last night.

hospitalme here to the in the rebel-controlled east. as the medics struggle to help, there was even worse to come. chlorine gas is suspected. this girl is barely 2. when chlorine gas gets inside small lungs, it can do terrible damage. children and babies are especially vulnerable. >> when the rocket exploded we smelled gas. my eyes were hot and burning. i had difficulty breathing. it was a horrible smell. so horrible i cannot describe it. quentin: after a gas attack,

clothes are removed and patients washed to prevent contamination. hadmedics here have training from british doctors and they know what to look for and how to react. >> we had received lots of injuries about 30 minutes ago. the injuries were caused by chlorine attacks in the area. when we checked the injured, we discovered it was from chlorine substance. the injuries vary. we have people of all ages. children, elderly, young people. quentin: "it is hurting me a lot," says this boy. the doctors tell him he has to wash it out or you will go blind. this neighborhood was hit by his as many as 4 barrel bombs from regime helicopters, say eyewitnesses. the remains of shells were taken away for analysis. president assad's troops are under pressure and losing ground in aleppo.

despite evidence to the contrary, the regime has denied using chemical weapons. the attacks come at night because people cannot see the green gas in the dark. it is a desperate tactic, and it is horribly effective. a mother and 2 children were killed in this attack in aleppo last night. laura: quentin sommerville there. these attacks come amidst a growing humanitarian crisis in aleppo. for more, i was joined by the president of refugees international. chlorine gas may have been dropped in aleppo. in addition, almost 2 million people are trapped there. just how grave is the situation in the city? >> you have well over one million in areas controlled by the government, and we think at least quarter of a million in the area controlled by the opposition, what the government calls the rebels.

there have been two developments in the past weeks. a tremendous amount of shelling in the city and this has destroyed completely the electrical grid and the water supply. i would like to remind you, it is 95 degrees right now in aleppo. it is extremely hot and dry. also, there has been the process of siege that the government started, blocking completely access to the area controlled by the opposition. now the opposition is trying to block access to the government-controlled areas. laura: so it is horrific situation. what is the impact on those people of living day after day without running water, without electricity? >> without food now. the prices have gone extremely high because those people still hoard food and are calculating they will not get supplies anymore. the prices are out of reach for the population. doctors have written recently to say there are very few doctors left in aleppo and they don't know how to treat people and they have to make terrible choices on who to treat and who not to treat. laura: the u.n. is calling for this 48-hour pause every week to

allow essential supplies to get through. is that sufficient if the russians would agree to that? >> that would be tremendous improvement over what they had offered, three-hours pause in hostility. in three hours you can do nothing. you have to remember the roads are terrible and in three hours you cannot bring supplies, identify the vulnerable, the distribution mechanism. it won't work and will trap humanitarians into the conflict. the 48 hours are for the moment perhaps the best solution but we need much more pressure on the international community on the russians because right now the u.n. is negotiating. laura: in raqqa 20 people were killed and there are reports the water supply was cut off there, too. how dire is the situation there? >> i have no recent report from there, but i can imagine in the climates, currently the case in syria, when you have no more water and very little food, children are going to suffer very quickly and what we are going to see is the consequences

of conflict, people dying not of bullets, but they died because of lack of very basic, essential services. laura: do you see any sign of all of a cease-fire that would bring an end to this horrific suffering? >> well, i would like to see perhaps less focus right now on the battle against isis, which is justified, of course, what is mobilizing all the tensions between the russians and the americans, and the concentration on what is happening to civilians in the cities. that is the emergency today. the other issue is essential but we have perhaps more time to address it. right now people are dying of things that are eminently preventable. laura: thank you for joining us. in other news now from around the world, a canadian terror suspect has been killed in a police operation in an ontario town. credibleid they had information the suspect was planning to carry out a suicide bombing during rush hour in a major city.

he has been named as 24-year-old aron driver, who was arrested last year for openly supporting the islamic state group on social media. ukraine has put its military on high alert on the de facto border with crimea in response to renewed tension with russia over the disputed territory. the u.n. security council will discuss tensions between the two countries. on wednesday, moscow accused ukraine of making an incursion into the area, which kiev denies. russia annexed crimea to years ago. american simone biles claim to gold in the all-around, edition and her teammate got the silver. it comes days after the americans talk to the podium in the team event, feeling our guest knows well. in 1996 he was part of the u.s. squad in atlanta which came out on top. first of all, i have to ask your reaction to simone biles getting the gold. i'm so proud of her.

