this was billed as a high—level delegation that was meant to go to meet with the top military leaders to try and get them to step down. part of this delegation was a former military leader of nigeria, neighbouring nigeria, and then also an influential cleric. but the information we are getting right now is that this delegation was in the country forjust a few hours. they met some members of the military but they didn't really meet the top man himself, general abdourahamane tiani, or the deposed president, to try and mediate between the two of them possibly. we understand the delegation has now left. they reason why this is also important is because ecowas, the military bloc, had given the military a deadline of this sunday to step down, or otherwise they might use force to remove them from power. so right now the scene is set for this countdown to sunday to see if the military steps down, and if doesn't what happens next. you mentioned that deadline. is it any clearer whether that intervention is potentially on the table, or is that being diluted, diminishing? the intervention isn't officially off the table because we have had military chiefs from west africa meeting in abuja, nigeria's capital. there they have been tasked with drawing up possible military plans to invade niger. that meeting has been happening and they're meant to report back to the heads of state of west african nations. but at the same time we have been hearing a softening of the language from politicians in west africa, saying a military intervention would be the last resort. for example, the must powerful leader in west africa at the moment, the president of nigeria, bola tinubu, said he would like an amicable resolution of this crisis. as you can imagine, any military action would have severe consequences for people in niger, but also for neighbouring countries as well. in terms of what the president was saying in the washington post, that there are huge implications for the west and troubling implications in terms of what is happening in the whole sahel region, isn't there? a lot of people might not have heard of niger before this crisis or know where it is, but so much of our world is interconnected. it is an important part of the world, it sits in the sahel region where you have a lot of islamist groups operating, groups linked to isis and al-qaeda. this is obviously of concern to western countries that have faced terrorist attacks from these organisations in the past. it also sits close to libya and major migration routes. you have many people using niger as a route to try to get to europe. this is the reason why niger has been an important partner for the international community. the warning from president bazoum is that if people don't take this serious, then there could be further consequences for so many of us around the world. now to the tragic story of frankiejules huff, a former actress who died when her car was hit by a driver, who'd been filming himself speeding at 123mph. adil iqbal was jailed for 12 years after he admitted causing her death. frankie, who was pregnant, was killled with her unborn child after she pulled onto the hard shoulder of a motorway in greater manchester with a puncture. now frankie's partner, calvin buckley, has said the sentence was unduly lenient. matt cole reports. thoughtless, reckless, and ultimately life—taking. driving one—handed so he could film himself at 123mph, these were the moments before adil iqbal lost control of his car, crashing into frankiejules—huff on the hard shoulder. 30 minutes before the incident, said goodbye, said i love her, which i'm really happy that i managed to do that, because we did get a proper goodbye, and then i got a phone call saying that she had been involved in a collision. frankiejules—hough, a former hollyoaks actress, who was 17 weeks pregnant, died two days later. she never regained consciousness. her eldest son and nephew, who had been with her in the car, were left with life—changing brain injuries. last month, adil iqbal was sentenced to 12 years in prison. not enough, say herfamily, who claim new sentencing guidelines brought in injune, which enabled life sentences, should have been applied. if people aren't getting tough sentences for this, they're going to keep doing it, and it isjust disappointing, and also insulting to the family that, to us, thejudge has been really lenient. the ministry ofjustice says law officers are currently considering a request for adil iqbal�*s sentence to be appealed as unduly lenient, adding in an statement that, "new laws have increased the maximum penalty to life imprisonment for causing death by driving to ensure punishments fit the severity of the crime." a week before the fatal crash, frankie and her partner, calvin, revealed their unborn child was a girl. now, without them, he's promising to campaign against dangerous driving, hoping to spare others loss like his. matt cole, bbc news. some exciting health news now — scientists in spain have found a naturally—occurring strain of bacteria which could help stop the transmission of malaria from mosquitoes to humans. the discovery suggests the bacteria could reduce the quantity of the malaria parasite in a mosquito by more than 70%. every year malaria kills more than 600,000 people_ our global health correspondent, naomi grimley, has more. scientists at the gsk r&d facility in spain were looking at drug discovery, drug research in other words, and they found that their