a "foreign power" is preparing to attack. it comes after the expiry of a sunday deadline from west african regional bloc ecowas, which demanded the coup be reversed. the group now plans to hold an emergency summit on thursday. meanwhile, the united states is suspending more than $100 million in aid to niger. but officials insist there's still time to solve the crisis. the window of opportunity is definitely still open. we believe that they should step aside and allow president mohamed bazoum to resume his duties, today, tomorrow, anytime in the nearfuture. they don't want to put a time when that window be close, would you say that using diplomacy to achieve this objective is our top priority with respect to niger. our correspondent chris ewokor following the story from neighbouring nigeria. it is one day after the expiration of the ultimatum given to niger coup leaders by ecowas to reinstate president mohamed bazoum. the leaders are due to meet on thursday this week to deliberate on the proposals by ecowas defence chiefs, as well as other measures that will help them resolve this situation in niger diplomatically. but the leaders will want to make very clear that coup or military takeover of government in this region will no longer be acceptable. meanwhile, here in sokoto in north—western nigeria, the border remains closed against niger. not too far away from here at the border post, long lines of vehicles, lorries carrying loads covered with tarpaulin, have been stranded with their drivers sleeping under them or even sitting there waiting to hear the latest development about the border. some of them told me they had been stranded for nearly two weeks. but the nigerian customs boss said border closure is in compliance with the ecowas resolutions. trade can only happen when there is peace. peace has been threatened. there are situations of instability such as looting in this place. if it happens in niger and it is not controlled it could have some kind of repercussions. across the border in niger state—run tv on monday urged people in niger to mobilise against threats to the country amid looming military action by ecowas. the statement focused on the need for citizens to reawaken their patriotic spirit in the wake of economic sanctions imposed by ecowas. neighbouring mali and burkina faso have showed solidarity to the coup leaders. they sent a junta delegation in support of the junta on monday. but the sanctions imposed on the country continue to take effect. the price of commodities have gone up and niger remains darkness, cut off from electricity supply from nigeria. chris ewokor, bbc news, sokoto, at the border with niger. i spoke to a former state department official earlier to get insights into the crisis in niger. joining me now is bisa williams, former us ambassador to niger. you so much for taking the time to be with us today. we are now learning more about the acting deputy secretary of state's unsuccessful secretary of state's u nsuccessful attem pts secretary of state's unsuccessful attempts to u nsuccessful attem pts to negotiate some unsuccessful attempts to negotiate some kind of settlement to see a return to power of president mohamed bazoum. why do you think she wasn't able to make any progress there?- wasn't able to make any progress there? i'm not sure i would characterise _ progress there? i'm not sure i would characterise that - progress there? i'm not sure i would characterise that is - would characterise that is unsuccessful completely. my understanding was that the acting deputy secretary left the door open for continued discussions and that basically the united states, in what i considered a rare move, offered its good officers to help move toward a diplomatic solution. that would be my interpretation of that experience. why do i think on this first encounter with the acting head of this junta was not more compliant or more embracing, think it is because it is a first encounter, they also got the impression from reports i heard that maybe the deputy secretary didn't see the whole junta. i'm not sure if there is still immunity in that group. victoria newell and said they were extremely frank and at times they were difficult. we know it time she wasn't able to meet with president mohamed bazoum. what you think this is about the us�*s influence in niger? is it lost its influence?- niger? is it lost its influence? ., ., . niger? is it lost its influence? ., ., influence? no, the fact that they allowed _ influence? no, the fact that they allowed her— influence? no, the fact that they allowed her to - influence? no, the fact that they allowed her to land - influence? no, the fact thatj they allowed her to land are never going to meet with her, to me, is a big indication they are hoping for some kind of, that they will be able to maintain some kind of a relationship with the united states government, that they weren't able to meet with president mohamed bazoum, i think is a military coup attitude, they are trying to control their power and are trying to make sure there are no images of the united states with the duly elected and still president of niger. that is just a palamo. but at this point, i wouldn't say that that interaction indicated a total loss of the relationship for the united states —— power move. i do think this is a fragile moment, period. i'm not ready to count victoria nuland out yet. ready to count victoria nuland out et. , �* ., , �* out yet. present biden hasn't called this — out yet. present biden hasn't called this situation - out yet. present biden hasn't called this situation occur- called this situation occur yet, we know that would allow the us to hold back all of their aid there, some has already been withdrawn, given the results of monday's meetings, using the biden administration should now call this situation a coup? if administration should now call this situation a coup?