everyone knows she loves a slice of pepperoni pizza after she wins. i'm just so proud of her. she did what everyone expected her to do. absolutely no one in your her. the closest competitor was by two points. laura: how impressed are you overall by the performance of the gymnastics team? it is not just one person. que: it is not just simone biles. you have gabby douglas, reigning champion, and i'm so proud of these girls and i love their new nickname, the final five. laura: you were the first african-american woman to win an individual gymnastics olympic metal, and i was in 1996. when you look at the team today, how struck are you by the diversity? dominique: there was a lot of diversity on many of my olympic

teams. my first one in 1992 come myself as an african-american, and there was a ugandan-romanian american. romanian,there was a iranian-american, and in the 2000 team there was a great deal of diversity. there has been on the top level a good amount of diversity, but now having 2 african-americans in gabby douglas and simone biles on a gold medal team is spectacular. i'm happy to have partnered to celebrate the illusion of power along with simone biles -- elevation of power along with simone biles. laura: give us what it is like to mount the podium with that gold medal. it is overwhelming, something you dream about since you were a young girl. my dreams began when i was 10 or 11 years old and simone probably have the same dream when she was young. it was overwhelming and she probably didn't realize it was

actually an olympics games and she has 2 olympic gold medals, and standing twice with the national anthem and her hand over her heart and feeling her heart the hardest it has ever beaten. laura: many of us are watching from our couches the gymnastics but how much pressure is there on these women to perform when you have the few seconds for the routine you have been practicing for years? dominique: you have to think about it. we are sitting from the comfort of our couches and my husband and i were speaking earlier that we were watching water polo, feet kicked back, how leisurely we are enjoying this wonderful game about how strenuous these athletes are in the pool and a gym and how they have dedicated their whole childhood and lives to this moment that you not only have to physically trained for the games but you have to prepare mentally. these gymnasts put themselves in stressful situations, high-pressure situations, each

and every day in practice and each and every time they go to the camp. they prepare themselves the best they could physically as well as mentally and that is why they were able to handle the pressures of up -- so well. laura: dominique dawes, thank you so much for joining us. now to politics. today hillary clinton was in detroit making her pitch that she is the best candidate to lead the u.s. economy in the future. speaking at a manufacturing company she spoke about job creation and opposing trade deals which don't benefit america, including the transpacific partnership. it comes as her opponent donald trump's economic agenda was laid out earlier this week. today the republican nominee was repeating his charge that president obama is the founder of the islamic state. the cover of "time" magazine asks if the campaign is in meltdown. the story, including an interview with mr. trump, was written by the washington correspondent, who joined me a short time ago. did you ask him, do you accept your campaign is in meltdown? >> he would dispute that. he think the campaign is doing better than anyone can

recognize, but of course, the polls, which traditionally have been his barometer of success, suggest otherwise at the moment. laura: you say that the republican national committee is contemplating taking its money away from mr. trump and putting it into endangered house and senate republicans. what is going to happen? them a that is a key decision they have got -- >> that is a key decision to have to make in the next few weeks before early voting in september. the republican party has a limited amount of money and staff that they can deploy in races up and down the ticket. if trump continues to go in the wrong direction, one thing under consideration is whether or not they should redirect money and party machinery to help the number of vulnerable senate candidates in particular but also house candidates across the country who could be beneficiaries of the cash. laura: republicans are seriously worried that donald trump might lose them the senate and even the house? >> the house, i think, is a

bridge too far. even democrats tell you it is a long shot because of the way districts are gerrymandered. but it is unfavorable math in the senate for republicans in 2016 much like it was for democrats in 2014. a number of candidates who are well liked in their states doing their best to avoid trump and create distance from trump and his policies and more incendiary remarks to escape his shadow. laura: you talked to mr. trump at length. does he accept that the campaign he ran in the primaries is not not necessarily working as well in the general election? >> it's interesting, one thing he thought about was going to the more attacking style in the primaries. typically what happens is you run the base campaign in the primaries because those are the voters you need to get, and then you make a pivot towards the center in the general election. that is not something he has done aggressively. he has moderated his tone somewhat under the urging of party strategists. but in the last few days he is calling out president obama, secretary clinton, as being the founders, the inspiration of the islamic state. he obviously is taking one step

