Or face the possibility of Military Action. Thousands of people gathered in the countrys capital to support the militaryjunta as that deadline expired. Some neighbouring countries including mali, burkina faso and guinea have voiced support for the coup leaders. And algeria, which Borders Niger to the north, has said it is categorically against armed intervention. France says it will support efforts by ecowas to restore nigers elected president. Niger s Prime Minister was in paris on saturday 7 meeting lawmakers and greeting protestors outside the countrys embassy. Our reporter in lagos, in neighbouring nigeria, gave us this update. We are yet to hear from ecowas on what the decision would be concerning niger. The ultimatum has elapsed this sunday evening and we are yet to hear from ecowas. But we also know that there are expected moves in niger in the coming days, the rally this afternoon showing pro coup supporters at a stadium in niamey. This showed that the people supported the junta, Chanting Anti France Songs and waving pro russia flags in the crowds. And so were just waiting to hear from ecowas on what this means and what the next move would be. Tell us more about those pro coup protests. Why are people supporting the coup leaders . It is a mix of feelings. The first part being that a lot of nigerians believe that, since 1960 independence, france has had a strong hold on niger. Both economically and politically. And they say that france has not helped in any way to curb the islamist and jihadist operations in that part of the sahel region. And so they believe that it was time for a change, to see if the military would bring them that much desired change. But on the flip side, Civil Society groups and other private individuals also believe that they want democracy to continue, as it would offer them the Freedom Of Expression and their human rights would be protected. Plenty of Western Nations will be keeping a keen eye on events, now that deadline in niger has passed. Our reporter Nicky Schiller has been looking at why. Why is niger so important . First of all, geographically, it is the largest country in west africa. It is also part of the key strip of land known as the sahel which runs from the red sea through to the atlantic ocean. Secondly, politically. Until recently, niger had been seen to have relative democratic stability, especially as its neighbours mali and burkina faso had had military coups, whilst the president bazoum was seen as a key partner of some European Countries whove been trying to stop migrants getting across the mediterranean sea. He has also cracked down on human trafficking. Next, strategically. Niger hosts both us and French Military bases, and was seen as a key partner in the fight against islamist militants. Indeed, the Us State Department said it was important as a linchpin for stability, adding that it was a reliable counterterrorism partner in the fight against those insurgents linked to Islamic State and also alqaeda. The wagner mercenaries, active elsewhere in the region, have also been seen as having a malign influence in niger. You may have seen these picture during some recent protests in support of the coup, Holding Russian flags as well as flying the flag of niger. Economically, the country is rich in uranium, indeed it is one of the worlds biggest producers. It provides around 5 of Global Uranium supplies. Indeed, the radioactive metal is so important that one of the main thoroughfares through the capital is actually named after it. But it is worth remembering that the people of niger consistently rank among some of the poorest in terms of Living Standards anywhere in the world. Talks hosted by saudi arabia on finding a way to end the war between russia and ukraine have ended with no sign of concrete action. A Closing Statement committed only to more peace discussions. Ukraine had hoped to use the gathering injeddah to broaden International Support for its own peace plan. Senior officials from dozens of countries attended. Russia was not invited. But china, which has maintained close ties with moscow, sent a delegation. Meanwhile, Ukrainian Armed forces have confirmed that they have hit two bridges which connect mainland ukraine with crimea, in the territories occupied by russia. One is the bridge next to chonhar and the other one near henichesk in southern ukraine. Both were damaged by Ukrainian Missile strikes. This video from the Russian State Agency tass shows henichesk bridge on fire. Russia claims the gas pipeline nearby was also damaged and one person has been killed. Ukraine previously struck the same bridge in chonhar, one of a handful of links between the peninsula and mainland ukraine, injune. Werejoined now by dr stephen hall, International Relations expert and lecturer in russian, and post soviet politics at the university of bath. Thank you for talking to us. Lets start off with those talks in saudi arabia. It wasnt expected that they would find a resolution, obviously, but how much progress have they made . ~ ~. , i. Made . Well, i think as you said, there wasnt made . Well, i think as you said, there wasnt expected made . Well, i think as you said, there wasnt expected that made . Well, i think as you said, there wasnt expected that they | there wasnt expected that they would find a resolution and it is very much the beginnings, as it were. We had the original talks in copenhagen, they then moved tojedi and they have brought in more countries, 30 countries as far as i can see, from across the world from different regions and they have said