detaining the president, mohamed bazoum. on friday, the head of the presidential guards unit, general abdourahmane tchiani, declared himself niger's new leader, saying insecurity, economic woes and corruption prompted him to seize power. the us, the eu, and france, niger's former colonial ruler, say they won't recognise the coup leaders, with some suspending security cooperation and budgetary aid. there are concerns among many countries over which states niger's new leader will align with, potentially moving closer to russia, as happened after coups in neighbouring burkina faso and mali. later, leaders from the 15 countries that make up ecowas, the economic community of west african states, and the eight leaders from the west african economic and monetary union will meet to discuss their response. earlier, chris ewokor, who is following the story from neighbouring nigeria. well, right now in niger, things are happening quite fast. earlier today, one of the members of the military coup came out on state television to denounce ecowas meeting and alleging that the meeting was intended to take action on carrying out military intervention of that country and now they also called on nigerians to come out to protest against that mission. currently, as we speak, hundreds of people are out on the streets in niamey protesting against ecowas and against the west, especially france, near the france embassy, and the intention possibly is to whip up enough sentiments among the people against ecowas and whatever the outcome of the meeting today would be. chris, talk us through some of the potential ways forward on this, because we have heard from the eu, suspending financial assistance, but at the same time niger is a country where more than 40% of the population live in poverty. there are suggestions that suspending financial aid won't help. what are ways that neighbours and regional allies can help niger? well, niger is a member of the 15 nation ecowas block and basically it is landlocked. although it is the seventh largest producer of uranium it is quite a poor country and has been depending on aid from the international community. now, ecowas really has work in their hands and it is a tricky situation for the leadership of ecowas, now having to deal with four military regimes within the subregion, so it is not clear yet but usually what we have seen ecowas do was to slam sanctions on the country and it is not clear if that is going to be part of what the decision today will be, but now we have also seen that the coup leaders have now called on russia to come to their aid. this effectively put paid to speculations about external interference and who is behind them and the coup. earlier, we had a statement encouraging the nigerians and the coup leaders from the exiled wagner group saying that niger is fighting to free itself from the colonial masters who enslaved them. so today what will be determined is whether the ecowas leaders are going to go into a form of understanding in order not to push the military leaders into an alliance outside of the west, just as mali has done. the russian defence ministry has accused ukraine of attacking moscow with several drones overnight. it claims one was shot down and two were suppressed by electronic warfare. the attacks briefly shut one of the city's airports. meanwhile, president putin has announced that the russian navy will receive 30 new battleships this year. our russia editor, steve rosenberg, has the details. it was early morning in moscow. when this happened — an explosion at an office complex. russia says it downed three drones that were targeting the capital. two got them smashed into these skyscrapers. no one was killed. moscow says ukraine did this. kyiv has stayed silent. vladimir putin wasn't in moscow at the time. the president spent russia's navy day in saint petersburg. the commander—in—chief reviewed a parade of ships on the river. russia's war in ukraine has not gone at all to plan but kremlin choreography never misses an opportunity to encourage patriotic fervour and project an image of russian power. translation: in the name of russia, our sailors are i devoting all their energy. they are displaying true heroism. they are fighting valiantly. just like our ancestors did. ancestors — it's the keyword. for it is by referencing heroes of the past and russian history that those in power now try to nurture a love for the motherland. we sawjust that outside moscow this weekend. they were re—enacting a 16th century battle. when the army of tsar ivan the terrible crushed invaders from the south. increasingly, russians are being told they have a glorious, victorious past. the organisers of this event said that russians can learn from this battle how to be victorious today. it feels to me as if, in russia today, the past dominates the present. this is a country which lives in the past, which is constantly referring to the past to try to justify what it is doing now, to portray russia's actions today as right and just. "russians, forward!" they cry. re—enactment over, the next battle. russian fist fighting. an ancient sport that comes with a message. russians are determined to win. steve rosenberg, bbc news, near moscow. one person has been killed and five people have been injured after a rocket hit a building in the northeastern ukraine city of sumy. these pictures from ukrainian emergency services purport to show the damage caused to what has been described as an educational institution. here in the uk, the prime minister, rishi sunak says he is on the side of car drivers and says he wants "anti—motorist" measures to be reviewed. mr sunak told the sunday telegraph that he has ordered a review into low—traffic neighbourhood schemes — which seek to reduce car use in streets in some residential areas. it comes after the conservatives won a recent by—election in uxbridge in west london — with the victory widely credited his party's opposition to plans to extend the capital's ultra—low emission zone to apply to more road users in the capital. here's our political correspondent tony bonsignore. the bollards, the planters, the number plate recognition cameras. if you live in or near a low traffic neighbourhood which uses all these tactics and more to control or limit access to some streets, you will almost certainly have a strong opinion about them. it is a nightmare