forward and two steps back in that direction. laura: you also report that inside the clinton campaign they cannot believe their good fortune because she has so many obvious vulnerabilities which are not being exploited. >> one thing you hear from her republicans is if you would just stay on message and talk about hillary clinton this would be a different race. the numbers for hillary clinton are not good. her favorability numbers are not high. the number of voters who say they don't consider her trustworthy and honest are really skyrocketing. ordinarily, against call it a generic republican, that would be a major vulnerability for her, but trump is sucking up so much of the oxygen with these unending parade of remarks. laura: did you talk about the upcoming presidential debates and his strategy for those? >> we did. one thing, really a rumor, not much credence, but one thing people have been talking about is him getting an exit ramp. trump told us he does absolutely intend to hold three debates as

directed with hillary clinton. but he reserves the right to renegotiate some of the format and some of the terms, which have been laid out for almost a year now. laura: thank you so much for joining us. >> thank you for having me. laura: you are watching "bbc world news america." still to come, who else besides the u.s. gymnasts are racking up the metals in rio today? we check in on the latest action to find out what to watch for. for many working mothers us in india can it will be more than doubled after parliament voted to change the locket currently they qualify for 12 weeks off following birth of the baby. to 26 weeksraise it is aimed at keeping highly skilled women in the workplace. the new bill includes those who adopt or have a child through surrogacy. this would bring india into line with many western countries. this report from mumbai. reporter: here in india, only

one in four females according to the world bank, one of the lowest workforce participation rates in the world. why? raising a child is largely seen as a woman's job in india, not a shared responsibility between both parents. surveys suggest up to half the india quit careers after having made. leave,s paid maternity but now parliament is changing the law, doubling paid maternity leave to 26 weeks, giving paid leave for adoption and surrogacy, and forcing firms employing more than 50 people to provide facilities. the government says these measures will help at least 2 million women across the country, but what do they think? >> basically, we have too many nuclear families in him bombay so in the suburbs we are getting an additional leave. >> my friend is a currently

pregnant and i think it is a very good idea because for her to come back in three months is too short notice. you need more time with your baby and i think it is a good decision. reporter: getting more women to work and keeping them there is something could boost india's economy. especiallyy, informal employment, it will depend on family support and changing attitudes towards work. laura: day 6 of the olympics, and as we reported, the women gymnasts are racking up the medals. in the rugby finals, fiji is getting its first ever trip to the podium. let's go to chris mitchell in rio de janeiro. today was the first day of the men's gold. what happened? chris: well, it was excellent, i

think. the galleries were small, let's be clear about that. they were not packed galleries like you might see for a major in augusta or the open. marcus fraser was the man who enjoyed it most. he is the australian -- something of a veteran now, 38 years old. he has never made it to the masters. his best finish at the open is 20th. he has been on the fringes of excellence in the major competition. what he likes the course and he got the best of the conditions. it is windy again in rio but it wasn't when he went out. so he is 8 under par as it stands. who is close to him? henrik stenson had a great finish to his route and he is five under par right now. that is 3 shots off the lead he had an eagle. there is justin rose. what did he do? he is selling wedding because he had a hole in one, the first

ever at an olympic golf course, and on the fourth hole. he is 4 under par. what about the americans? patrick reed bubba watson, all suffering, all over par. rickie fowler is only second from the bottom of the pile of 60 golfers here. don't worry, he gets to play the rest of the 4 rounds. marcus fraser, like i say, had it really quite easy in comparison to some of the latest starters. but i think the golf was great. i enjoyed it. it was good to see. it wasn't the disaster that perhaps many people thought it would be. and the rowing, well, that was fantastic for one woman in particular, katherine grainger of great britain. hers is 1 -- her stories such a long one. she has been rowing since sydney. sydney was her first games. she has been to every game since. she retired from actually, came