that they will hold further talks. Most apart from russia and china were there. Brazil, india and south africa. This is very much the beginning and it is getting people on the table discussing ideas with one another. find on the table discussing ideas with one another on the table discussing ideas with one another. And what does it say that countries one another. And what does it say that countries like one another. And what does it say that countries like china one another. And what does it say that countries like china are one another. And what does it say that countries like china are at that countries like china are at least willing to participate in these talks . China obviously have a very close ties maintained with moscow. I very close ties maintained with moscow. ~ ,. ,. , moscow. I think it shows that the whole world moscow. I think it shows that the whole world is moscow. I think it shows that the whole world is affected moscow. I think it shows that the whole world is affected by moscow. I think it shows that the whole world is affected by this i whole world is affected by this warm. Russias brutal attack and ukraine. And they are trying to find a solution to it. And so we are starting to see this idea that, actually, it isntjust the west trying to find a solution to the war. It isntjust ukraine and russia, it is broader than that and it includes Different Countries from different regions of the world. Trying to find a solution to what is happening. figs trying to find a solution to what is ha eninu. A i. Trying to find a solution to what is ha eninu. R ,. Trying to find a solution to what is happening trying to find a solution to what is haueninu. A. ,. , happening. As you have pointed out, there are many happening. As you have pointed out, there are many more happening. As you have pointed out, there are many more countries happening. As you have pointed out, there are many more countries that. There are many more countries that had been brought into this discussion now. Ukraine has, of course, been quite unwilling to budge on certain points and demands. Do you think that stance is going to have to change as more countries, more voices get involved in these negotiations . I more voices get involved in these negotiations . Negotiations . I think as with any otential negotiations . I think as with any potential negotiations negotiations . I think as with any potential negotiations in negotiations . I think as with any potential negotiations in the potential negotiations in the future, you always begin with what you absolutely want and you work back from there. Ukraine has been very clear at the moment that this is what they want. Whether they can accept a reduction in what they want remains to be seen. But at least by getting other countries to see ukraines point, it begins to open up ukraines point, it begins to open up the possibility to get as much support for ukraine in the possible negotiations in the future with russia. �. ,. ,. , negotiations in the future with russia. ,. ,. , russia. And are looking at what is ha enin russia. And are looking at what is happening with russia. And are looking at what is happening with the russia. And are looking at what is happening with the war russia. And are looking at what is happening with the war itself, russia. And are looking at what is l happening with the war itself, while those talks happen, we have seen those talks happen, we have seen those attacks on the bridge to crimea, do you get the sense that there is an escalation here of ukraines attacks on infrastructure . I think that certainly those bridges have all been used for the Military Movement by russia from the Russian Federation into crimea and into ukraine. Certainly, there is a way to targeted their Supply Routes for the russian army which would necessarily affect how weapons are sent onto the front line. Ukraine has been trying to find weaknesses in the russian front line. So far it has made success but these have been small. And it is still trying to push forward into the russian defences. And so weakening russias ability to move men and machinery into the front line makes it harder to defend. So it certainly is the case that ukraine is trying to broaden the attack, as it were, into russias rear for its army. Russias rear for its army. Thank ou ve russias rear for its army. Thank you very much russias rear for its army. Thank you very much for russias rear for its army. Thank you very much for your russias rear for its army. Thank you very much for your analysis. J here in the uk the governments policy of housing Asylum Seekers on boats is moving forward. The first Asylum Seekers are expected to go on to the Bibby Stockholm Barge tomorrow after a series of delays amid safety concerns. 