mosquito colony there stopped getting malaria parasites in their guts. they did a bit more investigation, they had the presence of mind to freeze the samples. they didn't use throw the colony away, they froze the samples, and then they went back to them a few years later. they discovered there was this special strain of bacteria which was sitting in the gut of the mosquitoes, and they realised that naturally occurring bacteria could secrete a small molecule called harmane, and that harmane seemed to suppress malaria. so quite a finding for them. the question now is, can they turn into some kind of product that can be used as malaria intervention in the real world? what are they saying about that final point? malaria kills a child every single minute, so the urgency couldn't be more profound. that have been great strides in malaria prevention in the last few years. we now have vaccines that are beginning to be rolled out in africa. but it is a disease that has really foxed the human race for many decades, many centuries indeed. what they are looking at now is, they are doing some trials in big greenhouses in burkina faso and they are looking to see whether it is effective in the pretend real world, because of course they don't want to release malaria mosquitoes out into the world before they know. they are also going to check for safety. for example, would using this live bacteria in some form, would that be bad for other insects and upset the ecosystem? they are even looking at whether they can extract the compound that i mentioned from it and perhaps put that on surfaces were they know mosquitoes might rest and mosquitoes would soak up that compound. so, all kind of ways of trying to cut down on malaria transmission. this is just the start, but is potentially a really exciting development. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. people believe just because you're from a bad background that you're not going to achieve much. but i believe this product is helping. today we are working on a project empowering youth voices through graffiti _ empowering youth voices through graffiti and protest art. it�*s empowering youth voices through graffiti and protest art.— graffiti and protest art. it's an honourable _ graffiti and protest art. it's an honourable thing _ graffiti and protest art. it's an honourable thing to _ graffiti and protest art. it's an honourable thing to do, - graffiti and protest art. it's an honourable thing to do, to - graffiti and protest art. it's an honourable thing to do, to be| honourable thing to do, to be yourself— honourable thing to do, to be yourself surf— honourable thing to do, to be yourself surf on _ honourable thing to do, to be yourself surf on its _ honourable thing to do, to be yourself surf on its through . honourable thing to do, to be l yourself surf on its through art. honourable thing to do, to be i yourself surf on its through art. i love yourself surf on its through art. love it, just a chef fact of yourself surf on its through art.“ love it, just a chef fact of having complete creative freedom. learning new things. — complete creative freedom. learning new things, shading, _ complete creative freedom. learning new things, shading, patterning - complete creative freedom. learning new things, shading, patterning and| new things, shading, patterning and at that _ new things, shading, patterning and at that. ., , . new things, shading, patterning and atthat. ., , ., ,, ., ., at that. you put a spray can and at the hands within _ at that. you put a spray can and at the hands within five _ at that. you put a spray can and at the hands within five minutes - at that. you put a spray can and at the hands within five minutes theyj the hands within five minutes they are giggling and just having a laugh. it breaks down barriers. i work through those gates as a six—year—old kid, she came here, it was aspirationalfor me, six—year—old kid, she came here, it was aspirational for me, i six—year—old kid, she came here, it was aspirationalfor me, i ended up being part of the university. and now to come back and teach, i'd like to think it is aspirational for them in at the same way. it to think it is aspirational for them in at the same way.— in at the same way. it makes me actually want _ in at the same way. it makes me actually want to _ in at the same way. it makes me actually want to go _ in at the same way. it makes me actually want to go to _ in at the same way. it makes me actually want to go to university. j you're live with bbc news. some afghan refugees in the uk are facing homelessness after being ordered by the government to leave hotels where they've been staying since fleeing the taliban. the organisation representing councils in england and wales said one in five afghans being evicted from hotels had nowhere else to live. 0ur political correspondent, ben wright, is following the story. why is this happening? around 20,000 afu hans and why is this happening? around 20,000 afghans and their— why is this happening? around 20,000 afghans and their families _ why is this happening? around 20,000 afghans and their families were - afghans and their families were relocated to the uk after the taliban took over in afghanistan in 2021 under two separate schemes, one protecting vulnerable minorities, perhaps under threat of religious persecution, and another looking after refugees who had worked for the british government or uk military. the scheme was considered to be a success. but