The move to sack fbi chief james comey has caused huge controversy. Donald trump claims hes lost confidence in mr comey, and the bureau needs new leadership. But Opposition Politicians say its an attempt to block the fbis investigation into the possible links between the Trump Campaign and russia. Heres what mr trump had to say when questioned at the white house. Why did you fire directed comey . Because he wasnt doing a good job, very simply. He was not doing a good job. Did it affect your meetings with the russians today . Excuse me . Will the new fbi director be in charge of the Russian Investigation . Laura bickerjoins me from washington. Its been more than 2a hours since james comey was dismissed. What more do we know about why he was removed . The question everyone has been asking is, why now . Why remove the fbi director, the man in charge of the investigation into whether or not russia colluded with the Trump Campaign during the president ial election . That has been a big question all day. As weve heard from the white house, they believe it was time for a fresh start at the fbi. They say that the timing was due to an assessment by the Deputy Attorney general, who said, and i quote, that comey had circumvented the chain of command, that he had made serious mistakes, and, due to this report, this is when President Trump decided to terminate the fbi directors contract. However, democrats say, hang onjust directors contract. However, democrats say, hang on just a second. You have spent the campaign there were at least three occasions when you praised the fbi director, when you said he was doing a good job, so why the Change Of Heart . They are pushing now for a special prosecutor, an independent investigator, to take charge of the Russian Investigation. What are their chances . Within the last hour weve heard from the senior republican in congress, paul ryan. Hes just republican in congress, paul ryan. Hesjust said he republican in congress, paul ryan. Hes just said he opposes any move for a prosecutor, and now the Republican Party seemed to be rallying around donald trump by saying he firing james comey. This has been very controversial. What can we expect from the process to replace him . There will be discussions within the white house on who should replace him. There will be discussions also with the fbi and with others. But i can tell you this evening that the investigation into whether or not russia colluded with both the Trump Campaign and hacked into democratic e mails to try and influence the president ial campaign is continuing. The Senate Intelligence committee has, within the last hour, announced it has issued a subpoena, so it wa nts to it has issued a subpoena, so it wants to see written documents from michael flynn. Hes the former National Security adviser who to leave the white house after it was exposed that he had actually met with the Russian Ambassador and failed to tell the Vice President about it during the campaign. Now, why is this important . It shows that the investigation, despite the controversy surrounding the Sacking Ofjames controversy surrounding the sacking of james comey, is controversy surrounding the Sacking Ofjames comey, is continuing, and its very unusual for the Senate Intelligence committee to ask for a subpoena. They are asking for the documents from michael clinton, they asked for them in april and didnt get them, so now they are issuing a subpoena for them. Michael flynn seems to be at the centre of all these investigations. James comey may be gone but the investigations continue. Thank you. Lets take a look at some of the days other news. South koreas new president moon jae in has been congratulated in a phone call by donald trump whos also invited him to washington. The leaders agreed on close cooperation in dealing with north Koreas Nuclear weapons programme. And in a speech shortly after being sworn in to his new role, president moonjae in said he could be prepared to visit pyongyang. Translation i will have serious discussions with the United States and china for the resolution of issues related to thaad. Strong security is made possible with mighty defence. The government will also strive to further enhance self reliant defence capabilities. It would also lay the foundation for the resolution of the north Korean Nuclear problem. More on that coming up. Also making news today us backed fighters in Northern Syria have captured the strategically important city of tabqa from Islamic State militants, as well as a nearby dam. An alliance of local kurdish, arab and christian militias has been battling to take the area for weeks supported by Us Led Coalition Special Forces and air strikes. The former brazilian president , Luiz Inacio Lula da silva, has arrived at a courthouse in the Southern City of curitiba to give testimony before the countrys top Anti Corruption judge in the first of five cases against him. He has denied any wrongdoing. Foreign ministers of the eight countries with territory in the Arctic Circle are meeting in alaska amid confusion about the us governments policy on Climate Change. The effects of a warming climate are being felt particularly keenly in the arctic and they are eager to learn what us policy on Climate Change will be. The value of shares in snap, the Parent Company of the messaging app snapchat, have tumbled by about 20 , after disappointing results. The number of people using snapchat grew by only 5 over three months, to 158 million. Revenues were also lower than expected. A rare form of ice known as dragon