0ur political correspondent, jonathan blake, has the story. Floating accommodation for migrants seeking asylum in the uk. The Bibby Stockholm Barge has been moored at portland in dorset for nearly three weeks but stands empty. Safety concerns have delayed getting people on board, but its now expected the first 50 or so men to be housed on the barge will move in very soon. We expect it to be in the coming days, so you wont have long to wait. And this is an important step forwards. Up to 500 people could be accommodated here. The barge has medicalfacilities and a recreation area. Its one way the government hopes to cut the cost of hotels for those attempting to claim asylum, the bill currently running at about £6 million per day. But its prompted protests from local residents who dont want the barge on their doorstep and Campaign Groups who argue its inhumane. Shaving foam. 0k. Others are doing what they can to welcome those wholl be housed on board. Labour has pledged to speed up Asylum Claims but admit they would still need alternative accommodation for migrants at first if the party came to power. Because of the complete and utter chaos and shambles of the tory asylum crisis, we are going to have to continue in a very short term period, to use the infrastructure thats there, including the barges and the hotels. More than 15,000 people have crossed the channel in small boats so far this year. Yesterday, 77 made thejourney. Accommodating those arriving is only part of the challenge facing the government. Lets speak to danjohnson who is in portland for us now. The government has been quite resident about this, perhaps not surprising considering the controversy. Surprising considering the controvers. ,. , controversy. Yes, huge controversy around this controversy. Yes, huge controversy around this and controversy. Yes, huge controversy around this and there controversy. Yes, huge controversy around this and there have controversy. Yes, huge controversy around this and there have been i controversy. Yes, huge controversy around this and there have been al around this and there have been a number of delays already down to a few different concerns about fire safety, health and safety issues that were raised last week. We know a bunch of Asylum Seekers have been told to expect to move tomorrow, but nothing has been confirmed on the record. I think perhaps because of the possibility of another potential last minute delay. But sources are nudging us that this is going to happen. And they are determined to see this through because the government has got such a lot riding on this. This boat has quite a lot weighing it down even before anybody has got on board because it is the first of what was supposed to be a fleet of these badges are crowned the country to house Asylum Seekers in place of hotels to get that bill down and to protect the governments message that migrants would be able to come here and be put up in hotels at the expense of the taxpayer. The governments priority here is getting the Immigration Numbers down and stopping the small bird crossings over the channel that have cost so many lives. But then others think this is the wrong solution in the wrong place. There has been a huge amount of opposition here in portland about the impact that this could have on the community and Public Services here which are already stretched. There has been wider opposition about the sort of conditions that these Asylum Seekers may face on board. It has been described as a prison ship or a death trap. The Fire Brigade Union said that it was a floating Grenfell Tower referring to that fire a few years ago which cost so many lives. The home office says those issues have been dealt with and it is safe. This is basic and functional accommodation which is designed to house migrants in a good standard of accommodation while their Asylum Claims are determined. They say that it is safe but this shows the governments priority is to get those hotel bills down. This has faced delays already so it is going to be an important test to see whether the government can turn its rhetoric over immigration into actual practical and Workable Solutions. Actual practical and Workable Solutions actual practical and Workable Solutions. Thank you for your analysis at least thirty passengers have been killed after an express train derailed in Southern Pakistan. A Police Officer supervising the Rescue Operation said more than a hundred people had been injured in the incident. The Hazara Express came off the rails near nawab shah in sindh province, as it travelled from karachi to abbottabad. Its not immediately clear what caused the derailment. These are the latest pictures from the scene as dusk fell, in the remote area where the crash happened. Emergency workers are battling to rescue passengers trapped in at least five overturned carriages, with more rescue teams deployed to the scene. Caroline davies reports. Inside these carriages were passengers travelling. Locals arrived before the army and rescue services. Translation i services. Translation . , , services. Translation , translation i was sitting in my sho , translation i was sitting in my shop. Suddenly translation i was sitting in my shop, suddenly there translation i was sitting in my shop, suddenly there was translation i was sitting in my shop, suddenly there was a translation i was sitting in my shop, suddenly there was a huge | shop, suddenly there was a huge bang. We are all stunned. We immediately fought an accident had taken place. We started running and when we arrived here we saw the Train Accident had happened. We pulled out bodies and wounded people from the wreckage. From the wreckage. Passersby clambered from the wreckage. Passersby Clambered Over from the wreckage. Passersby Clambered Over wreckage from the wreckage. Passersby i Clambered Over wreckage carefully guiding survivors out through windows and down over mangled metal. Other passengers did not walk away. Local hospitals declared an emergency as Tens Of Injured began arriving. Some were treated outside and the dead began to be counted. Losing the light, the rescue teams began moving the train from the tracks, the cause of this disaster is not yet clear. Translation ,. , translation this initial investigation translation this initial investigation it translation this initial investigation it doesnt i translation