for thousands of those refugees, there are still being held in government funded hotels, or temporary accommodation. the government earlier this year has decided that assistance needed to end and that those remaining afghan refugees needed now to move into private, long—term, permanent accommodation, and that process of eviction is under way right now. no were handed out to people in april. but the local government association has said today that around a fifth of those still in hotels are now presenting to some councils as being technically homeless and in need of further accommodation. the homeless association comment on the government to provide more financial assistance to help bridge the journey that these people will make from the hotel accommodation to something far more permanent. i think they worry among councils is that they don't have the capacity of resources at the moment to deal with the situation. speaking to the bbc this afternoon, the cabinet office minister, johnny mercer, said that the government would ensure that none of these afghan refugees did end up on the streets. i none of these afghan refugees did end up on the streets.— end up on the streets. i think we have to understand _ end up on the streets. i think we have to understand what - end up on the streets. i think we have to understand what we - end up on the streets. i think we. have to understand what we mean end up on the streets. i think we - have to understand what we mean by the term _ have to understand what we mean by the term homelessness, to start with _ the term homelessness, to start with. none of these people are going to end _ with. none of these people are going to end up _ with. none of these people are going to end up sleeping rough. we have done _ to end up sleeping rough. we have done a _ to end up sleeping rough. we have done a huge amount of work to get these _ done a huge amount of work to get these afghan families out of hotels and into— these afghan families out of hotels and into a — these afghan families out of hotels and into a long—term sustainable accommodation for them in at the uk, as was— accommodation for them in at the uk, as was always the promise, and as is what's _ as was always the promise, and as is what's hest— as was always the promise, and as is what's best for them and at the british— what's best for them and at the british taxpayer. | what's best for them and at the british taxpayer.— british taxpayer. i think the british taxpayer. i think the british government - british taxpayer. i think the british government and - british taxpayer. i think the | british government and local councils are on the same page. both agree it can't be a sustainable situation for these remaining afghan refugees to stay in hotels indefinitely. both of them are working together to try and find long—term accommodation. but in the short term, no problem for councils is that they have such a shortage of supply at the moment in terms of temporary accommodation for all the other people they're trying to house. i think the next few weeks is clearly going to be quite a difficult situation for councils to deal with. ., ~ difficult situation for councils to deal with. ., ,, , ., , difficult situation for councils to dealwith. ., ~' ,, , . difficult situation for councils to dealwith. ., ,, , . ., deal with. thank you very much for that. now — let's turn to a one woman show — and i really do mean — one woman. georgie grier is performing at the edinburgh festival — and this is what she posted last night. well, that post caught the attention of thousands online — with many sending messages of support — including this one from the comedianjason manford. hi, georgie, it's jason manford here. i don't know you, you don't know me, but your little picture and message popped up on my twitter, the "for you" bit for some reason, so i thought i'd drop you a message because you know what? it is absolutely normal, a, for one person to rock up to your show, especially at the beginning in edinburgh, and also for you to be a bit upset or annoyed or kissed off about it. that's totally fine as well. just one of the many messages. i spoke to herjust about an hour ago, and she describe it last night was really like. and she describe it last night was reall like. , ._ , ., really like. yesterday, i did my one women play _ really like. yesterday, i did my one women play and — really like. yesterday, i did my one women play and i _ really like. yesterday, i did my one women play and i had _ really like. yesterday, i did my one women play and i had one - really like. yesterday, i did my one women play and i had one member really like. yesterday, i did my one i women play and i had one member of the audience there. i walked on stage and i saw the lovely sophie in the audience, and ijust decided i had to go for it. and then i posted on something on social media, and since then here i am. i on something on social media, and since then here i am.— since then here i am. i can't believe it- _ since then here i am. i can't believe it. you _ since then here i am. i can't believe it. you are - since then here i am. i can't believe it. you are smiling l since then here i am. i can't - believe it. you are smiling now, but you are upset when you posted that. did you have any sort of indication that it was to be like that from ticket sales, or anything like that? or was at that moment that you simply walked out. i or was at that moment that you simply walked out.