to drive in london sometimes. i it is a low risk. i don't need to worry about anything. it's nice, we see people coming. i love it. despite previously funding them, the government announced earlier this month that it was halting all funding for any new schemes. and today the prime minister weighed in again, announcing a review of the impact of existing schemes. he told the sunday telegraph, i just want to make sure people know that i'm on their side in supporting them to use their cars to do all the things that matter to them. whether the government has the power to do anything about existing low traffic neighbourhoods is unclear. what is clear, though, is that rishi sunak has decided that motorists could be a key battleground at the next general election. the conservative party candidate, 13,960... the conservatives' unexpected victory in last month's uxbridge by—election, in which anger at london's ultra low emission zone has played a part, has sparked a fierce debate in the party about its green policies. some think the drive towards net zero should be the priority in the years ahead and presents a massive economic opportunity. others want the government to row back on its net zero commitments, especially during a cost of living crisis. it's a delicate balance for the prime minister, but with the tories still trailing heavily in the polls, rishi sunak has decided that siding with motorists could yet provide a route to victory. kenya says it is ready to lead a multinationalforce in haiti, where clashes between security forces and criminal gangs have displaced tens of thousands of people. kenya's foreign minister says nairobi would deploy 1,000 police officers to the caribbean nation. the mission is subject to a mandate from the un security council and formal authorisation from the kenyan officials. earlier this month, the un secretary—general, antonio guterres, called for the creation of a multinational force for haiti. earlier, i spoke to the bbc�*s world service latin america editor mimi swabby and asked, why kenya? the prime minister of haiti has been calling for a non—eu multinational force to support the peacekeeping process. but no nation, despite multiple pleas and promises, has come forward yet, so kenya is the first to do so but it is still proposed and although there is a high need for deployment, it is still very risky because the gangs are really well—organised and well armed. there is no clear exit strategy, so if a nation does come in on a mission to help support these pleas and try to stop gangs from overwhelming the country as it currently is, they may come into trouble themselves. give us a bit of the background here. how have things deteriorated so badly in haiti? well, haiti is dealing with multiple crises at once. it has a deteriorating humanitarian situation, a security crisis, and kind of a political void, a vacuum that was triggered by the assassination of its president two years ago. and this has led to thousands of people being displaced by gang violence and that violence is intensifying. criminal gangs are thought to control 60—80% of the capital, port—au—prince, and although there was a civilian movement to try to challenge that in recent months which was quite successful, kidnappings have returned to the capital and wider region with force, so much so that the us embassy in haiti actually urged and ordered any nonessential personnel and family members of government employees to leave the island as soon as possible due to the intensified clashes between the police and the army as well as the high threat of kidnappings and other violent crimes. just yesterday, a us nurse and her child were kidnapped from port—au—prince so this is a situation which is quickly deteriorating. i want to ask about another story coming out of your region, the arrest of the son of the colombian president. well, his son nicholas and his ex—wife are now facing money—laundering charges, which prosecutors are saying that they received irregular funds during the campaign election that saw his father become the first left—wing president of colombia. now, he has promised, though he is very sad at this news, not to interfere and he will let the court carry out a fair trial although he has denied any wrongdoing. thank you very much. more now on the women's world cup, and huge disappointment for the co—hosts new zealand, who are out of the competition. they could only maanage a draw against group—winners switzerland, who are joined in the knockout stages by norway, who thrashed philippines 6—0. and a major shock, in the last few minutes, colombia have beaten two time champions germany 2—1. we can now speak to helene altgelt, a sports journalist. thank you for being with us. commiserations to you and your country— commiserations to you and your country men and women. what is your reaction _ country men and women. what is your reaction to— country men and women. what is your reaction to the game? it is a huge disappointment, of course. it is a tough _ disappointment, of course. it is a tough defeat because germany hadn't lost a _ tough defeat because germany hadn't lost a match in the group stage of the women's world cup since 1995, so it is very— the women's world cup since 1995, so it is very uncommon for them, so it is hard _ it is very uncommon for them, so it is hard to— it is very uncommon for them, so it is hard to react. we are not used to it, is hard to react. we are not used to it. but_ is hard to react. we are not used to it. but i_ is hard to react. we are not used to it. but i think— is hard to react. we are not used to it, but i think colombia did deserve the win _ it, but i think colombia did deserve the win. they had a fantastic game plan _ the win. they had a fantastic game plan. they— the win. they had a fantastic game plan. they did so well in midfield and scored — plan. they did so well in midfield and scored a fantastic goal so i think— and scored a fantastic goal so i think they— and scored a fantastic goal so i think they deserve to when in the end and _ think they deserve to when in the end and germany will have to learn from _ end and germany will have to learn from this— end and germany will have to learn from this defeat but i think it is also _ from this defeat but i think it is also in — from this defeat but i think it is also in part due to injuries because many— also in part due to injuries because many of— also in part due to injuries because many of germany's defenders are out so i many of germany's defenders are out so i don't _ many of germany's defenders are out so i don't think it can explain everything but maybe it does play a part in _ everything but maybe it does play a part in this — everything but maybe it does play a part in this defeat. | everything but maybe it does play a part in this defeat. i am everything but maybe it does play a part in this defeat.