this initial. Investigation it doesnt seem translation this initial investigation it doesnt seem likely that the incident was caused by sabotage or terrorism. It is more likely that it was due to a technical problem. We will look into this pirelli to prevent similar accidents in the future. Local Olice Accidents in the future. Local police have accidents in the future. Local police have told accidents in the future. Local police have told the accidents in the future. Local police have told the bbc accidents in the future. Local police have told the bbc that accidents in the future. Local i police have told the bbc that this was not due to flooding on the tracks contrary to local media reports. Leaving the question, what caused this disaster and could such a loss of life have been avoided . Caroline davies, bbc news, islamabad. Donald trump says he will be asking thejudge in his Election Fraud case to step aside, claiming that he would not get a fair trial unless she does. The former president took to his social media platform, truth social, to attack the lead prosecutor, thejudge, tania chutkan, and the department ofjustice, which he described as highly partisan and very corrupt. Our correspondent, sean dilley, whos in washington, has more on this. I think it is fair to say that donald trump has questioned the legitimacy of absolutely any and all of his cases, no matter who thejudge is. The latest issue beyond previous statements that the judge has made about january 6th attackers is that she turned down a defence application to delay the Response Time that the defence had. The prosecution have been saying, look, we would like to restrict what donald trump is able to say about this case once we disclose evidence. That was something that the defence said, well look, Monday Deadline Set by the judge isnt enough time and now what we would dearly like to do his have the opportunity to meet the prosecution to see if we can sort this out without a court intervention. But jack smith, the lead prosecutor, here is the thing, this is important, he is saying that we are ready to hit send on the e mail with all of the evidence and disclosure so that the two sides can decide when a try would be likely. Jack smith, the lead prosecutor, has said that donald trump himself is now delaying the disclosure of evidence. And we have been hearing quite a bit from Donald Trumps lawyers havent we . Theyve been speaking to the press. What have they been saying . They have been speaking on a variety of us networks this morning and earlier in the week, and it is limbering up what essentially appears to be setting out their defence strategy. Which is going to be around free speech. So he said for instance this morning that donald trump is aspirational in his asks of others to do things. He said that the First Amendment right of free speech protects donald trump in the same way as it does any us citizen to lobby anybody including State Legislators and his vice president. Here is the thing, this case around the Election Fraud claims is going to revolve totally around what donald trump said and did in the two months after the election result. And crucially, what he was entitled to say and do. The Defence Lawyer said the prosecution is not going to be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that donald trump did not believe that he won the 2020 election because he also told us audiences are better donald trump believed in his of heart that he was the winner. 0k. And while he has taken aim at the judge for his case, he has also argued that he shouldnt be tried in washington. Tell us about that. He had argued that all along. One of the rights that people have if they are on trial in the states is to argue that the local community is not able to give a fair trial. In Donald Trumps case, this is going to be interesting because if you look to historical cases of this, this is often where a very Small Community is involved in something that has a very local resonance and everybody in the area knows a little bit about the topic or knows every one of the parties. Of course, everyone knows who donald trump is, whether they like him or loathe him. He is suggesting that washington, dc is stacked up against him. I am going to be slightly cynical here, if you would forgive me, on this point, whatever he does and doesnt think about it, it could certainly be that lawyers are looking notjust at the trial itself but whether there would be grounds for any appeal. In the event that he were convicted and at the moment he is of course presumed innocent. Today marks six months since a huge Earthquake Hit Turkey and syria, Killing Overfifty thousand people and leaving many more homeless. But amidst the tragedy there were stories of hope, such as baby afraa who was born beneath the rubble of her collapsed home before being rescued. The bbc has caught up with her and herfamily. Hanan razek reports. It was seen as a miracle, a moment of hope. Following februarys devastating earthquake in syria and turkey. Baby afraa was rescued after being born beneath the rubble of a collapsed building. All over her close family including her mother were killed. But now afraa has a new life. Adopted by her uncle, the man who pulled herfrom the rubble. Translation i started to dig with my hands i and i heard a voice, so i carried on. I thank god that afraa came to my hands. She was still attached to her mother by the Umbilical Cord when i found her. The video of her rescue went viral around the world. The attention was intense and offers to adopt her flooded