— or was at that moment that you simply walked out. i had absolutely no idea that — simply walked out. i had absolutely no idea that i _ simply walked out. i had absolutely no idea that i would _ simply walked out. i had absolutely no idea that i would be _ simply walked out. i had absolutely no idea that i would be sitting - simply walked out. i had absolutely no idea that i would be sitting here | no idea that i would be sitting here with you today. i thought perhaps i might get a few messages of encouragement from fellow performers, because we know is quite hard here, and it is like running a marathon as they say. and perhaps i could help some other performers out by sharing my story. but i in no way expected this reaction. it has been so lovely to receive these messages of support. it so lovely to receive these messages of su ort. ., , so lovely to receive these messages ofsu--ort. . , , . , of support. it really is incredible, the tidal wave _ of support. it really is incredible, the tidal wave that _ of support. it really is incredible, the tidal wave that it _ of support. it really is incredible, the tidal wave that it actually - the tidal wave that it actually prompted. ijust want the tidal wave that it actually prompted. i just want to go through a couple of responses. a fabulous story and so many others like that. what has it been like to be on the receiving end of all that love and support?— love and support? completely unexoected. _ love and support? completely unexpected, obviously, - love and support? completely unexpected, obviously, but. love and support? completely - unexpected, obviously, but really just brilliant. i have love receiving the messages, it has been a lot, i honestly did not expect this. but the messages i have received from both performers here and people otherwise hasjust received from both performers here and people otherwise has just been completely unexpected, surprising, but very much appreciated. i completely unexpected, surprising, but very much appreciated. i should like to ask you. _ but very much appreciated. i should like to ask you, did _ but very much appreciated. i should like to ask you, did you _ but very much appreciated. i should like to ask you, did you actually - like to ask you, did you actually get through the whole of the act? yesterday, yeah, i managed to. there was a point where i was like, owl, goodness, what is going to happen here? my first thought was that i felt a bit sorry for her having to make eye contact with me for an hour. ., ., ~ ., ., , ., make eye contact with me for an hour. ., . ~ ., ., , . yeah, hour. how awkward was that? yeah, uuite hour. how awkward was that? yeah, quite awkward- _ hour. how awkward was that? yeah, quite awkward. i _ hour. how awkward was that? yeah, quite awkward. i think— hour. how awkward was that? yeah, quite awkward. i think it _ hour. how awkward was that? yeah, quite awkward. i think it was - quite awkward. i think it was probably more awkward for her, bless her. ,, . , probably more awkward for her, bless her, ,, ., , , probably more awkward for her, bless her. ,, .,, , probably more awkward for her, bless her. ,, , ., , probably more awkward for her, bless her. ,, , ., her. she has been so lovely about it. she her. she has been so lovely about it- she posted _ her. she has been so lovely about it. she posted a _ her. she has been so lovely about it. she posted a tweet... - her. she has been so lovely about it. she posted a tweet... i - her. she has been so lovely about it. she posted a tweet... i think. her. she has been so lovely about it. she posted a tweet... i think i| it. she posted a tweet... i think i am right in saying that you have had another show today. how did that go? how many people were in the audience today because mackay went really well, there was more than one, so i'm so happy with that. it well, there was more than one, so i'm so happy with that.— i'm so happy with that. it was so nice to have _ i'm so happy with that. it was so nice to have people's _ i'm so happy with that. it was so nice to have people's smiling - i'm so happy with that. it was so i nice to have people's smiling faces there and i'm so grateful to each and every person that came. i there and i'm so grateful to each and every person that came. i assume ou're at and every person that came. i assume you're at the — and every person that came. i assume you're at the start _ and every person that came. i assume you're at the start of _ and every person that came. i assume you're at the start of doing _ and every person that came. i assume you're at the start of doing this. - you're at the start of doing this. in terms of the words of advice and support, so many performers have had car crash events, do you hold out hope and think perhaps that's part of the learning curve? has hope and think perhaps that's part of the learning curve? ben hope and think perhaps that's part of the learning curve?