skin or dragon scale ice has been spotted in antarctica for the First Time Since 2007. By a researcher from the University Of Tasmania on an expedition to the region. Dragon skin ice forms when intense winds continually lift the surface ice and reveal the water underneath. The water then freezes and produces a scale like pattern. More now on the election of a new president in south korea. High on the list of priorities for moonjae in will be pyongyangs nuclear programme. A Missile Defence system, known as thaad, means rockets face being shot down when they reach the south. The shield is provided by The Americans. But china has urged the new president to heed its concerns about the deployment. Translation the Chinese Governments position on the thaad issue is consistent and clear. We hope that the republic of korea pays attention to chinas security concerns, and deal appropriately with the thaad question. Lets get more on this from the bbcs steve evans in seoul. Weve heard the chinese denouncing this anti Missile Defence system, and the new president , moonjae in, wa nts to and the new president , moonjae in, wants to review this policy. How is it going to play out . I think particularly on the economy. There are signs already that the chinese unhappiness with south korea is having an impact on the economy. For example, you go on the streets, the number of Chinese Tourists is down. The company on which that anti Missile System has used the land there is a big con blom at, lauter. They give the land, the golf course in the south, for The Americans to put in thaad, and they are having difficulties in china now, so the economy is starting to come to the fore in this election. Mr moon come to the fore in this election. Mrmoon in his come to the fore in this election. Mr moon in his ignore gration said yesterday, above all, i will take ca re of yesterday, above all, i will take care ofjob creation, so thaad and north korea is the big focus, probably rightly so, outside south korea, but within south korea, its that domestic thing like everywhere probably of the economy, which is really getting people going, and on which he was elected really. He said he would create 810,000 public sectorjobs. He would get the economy going faster, particularly for young people, and thats now what they are going to look at him and say, all right, you made the promises, you did a nice speech, what are you going to do . Indeed, there is a very high youth Unemployment Rate in south korea, in the hi double digits, and of course he has also promised reforms in the conglomerates. Yeah, what he has promised there, everybody says more transparency, but what he wants to do is give minority shareholders much more power. We had a situation with samsung for example, last year, where there was a minority shareholder that was pushing through, trying to push through, a restructuring of the conglomerate. The ruling family fought it very vigorously, and ultimately won. This economy is a fabulous economy with some very economy is a fabulous economy with some very Strong Economy is a fabulous economy with some very strong global brands. So they are clearly doing something right. But there are a lot of people who say that, in a much hotter competitive environment, that kind of family dominated structure has the change. So mr moons suggestion is to give other shareholders much more power. Now, it will be a lot harder to tackle that than simply to promise it, so again, we wait to see what will be done. 0n job creation, there is a concrete proposal. Its a classic, social democratic, keynesian public spending. 0n the chebyl thing, its a culture that needs changing, and Changing A Culture By legislation is very difficult. Thanks for that update. The organisers of hong kongs biggest annual pro democracy march on the first ofjuly say their application to protest this year has been rejected. The Civil Human Rights Front said the decision was taken by the management of Victoria Park, the venue of the rally. But theyve linked the rejection to an expected visit to hong kong by chinese president xijinping. Heres our hong kong correspondent, juliana liu, with more. She told me why this years planned march was so important. As you know, this year is hugely significant for hong kong because the first ofjuly marks 20 years since the city was returned to china after more than 150 years as a british economy, and as part of a proposed celebration, the planned celebrations for the first ofjuly, xijinping is widely celebrations for the first ofjuly, xi jinping is widely expected to be visiting. He is also expected to be swearing in the incoming chief executive, kerry lam. These events tend to happen on the first ofjuly, which is a public holiday, and in the afternoon, for years now, people gather in Victoria Park to start a match throughout the city to demand greater democratic rights. This march has been happening really than 20 years, and as part of those preparations, the organisers of the rally normally apply for permission to start the rally at Victoria Park, specifically on the Football Pitches in the park that can handle huge numbers of people, and the organisers have said to reporters in a Press Release that, for the first time, that rejection by the management of the park has been rejected in favour, they say, of a pro beijing group. Apparently this is the first time their application has been rejected while the users have been organising this rally. At the moment im waiting for response from the management the park. Youre watching newsday