— part in this defeat. i am glad you brou:ht part in this defeat. i am glad you brought that _ part in this defeat. i am glad you brought that op _ part in this defeat. i am glad you brought that up because - part in this defeat. i am glad you brought that up because you - part in this defeat. i am glad you | brought that up because you have part in this defeat. i am glad you - brought that up because you have an 18 player who is hugely inspirational and has a great back story. yes, ithink inspirational and has a great back story. yes, i think it is one of the stories of the world cup. she is a break—out player. shejust stories of the world cup. she is a break—out player. she just went to real madrid at 18, so that is already fantastic, but it is even more extraordinary that she beat cancer when she was younger three years ago and now she is at this world cup and she is scoring fantastic goals. i think everyone is falling in love with her and i think it is such an inspiring story that you can come back from this disease and beat it. i think she is already one of the players of this world cup for sure. one of the players of this world cup forsure. germany one of the players of this world cup for sure. germany were one of the favourites to win, not so much any more. who are you keeping your eyes are now? i think the usa are the team to beat as they won in 2015 and 2019. i haven't been that impressed by them yet but i think they are known for having their best performances when it is needed in the final and semifinal. i think brazil and france are also very exciting teams and of course england, even though they also have injuries, but i think it isjust very exciting so many teams have chances to win. spain, japan, sweden is well. so i think it is very open right now and that is what makes it so exciting. you mention teams like brazil and france and the us, often picketers. other ne teams that have surprised you? i thinkjapan has played really well. they won the world cup in 2011 so they are not an underdog maybe but i think many were very surprised of how well they played. they played attacking a bit like spain so i am very excited about their last group game. they are just very fluent and they have got great talents and they won the world cup for under 20s a couple of years ago so they have got some great talents coming through and i and excited to see what they can do. 0k, and excited to see what they can do. ok, good to talk to you. thank you very much. in china, until recently, it was extremely difficult for single women to have children. last year, the government said health insurance should cover the cost of giving birth for single mothers and that they should also get paid maternity leave. despite widespread conservative cultural attitudes, a shift is under way ? especially in the bigger cities ? where more unmarried women are choosing to continue their pregnancies. as our correspondent stephen mcdonell reports from south—east china. two—month—old hung—hung is being raised by his mother and grandmother. it's a lifestyle still frowned on by many, especially in rural areas or smaller towns where beliefs are more conservative. attitudes are definitely changing towards single mothers in china, but mainly only in the big cities. this mother said she was lucky to have moved to shanghai to run a business. translation: i'm grateful l for the tolerance of shanghai. i'm from rural hunan, an area which will have a lot of discrimination against me as a single mum. she became a single mother after her boyfriend's family rejected his choice of bride because her income and status was too modest. although she was pregnant, he broke up with her. her mother, says the choice to continue with the pregnancy under such circumstances would have been impossible when she was young because of community pressure and official regulations. that this change in community attitudes has happened at this precise moment in history has been crucial. with an ageing population, the government wants more babies and yet many young couples have refused to answer the call on financial grounds, so more and more we are seeing officials starting to change the rules which had been blocking single women from giving birth. yet she isn't waiting for the government to sort out all the health insurance hurdles. she will soon become a single mum on her own terms. we met her at an expo in hangzhou showcasing her online sales platform. translation: my mum always told me that women should - be more independent, confident and strong. i don't want to marry into another familyjust because of a child. the 30—year—old says the time wasn't right for marriage when she accidentally became pregnant with her much younger boyfriend. however, women's status and financial independence are shifting in china, giving more options. translation: traditionally, women relied on men - and the family for support. as we earn more, men and the women become more equal. women can even employ people to help them. the situation is patchy in china. even in some cities, single mothers on lower incomes are being denied the paid leave and health insurance needed to give birth. unmarried parents can now get the documents to, for example, process a child's school application. however, other government regulations still need to catch up with what's becoming a reality in china. there's been a deadly hurricane in the volga region east of moscow. russian officials say ten people have died with nearly 80 injured. most of the dead were staying at an informal camping site by a lake which was flattened by falling trees. rescue services are at the site. a third firefighter has died in canada while battling the country's worst wildfire season on record. authorities say the firefighter died tackling a fire in the western province of british columbia. people are evacuating an area further south in the