— of the learning curve? as i said before, of the learning curve? as i said before. it _ of the learning curve? as i said before. it is — of the learning curve? as i said before, it is a _ of the learning curve? as i said before, it is a marathon. - of the learning curve? as i said before, it is a marathon. this l of the learning curve? as i said - before, it is a marathon. this whole thing is going to be a big learning experience. just because i have received this amazing amount of support, i am received this amazing amount of support, iam not received this amazing amount of support, i am not in any way thinking that tomorrow i might not still have one. but it is all part of the experience. we all know it is quite difficult here but we all know that we are lucky to be here and hopefully we can just support each other. hopefully we can 'ust support each other. ., ., , hopefully we can 'ust support each other. . . , , ., hopefully we can 'ust support each other. . , ., ,, .,~ ., other. that was georgie speaking to me onl a other. that was georgie speaking to me only a short _ other. that was georgie speaking to me only a short while _ other. that was georgie speaking to me only a short while ago. - other. that was georgie speaking to me only a short while ago. four - other. that was georgie speaking to me only a short while ago. four of l me only a short while ago. four of thousand scouts at an international event from the uk has been moved from their campsites hit by extreme height. 4000 scouts from the uk attending an international event in south korea are being moved from their camp site, which has been hit by extreme heat. hundreds have fallen ill at the outdoor world scout jamboree. the scout association confirmed the british group is being moving to hotels over the next two days after south korea was hit by temperatures as high as 35 degrees celsius. the south korean government said it is sending water and medics to the site. the group will travel home on the 13th of august as planned. before we move on, let me just return to the breaking news of the last couple of hours— alexei navalny sentenced to a further 19 years in prison after a court appearance and at the last little while. the eu chief has described as unacceptable. the un has called for his release immediately. and a friend has just called up their directjudicial persecution. you are watching bbc news. —— and france has called the verdictjudicial persecution. let's turn to breaking news of the last few minutes. tiktok influencers have been found guilty of murder at leicester court in a high—speed car chase in sedbury 2022. that news just coming into us from the courts in leicester. let's head at their speak to our correspondents there. tell us more. inaudible. apologies. as you can see, that line to leicester giving us problems with sand. we will return to that breaking those from leicester crown court in the next few minutes. the government is planning to increase the use of the private sector to help cut nhs waiting lists in england. ministers want to unlock spare capacity to get patients the treatment and operations they need. rules will be relaxed so that it's easier to send nhs patients to private health providers. eight privately—run diagnostic centres will be opened for tests, scans and other investigations that don't have to be done in hospital. earlier, health correspondent jim reed explained how this all comes at a time when there are millions on nhs waiting lists. 7.5 million people in england alone on some sort of nhs waiting list. that figure has been going up, as it has in other parts of the uk. one of the key bottlenecks for treatment is diagnosis, so, ct scans, x—rays, mri scans. and one of the big ideas in england are these things called community diagnostic centres. if you're going for a cancer scan, for example, rather than going into hospital, you might be sent to one of these new centres, which could be in shopping centres, there is one even in a football stadium. there are already 114 of these in england. we had this announcement today of another 13. but the interesting thing, eight of those 13 are going to be run by the private sector. it is not the first time we have seen this, but it does represent a big increase, about a tripling of the number run by private sector companies. it is part of this wider plan to relax some of the rules around this and allow hospitals to commission more services from the private sector. let's attempt to go to at leicester crown court, that breaking story in the last few minutes. let's go back to our correspondents, navtej johal, who has been covering this case for us. tell us more about the verdict that has just come in. this us. tell us more about the verdict that hasjust come in.— that hasjust come in. this is the culmination _ that hasjust come in. this is the culmination of _ that hasjust come in. this is the culmination of a _ that hasjust come in. this is the culmination of a trial— that hasjust come in. this is the culmination of a trial which - that hasjust come in. this is the culmination of a trial which has l culmination of a trial which has lasted well over three months. it is actually a retrial which originally started late last year. the centres and what happened in february of last year. it is around a high—speed car chase which led to the deaths of two young men in their early twenties, saqib hussain and hashim ijazuddin. the focus here over the course of this trial has been on finding out whether eight defendants were responsible for their deaths. today we heard at addicts come in. they are that seven of those defendants have been convicted over the murders, four of them for the murders, and at tiktok influencer, mahek bukhari. she has over 120,000 followers and is very prominent on social media. and her mother, among two others who have also been found guilty of murder. the case really focuses on the mother of mahek bukhari and one of the victims. they had a relationship which was on and off. the court