in. Her relatives were worried about her safety, even in hospital. After a dna test proved the family were related to afraa, they were able to leave with her. Their home was destroyed in the earthquake so for two months he moved to this camp with his wife and their seven children. Thanks to help from well wishers, they have been able to rent this house, but they say it is very expensive and they dont know how much longer they will be able to stay here. Translation i lost everything, it | was like going back to square one. I cant even afford to send my kids to school but there are people in worse conditions. The road ahead might be difficult, but the family are grateful for the chance for a new start. Following a disaster which killed 4,000 people in North West Syria alone. To ukraine next. Workers have completed installing the countrys trident emblem onto the Giant Motherland Monument towering over kyiv. Gazing sternly east from the west bank of the dnipro, the figure holds a sixteen metre sword in her right hand and an eight metre long shield in her left. The communist hammer and sickle was removed from the shield last week, now replaced by a trident. Since russias full scale invasion, the campaign to purge ukraine of soviet and russian symbols has been accelerated. The Barbie Bandwagon shows no signs of slowing down. Makers, warner brothers, say it has now passed over One Billion Dollars at the global box office. It means greta gerwig has become the first woman to reach the milestone as a solo director. Siobhan synnot, is a film journalist. She told me that barbie has been responsible for reviving interest in going to the cinema. Well, barbie certainly means a shot in the arm for cinemagoers, for cinema owners, forfilm studios, after quite a difficult 2023. Films that underperformed included Indiana Jones and the dial of destiny. But barbenheimer has really been a shot in the arm. And i think a lot of the industry will be looking at this and thinking, what is it that worked . It has made sure that greta gerwig, as you say, the first female director to steer a film on her own into the billion category, she has proved herself to be critically very viable. She has won awards in the past for little women and a ladybird. This shows that she has financial heft as well. It will also result, i think, in an increase in toy movies. But toys with a knowing sight of them. When Margot Robbie was pitching barbie, Margot Robbie of course being the star of the film, she said to the studio if you have got a visionary film with big ideas from a Goodie Director then this film could make a billion. She was saying this before anybody else. Stay with us here on bbc news. Today has been a drier, calmer and brighter day than yesterday was. Storm anthony has been easing a way eastwards. Clear skies following on behind albeit with a speckling of shower cloud. Most of their show there are easing and fading as we go through the evening and overnight. Some spots in the countryside will get a little chillier than that. A fresh start on Monday Morning but under this little ridge of High Pressure is a largely bright and bright start. Some spells of sunshine around and we will see some showers popping up through the day but they should be quite as many as there has been today. However, this Weather System Running in from the west will eventually bring more cloud into the far south west of england, the far South West Of Wales and some misty murky conditions developing. Some rain as well. Temperatures i6 developing. Some rain as well. Temperatures 16 to 21 degrees in most places. Through monday night, this Rental System pushes eastwards taking cloud and some rain with it. Not a huge amount of rain but there certainly will be some misty and murky conditions for coast and hills. Whereas for Northern Ireland and scotland, it is actually a main lease sunny day with a brisk breeze in the north east of scotland making it feel revocable. Up to 20 degrees in the south. As we move into wednesday, we will see some increasingly humid air spreading in from the west which will give rise to some sea fog and fog over the hills as well for wales and the south west of england. Some areas of cloud with sunny spells but to those temperatures beginning to climb. That process will continue into thursday. High pressure will be to the east and a low pressure will be trying to squash in from the west and that will bring is a flow of winds from the south. Bringing some warmer air across our shores. You can see the orange colour spreading across the Temperature Chart for thursday. Quite widely we will be in the middle 20 celsius. Some places could get to maybe 2728 degrees. It may not last that long as we will see more cooler weather returning as we head towards the weekend. This is bbc news, the headlines. A deadline for the militaryjunta in niger to return power to the countrys president expires as thousands gather to support the coup. West African Leaders had threatened Military Action if the junta refused to step down. The search for survivors after a Train Derailment in Southern Pakistan continues. At least 30 people have died. The train was heading to karachi when several carriages overturned. In the uk the first Asylum Seekers to be housed on a boat docked in dorset are expected to be moved on board on monday. Their arrival had been delayed over health and safety concerns. And the usa are knocked out of the womens world cup in dramatic style the two time defending champions lost in a Penalty Shootout against sweden, who now progress to the quarter finals