on the bbc. Still to come on the programme protests in indonesia. In defence of the formerjakarta governor who was found guilty of blasphemy. The pope was shot, the pope will live. That is the essence of the appalling news from rome this afternoon, as terrorism has come to the vatican. The man they call the butcher, class barbie, went on trial in the french town where he was the gestapo chief in the second world war. Winnie mandela never looked like a woman just sentenced to six years injail. The judge told mrs mandela there was no indication she felt even the slightest remorse. The Chinese Government has called for an all out effort to help victims of a powerful earthquake, the worst hit the country for 30 years. Computer deep lew has tonight triumphed over the World Chess Champion garry kasparov. It is the first time machine has defeated reigning World Champion in classical chess match. Americas first legal same sex marriages have been taking place in massachusetts. God bless america this is newsday on the bbc. Im rico hizon in singapore. Our top stories President Trump has defended his decision to sack the head of the fbi. The white house said the president had been considering firing mr comey since taking office. The new president of south korea, moonjae in, has said he will work for peace and would, if conditions were right, be prepared to visit pyongyang. One of japans most famous rock stars, drummer yoshiki, has had to quit playing because of damage to his neck from all that thumping. That story is popular on bbc. Com. Lets take a look at some front pages from around the world. We start with the japan times, whose front page is dominated by the election of south koreas new president. It looks at one of moonjae ins key campaign promises, re engaging with north korea. It reports that tokyo is worried what a new Sunshine Policy might mean forjapans efforts to apply maximum pressure on pyongyang. Lets have a look at the straits times, here in singapore, where the authorities have called for an end to aggressive marketing by formula milk manufacturers. It follows the competition watchdogs finding that companies are paying private hospitals to distribute formula to newborns. And a tribute to chinas former Foreign Minister and vice premier qian qichen leads the south China Morning post. It looks at the career of the man who it says played a Critical Role in handling the return of hong kong and macau to chinese sovereignty. He died on tuesday aged 90. A 28 year old taiwanese woman battling late stage Breast Cancer has inspired many people to cherish life, by doing just that, but in a very unusual way. 0 may chen, undeterred by her bleak prognosis, arranged her own bridal photo shoot, on her own. She spoke to the bbc. Iadmire her i admire her positive view on life. Mary harvey as a songwriter who a Lwa Ys Mary Harvey as a songwriter who always knew she wanted to be a musician but as an 18 year old Student Tragedy struck. She lost the hearing due to a Connective Tissue Disorder and with a potentially her career. Now, a decade later, she has three albums under her belt, and tours with a band. How does she do it . The bbc went to find out. Music is an expression of the soul. It is like a painting. It is all the memories and stories, and the emotions that you felt at that time, or something you long to feel. I went to college for a vocal music education. I wanted to teach vocal jazz, and in that first year i lost my residual hearing, and was struck from the programme. And to describe it really as anything other than watching myself die, i. I dont feel has enough weight to it. I died. Idied feel has enough weight to it. I died. I died that day. But i picked up died. I died that day. But i picked up music again, and nowi died. I died that day. But i picked up music again, and now i have been performing professionally for about eight years. Im not the same person i was. My dreams are not the same, andi i was. My dreams are not the same, and i have come to peace with that. I feel a lot of music. And i have come to peace with that. Ifeel a lot of music. So and i have come to peace with that. I feel a lot of music. So when and i have come to peace with that. Ifeel a lot of music. So when im playing with a band, i play with my shoes off, and i can feel the rhythm through the floor. And you can feel, like a lot when it gets really loud you can feel a tingle on your skin. And everything is visual communication. So if this persons going to play a solo, i look at them, they look at me, they acknowledge that taking it, and they go. And then when theyre done, they look right up back at me, i look at them, i acknowledge it as mine again, andi them, i acknowledge it as mine again, and i start singing. Not being able to hear other music, it allows me the ability to not be necessarily pushed into sounding like somebody else. I sound like myself, and i will consistently sound like myself. I seem to encourage other people. Thats what makes me happy. Ive made it through a really horribly difficult time in my life, so my passion, the whole reason why i think, is so that i can say, he, this is what ive done. Hey. I really hope that i can encourage you to do the same. Another amazing story of courage. Never give up. As the world celebrates the birthday of lord buddha, a 13 metre long Sand Art Sculpture Of Buddha is created in sri lankan capital, colombo. The sculpture, created by indian sand artist sudarsan pattnaik, is claimed to be a world record. Sri lanka hosts the International Vesak Day Celebrations for 