he heard that there were attempts from saqib hussain to reignite things with her. and that eventually to an attempt to blackmail her over sexually explicit material first up it was that mahek bukhari and her mother hatched a plot to seize that material from the sound of saqib hussain that brought them all to leicester, and eventually ended in a fatal car chase. today, with mother and daughter have been found guilty of the murder, along with two others. three of the other defendants have been found guilty of manslaughter, and one has been cleared of those charges as well of manslaughter and of murder. this is a case which has been going on for quite some time. it has garnered a lot of interest, particularly online because of the profile of mahek bukhari. she is somebody who has gained some level of fame through her videos, which are make—up tutorials showcasing her life as a social media influencer. but this has obviously been a case which has brought her a great deal of information now, and she is facing a guilty verdict here at leicester crown court and we like to hear what the sentence will be. thank you for taking us through all of that. if there is any more reaction at the court, we will return. we will pause and catch up with the weather with chris fawkes. hello. we've got some wet and windy weather on the way this weekend, from an area of low pressure that the met office have now named as storm anthony. more on that in a moment. today's weather is a day of sunny spells and showers, but the showers won't be for everyone, because they will concentrate really across one area in particular. that is across eastern england, where we have this convergence zone with winds bashing together, funnelling the moisture together, and that helps make these showers that could turn heavy and thundery. i wouldn't be surprised if we get around ten or even 20 millimetres of rain in places. but away from eastern england, there will be a lot of drier weather this afternoon, with some sunny spells for most of you. temperatures still running a little bit below average, but feeling 0k in any august sunshine. 0vernight tonight, we start to see outbreaks of rain feed in, particularly to northern ireland. temperatures overnight holding up into double figures. but then, storm anthony will really start to affect our weather into saturday. now, the heaviest rain will be across northern ireland. 20 to a0 millimetres, maybe even a bit more than that over the hills in the south, for example. could bring some localised flooding. and then we see the rain extend across england and wales, along with some strong gusts of wind. 50 to 60 mile an hour gusts for wales and south—west england. we are likely to see some disruption from that. whether it be from speed restrictions on the bridges, for example, crossing the severn. or you might see one or two trees be blown over. it won't be raining everywhere though, all day. scotland and northern ireland having some brighter weather through the day, with sunshine and a few showers. wherever you are, though, temperatures below average. and for some, particularly on the northern edge of the main rain band, feeling really quite cool. 1a or 15 degrees. now, the worst of the weather does clear through as we head into sunday. sunday is a day of sunshine and showers. again, some of the showers quite heavy. the biggest risk of seeing some showers or even thunderstorms will be across scotland and eastern areas of england. it might well stay dry for most of the day across wales and the south—west. now, as we head into monday and tuesday, the unsettled weather is set to continue, with rain or showers pretty widely once again. however, we then see a change in the weather later next week. as an area of high pressure influences our weather, we start to drag in some warmer winds coming in from the near continent. that will boost the temperatures. for some, a taste of summer on the cards, with temperatures potentially reaching the mid, maybe even the high 20s in the warmest areas. goodbye for now. live from london. this is bbc news. the jailed russian opposition leader — alexei navalny — is sentenced to another 19 years in prison. enablejohn enable john has gained enablejohn has gained its carried out a mission across the black sea. a man who murdered his 10—month—old stepson is given a life sentence — craig crouch will spend a minimum of 28 years in prison. controversial influencer — andrew tate — accused of rape and human trafficking — is released from house arrest in romania. and actor georgie greer — who's show at the edinburgh festival attracted just one person — says it hasn't put her off performing. this whole thing will be a big learning experience and just because i received this amazing amount of support, i am not thinking tomorrow might not still have one. hello, i m matthew amroliwala, welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. and checking out we start in russia where — within the last hour — the jailed opposition leader, alexei navalny, has been sentenced to an additional 19 years in prison. he's already serving a lengthy sentence for fraud and other charges. dressed in black, he appeared relaxed in the courtroom a little earlier today. relaxed in the courtroom a little earliertoday. it's relaxed in the courtroom a little earlier today. it's understood that he will not be taken to when a breccia's high security prisons, where he is likely to be banned and talking to other inmates and may be