province, near the us border, as fires swirl out of control. so far this season, canadian wildfires have burned about 30 million acres of land — more than the land area of south korea or cuba. the old ways of making newspapers, the hot—metal typesetting and the rotary presses, were abandoned with the arrival of computers back in the 1980s. in northern france, ?they are still printing their local paper using machines that were familiar 100 years ago. hugh schofield has been finding out more. it's like something out of a �*30s movie. the clanking press churning out the latest headlines, the rolls of paper transformed into news. the machine does indeed date from 192a, but this is today. and this is the staff of a newspaper casting a critical eye over a test run for the latest edition. as always with technology this old, a few minor problems. that line's too much impression. since 1906, they've been serving up the news this way when the great switchover came to computers and new technology. they stayed put. and if they didn't exactly thrive, they survived. translation: our production method is different - - when all the other newspapers changed, we stayed with the old machines. it means we have a very small circulation and we just about keep our heads above water. that's page. the typesetting, the composition of the pages, is also all done either manually or using a hot metal linotype machine where the letter molds are dipped in molten lead. part of the appeal is that you can look at it and understand what it's doing. with a computer, you look at it, you don't know what it's doing. and if something goes wrong, you don't know where to look. but this one, you can see where it's going wrong. you can see what it's doing. it's, yeah, it's alltransparent. upstairs are the rudimentary archives. only three times in it's 117 years has the paper briefly stopped printing — in the two world wars and under covid. a cheval, a good horse for sale. and un voiture anglaise. an english car. wow. at the end of the process, the paper has been printed, cut and folded, and 2,000 copies are ready for distribution. so what's the latest from this part of the world? we've got a hiking organization that's organizing something and also we have a farm show on the 14th of may. the wonderful unchanging world of local news. fleet street it ain't, but who cares? the good people of vervins are getting their news fix old style. hugh schofield, bbc news, northern france. finally this half—hour, how's this for a declaration of love? a farmer in the us has planted a massive field of sunflowers as a surprise gift for his wife. lee wilson from kansas planted 1.2 million sunflowers on 80 acres of land for his wife, renee, to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. he got his son to help secretly plant the field back in may. tourists have flocked to the field to take pictures of the state flower in bloom. what a great effort. that is all from us for now. goodbye. hello. well, the weather started off so bright and sunny in many parts of the uk and now it's mostly going downhill. very disappointing. the outlook for the week ahead, cool, rain at times, surprise, surprise. if i move out of the way, i want to show you this daisy chain of weather systems sweeping across the atlantic and where they're heading, heading straight for us. and the reason for it is this jet stream, which is also pointing right at us. and in fact, at times it will be south of us, which means that cooler air will be streaming in from the north. back to the here and now, though, through the course of the afternoon, we will see this weather front extending across ireland into wales, many parts of england, too, so progressively it's just going to get wetter and wetter. but the best of the weather will remain across parts of scotland and especially northeastern areas. so some sunshine there for aberdeen. but look at the second half of the afternoon and into the evening hours, it's murky, it's cloudy, it turns blustery, drizzly, lots of hill fog. outbreaks of rain at times will be quite heavy, but it is going to be a very warm night, 17 in cardiff, but much fresher there in the north east of scotland where the skies will be clearer. and then monday is going to be overall an overcast day, some sunny spells, too, but it will be very blustery, rain at times. if you're popping out during the day, take a brolly, it really could rain almost at any time during the course of the afternoon. sunny spells, i think, most likely across some southern and southwestern parts of the country. but remember, that wind will be noticeable and that's how monday evening is looking as well, a lot of cloud with outbreaks of rain. and tuesday, a bit of a lull in the weather. yes, a few showers in the forecast and yes, more weather systems coming our way. but we're ahead of that weather system, in between weather fronts, if you like. so i think it'll feel a little bit warmer and there'll be some sunshine. and then on wednesday and into thursday, another low pressure sweeps across us, delivering a northerly wind eventually, which will make it feel pretty cool. in fact, temperatures — look at that in the south of the country, 18 degrees, which is around four to five degrees below the average for the time of the year in the warmest of spots. that's it, bye—bye. this is bbc news, the headlines: the leaders of the military coup in niger say that the west african regional bloc, ecowas, could stage an imminent military intervention. it comes as ecowas is to hold an extraordinary summit in the nigerian capital, abuja, to discuss possible sanctions against those who've seized power. president putin has been praising the might of russia's fleet at navy day celebrations in st petersburg. earlier, mr putin had said he didn't reject the idea of peace talks on ukraine, but he also said it was hard to implement a ceasefire with ukraine on the offensive. here in the uk, the prime minister has ordered the department for transport to review existing so—called low—traffic neighbourhood schemes, which seek to reduce the numbers of cars using streets in some residential areas. rishi sunak says he wanted to show drivers that he was on their side. now on bbc news, the travel show. india. a vast country, home to over a billion people, birthplace of illustrious ancient civilisations and today, a fast—emerging global power.