out of retirement, and has now won a silver medal at the age of 40. great britain was celebrating that, a great moment for her, especially when you think that we had kristin armstrong winning gold for america and she is in her 40's, too. you have to say, this is a good thing. it is not all about the youngster. biles by miles earlier, wasn't it, but it is not all about the youngsters. the rugby is due to kick off as well for come in about five or 10 minutes. that is going to be sensational. it is the final of the men's, fiji versus great britain. fiji of course looking for the first of all -- first-ever medal . they are guaranteed at least a silver and it will probably get gold because i don't think great britain will be any match for fiji. there has not been any team that has been a match for fiji could they beat japan 20-5 in the semifinal. let me mention to you, laura, it

is michael phelps time again in the pool behind me. he is going in the 200-meter individual medley final. i've been doing a bit of research looking at his times. he is swimming as fast here in 2004 in athens. he is the fastest qualifier. could you make it his desperate he maketh his 22nd gold -- could he make it his 22nd gold medal? oh, i think he is going to do it. then phelps later. laura: while millions of us have been cheering on the gymnasts and other olympians from the comfort of our couches, cobbler tiny and teenage hope to follow in their footsteps. i visited a jim in nearby silver spring, maryland, to see the young athletes in action. the next generation of gymnasts inspired the triumph of america's golden girls.

>> i'm always on the edge of my seat. >> i'm always in awe. >> it makes me want to push result to do things i've never tried before. laura: these gymnasts have been watching simone biles, gabby douglas, and the rest of the the u.s. olympics gymnastics team. despite their young age, they are under no illusion about how much work it takes to be an olympic gold medalist. and as you can see, that work is starting here. alyssa roberts is a competition gymnast redoubling her efforts. >> i know what it is like to work so hard on one skill and how frustrating it can be if you don't get it right everything -- every single time. they go out there and they do their best. laura: as for coach, the enthusiasm of the young gymnasts means he is working harder than ever. >> the olympics sparks interest in the public and we get bigger numbers now. we get kids who are interested in doing tricks or performing cartwheels for their friends, things like that, all the way up to the team kids who want to go

to nationals and world and the olympics and things like that. laura: take these brothers, who are already competing nationally and now trying to perfect their routines. what is your favorite move? >> i like the -- >> she hasn't told me -- >> i like the -- >> i'm teaching him the double. i think it is pretty fun. laura: it is not lost on the boys that america's male gymnasts have not struck gold in rio yet. they didn't do as well, did they? >> yes. laura: maybe you guys could do better. gymnasts here are exhilarated and energized by the determination of america's formidable female team, and they are dreaming of what could be. well, the olympic dreamers are bringing today's broadcast to a close, but you can find much

more on all today's news on our website, and all the olympic latest. to reach me and the rest of the bbc team, go to twitter. thanks for watching and please tune in tomorrow. >> make sense of international news at bbc.com/news. >> funding of this presentation is made possible by the freeman foundation, newman's own foundation, giving all profits from newman's own to charity and pursuing the common good, kovler foundation, pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs, and aruba tourism authority. >> planning a vacation escape that is relaxing, inviting, and exciting is a lot easier than you think. you can find it here, in aruba. families, couples, and friends can all find their escape on the

island with warm, sunny days, cooling trade winds, and the crystal blue caribbean sea. nonstop flights are available from most major airports. more information for your vacation planning is available at aruba.com. >> "bbc world news" was presented by kcet, los angeles.

♪ i wonder, wonder, wonder ♪ where the sun goes when it rains ♪ ♪ where the swirling, whirling water flows ♪ ♪ when it goes down my drain ♪ this world is one big question mark ♪ ♪ so exercise your mind ♪ the answers will be waiting for the one who wonders why ♪ ♪ like garrett morgan lit the stoplight ♪ ♪ galileo scanned the sky ♪ old newton bruised an apple ♪ ben franklin flew a kite ♪ amelia steered her aeroplane ♪ ♪ edison saw the light ♪ these people just like you and me ♪ ♪ had questions on their minds ♪ oh, i wonder, wonder, wonder ♪ where my shadow goes at night ♪ ♪ why a pebble sinks beneath the waves ♪ ♪ but a big boat stays upright ♪ this world is one big question mark ♪ ♪ so exercise your mind ♪ the answers will be waiting for the one who wonders why ♪ ♪ these people just like you and me ♪ ♪ had questions on their minds