2017, with the participation of several other buddhist nations in the world. The main feature of the event is the arrival of indian prime minister, narendra modi, to attend theoccasion on 11 may. And a reminder of our menus. President donald trump has been defending the sacking of the head of the fbi. He tweeted james comey has lost the confidence of both republicans and democrats, and the white house said the president had been considering firing james comey since taking office. Democrats have reacted furiously to the dismissal, which they believe is linked to the fbis which they believe is linked to the fbis investigation into alleged collusion between russia and the Trump Campaign. The white house denies any link, and the department ofjustice has denies any link, and the Department Of Justice has rejected denies any link, and the department ofjustice has rejected reports that james comey asked for more money all more resources for the investigation before he was dismissed. You have been watching newsday. Finally, one for the real life willy wonkas out there. It is new yorks first chocolate ever chocolate museum. It is all there liquid chocolate, and all sorts of figures made from the cocoa bean. A sweet history, you might say. Mmm. That is one museum that is on my list. And coming up on Asia Business report, snack shares crashed after reporting more than 2 billion of losses in its first Quarterly Report snap shares. Thats all for now. Stay with bbc world news. Hello there. After the dry weather that we have been experiencing for days and weeks now, there is finally a change on the way, courtesy of these Lumps Of Cloud which have been bringing some quite vicious thunderstorms across spain and portugal, now on the march northwards. So many of us will see some showery rain and perhaps thunderstorms over the next couple of days, and with that, a feat of warm southerly winds. Some humid air moving in our direction for the end of the week. So yes, those temperatures climbing, quite a muggy feel to the weather, with the risk of some thunderstorms. In fact, there could be the odd flash of lightning, as some showers approached the far south through the first part of thursday morning. So down towards the south coast one or two showers to start the day. The north, for the likes of london, east anglia, should be a fine and sunny start. Could be one or two thundery showers across the Channel Islands into the south west of england, not expecting huge amounts of rain at this age, but could just be a Fuse Sprinkles and the odd flash of lightning overhead. Some of that getting into the south wales. At north wales, the west midlands, north west england, starting the day with some sunshine. And actually relatively chilly start the day here. A fine start for Northern Ireland and of scotland, but some extra cloud across caithness and sutherland, fringing in the part of aberdeenshire, certainly into the Northern Isles were there will be the odd spot of rain. Much of Northern England things some fine weather with some sunshine the start of the day. Now, as we go through the day there will be a lot of dry weather once again. Some spells of sunshine, but we will see this very patchy, Showery Rain Moving its way northwards, and then into the afternoon the chance that we could spark off some really quite vicious downpours and thunderstorms. Not everywhere, but if you catch one, you will know about it. A lot of rain ina you will know about it. A lot of rain in a short space of time. Temperatures in the south up as high as 22, maybe 23 degrees. A little bit cooler still further north. But as we go through thursday night into the early hours of friday, humid air continues to trundle northwards. Some hit and miss showery rain and it will be a much less chilly night than we have had recently, eight to 13 degrees. Those are the minimum temperatures. Friday we have a bit ofa temperatures. Friday we have a bit of a mishmash, really. Yes, there will be some spells of sunshine. There will also be some of the showers drifting northwards. Still the potential for the odd showers drifting northwards. Still the potentialfor the odd rumble showers drifting northwards. Still the potential for the odd rumble of thunder, flash of lightning, and still feeling humid for many. 19 degrees there in london. Something cooler holding on to the far north of scotland. Saturday another fairly humid and showery day. Sunny spells between the downpours. But then through saturday night a change. A Weather Front moves its way in. Behind that some fresh air pushing in from the west. So temperatures on sunday will be a little bit lower. A fresher feel to the weather, with a mix of sunshine and showers. This is bbc world news. Im greg dawson. The headlines President Trump has defended his decision to fire the director of the fbi. Donald trump says hes lost confidence in james comey and the bureau needs new leadership. But Opposition Politicians claim its an attempt to block the fbis investigation into the possible links between the Trump Campaign and russia. South koreas new president , moonjae in, has been congratulated in a phone call by donald trump whos also invited him to washington. The leaders agreed on close cooperation in dealing with north Koreas Nuclear weapons programme. And news about snapchats share prices are trending on bbc. Com. The Parent Company of the messaging app have tumbled by about 20 after disappointing results. The number of people using snapchat grew by only 5 over three months thats all from me now. Stay with bbc world news