- this situation a coup? if the united states _ this situation a coup? if the united states government | this situation a coup? if the - united states government really is committed to trying to use its good officers to talk to this group of officers who have taken this very drastic measure, then we need to put all the support behind them as possible. so i would refrain from calling this a coup. i can .com i am civilian, i am from calling this a coup. i can .com i am civilian, iam no longer the government, it is obvious they are a group of military men are acting like they're trying to run things go my understanding legal situation of the united states government and i would hold off on thatjuly was absolutely convinced there was no other outcome. convinced there was no other outcome-— convinced there was no other outcome. �* , ., ., outcome. ambassador, we have seen the regional— outcome. ambassador, we have seen the regional block- outcome. ambassador, we have seen the regional block of - outcome. ambassador, we have seen the regional block of west | seen the regional block of west african nations, ecowas, and the deadline for president bazoum tabea stated, we have seen the deadline come and go, there has no intervention yet from them, how critical you the next few days? i from them, how critical you the next few days?— next few days? i do think that it was really — next few days? i do think that it was really important - next few days? i do think that it was really important for - it was really important for ecowas to say this was a huge mistake, we will give you a week to rectify it. so, correct, that week has transpired. didn't interpret that to mean that one minute after that week they were going to intervene, now if there was really going to be an intervention, think that is what they have been planning, think it is really important for ecowas to stand on its ground and to say and to mean that they want to preserve the beginning of the democratic transition that niger was sewing and that clearly the states of ecowas are concerned about stability in the region, security and stability in the region, so i think the leadership did and had to take the move that they had. what the move that they had. what ou think the move that they had. what you think ecowas _ the move that they had. what you think ecowas needs - the move that they had. what you think ecowas needs to i the move that they had. what you think ecowas needs to to make that happen? i you think ecowas needs to to make that happen?— you think ecowas needs to to make that happen? i don't know how ms crowe _ make that happen? i don't know how ms crowe co-ordination - how ms crowe co—ordination there was between the us and ecowas, imagine there was some communication, that's normally how we operate, so it seems to be that there seems to be communication between the united states, which is willing to put itself really out there on a limb to try to help things move along, and the leadership at ecowas. if there is a way to somehow talk this group into really looking at what its options are, if this group of military men who have taken over really are doing this for the nigerian people and you can see the suffering that suffering that is causing and the suffering in the nigerien public, they should be able to sit down with the leaders of ecowas and whatever external good friends there to try to work a way out. i think that is possible if, again, if these soldiers really are considering the population. i do think the window is, in it was a caller, small, think the timeline is short for that and the longer that this kind of period, this period lasts, the worse it is for the nigerien people and the worse it is for mohamed bazoum only was it is for this little coup group as well. the real hostages in this situation are of course president bazoum and his family and the nigerien people. and the military, all the military, notjust the little group that appear on television, but the rank and file or to see that, and i think that's also now what the leadership at ecowas is conscious of.— leadership at ecowas is conscious of. bisa williams former us _ conscious of. bisa williams former us ambassador- conscious of. bisa williams former us ambassador to i conscious of. bisa williams - former us ambassador to niger, thank you so much for being with us. ., �* _, ., ~ with us. you're welcome. thank ou. ukraine says at least five people have been killed by russian missile strikes in the country's east. it's happened in the eastern town of pokrovsk in the donetsk region. more than 30 have also been injured in the attack. these are the latest pictures we have, as rescue efforts continue into the night. the head of the region says the strikes damaged two residential buildings, a hotel and shops, and an administrative centre. he warned more attacks could happen. ukraine's security service, the sbu, has announced the arrest of a woman in connection with an alleged assassination plot against president volodymyr zelensky. our correspondentjames waterhouse has more. so these are quite interesting allegations emerging from the southern mykolaiv region. sources at the security forces have told us they have arrested a woman who is accused of travelling around the local area, taking pictures of different military sites, and sharing them with her russian handlers. but these are part of a string of allegations which include her trying to get hold of the itinerary of an official visit by president zelensky and trying to share that with moscow, which would therefore help russia launch a major air strike during president zelensky�*s visit. that visit that happened without any incident and the woman was arrested shortly afterwards, we are told is being investigated for a number of weeks. and notjust that, there are claims she worked in the local military shop at one of ukraine's military bases in the south. now, as the country's wartime leader, president zelensky sees long—distance trips has been part of the job description. it's important to him that he appears on the frontline as well as in cities and army bases to try and keep the population's morale high. there have been reports of several attempts on his life, not least i remember early on in the invasion when russia's main aim was to topple his administration, to take him out and install a puppet official of their own. these allegations are a reminder of the risks he faces every time he travels outside of kyiv have or even when he stays inside of kyiv, to be frank with you. russia has not commented on these allegations. lawyers for donald trump say a protective order sought by special counseljack smith violates the former president's first amendment rights. the order would limit what information mr trump, and his legal team, can share publicly. it comes after he posted online what appeared to a threat of revenge for anyone who went after him. these kinds of orders are not uncommon in criminal cases. after his third indictment last week, mr trump pled not guilty to charges of trying to overturn the 2020 us presidential election. this comes as officials in the us state of georgia have put up barriers around an atlanta courthouse ahead of a potentialfourth indictment against mr trump. the district attorney there is wrapping up a probe into his alleged attempts to overturn his election defeat in the state. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. voice-over: bbc news, - bringing you different stories from across the uk. meet the cheshire ghost riders who are gearing up for a home world championships. it’s who are gearing up for a home world championships.- world championships. it's a whirlwind — world championships. it's a whirlwind of _ world championships. it's a whirlwind of emotions, - world championships. it's a whirlwind of emotions, not| world championships. it's a . whirlwind of emotions, notjust adrenaline, yourfocus during the flow state and you across the flow state and you across the line before you know it. i'm absolutely buzzing. i did the world is a year ago now and i had all blacks —— ten years ago, i've broke my hip and could walk for seven years and leslie got back into an qualified it's amazing. here at the bmx track _ qualified it's amazing. here at the bmx track they _ qualified it's amazing. here at the bmx track they have - qualified it's amazing. here at the bmx track they have a - qualified it's amazing. here at. the bmx track they have a total of eight qualifiers for the world championships in glasgow, the youngest being nine years old. i the youngest being nine years old. , ., the youngest being nine years old. , . ., , the youngest being nine years old. , . ., old. i started when i was about three. old. i started when i was about three- my _ old. i started when i was about three. my dad _ old. i started when i was about three. my dad did _ old. i started when i was about three. my dad did it _ old. i started when i was about three. my dad did it first. - old. i started when i was about three. my dad did it first. i - three. my dad did it first. i thought may be that would be interesting if i'd try it. here we go! for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. you're live with bbc news. those opposing alexander lukashenko's autocratic regime in belarus, of course, face imprisonment, but now, it seems, they must also endure total isolation in jail too. they include the opposition activist, maria kalesnika, who was sentenced to 11 years for her role in peaceful street rallies three years ago, following widespread calls for lukashenko to step down. the bbc�*s eastern europe correspondent, sarah rainsford, has been speaking to maria's sister in warsaw, and to others living in exile in poland. "the good will definitely win everything, "because evil will defeat itself." writing to her sister from prison, maria kalesnikava has never given up her political fight — her hope for change in belarus. "keep strong and everything will be all right. "your sister, maria." but her family haven't heard a word for months now. maria's energy and her huge smile helped rally these giant protests three years ago against the authoritarian rule of alexander lukashenko. but maria kalesnikava was jailed for 11 years. and now she's being held in total isolation. it became an incommunicado detention, where we don't have any news. which must be pretty scary, right, for you? for sure, yeah. i could just hope that it will not break her. alexander lukashenko crushed the protests to stay in power, but he didn't crush the spirits of everyone. in warsaw, in exile, these granny activists are filming skits for social media. they're sending up lukashenko's supporters, fighting a repressive regime by laughing at it. anna's home has been searched, her relatives threatened, but she told me she can't stay silent. translation: i think it's a betrayal. - if we don't speak out, who will? in belarus, everyone is silent because it's impossible to say a thing there. so every week in warsaw, belarusians gather. some are former prisoners themselves. others have relatives behind bars. they all had to flee here for safety. of course, in terms of scale, this is nothing like the kind of protests that we saw three years ago inside belarus itself. it is really hard to keep that protest spirit alive once you're in exile. but that is what these people are trying to do, and to send the message that the repression inside belarus hasn't stopped. that's why inga now lives in a shelter in poland with her son. the police came for her two years after the mass protests, when they found a photo of her on a friend's phone with an opposition flag. in custody she says they were treated like animals. but that's not what upsets her most. translation: all these | amazing, educated people are all in prison. that's so hard. just for our words. inga knows she can't go back to belarus or she'd be arrested again. and opposition supporters aren'tjust being locked up there now, they're being kept in isolation. sarah rainsford, bbc news, warsaw. let's turn now to a controversial policy in the uk attracting attention around the world. the first of possibly hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers have moved onto a giant barge to be housed while they await the outcome of asylum applications. the government says the vessel will be better value than hotels costing six million a day. but campaigners have called it a shameful way to treat people. here's dan johnson. what does this say about the welcome we extend to those seeking asylum? are these the first steps towards a tougher stance, long overdue to reduce costs and deter bogus claims? or are these potentially traumatised refugees, dehumanised and now denied even the stability of dry land? these men carry the added weight of the government's determination to address migration differently. we successfully on—boarded the first cohort today. there were 15 people on board. we have had a few challenges but this is part of an ongoing, structured process to bring a cohort of up to 500 people on board. there have been some challenges, some minor legal challenges. i can't go into the detail of those. but accommodation is offered to all individuals on a no—choice basis. refugees are welcome here! some in this community are pleased to see them here, and, despite opposing their accommodation, are trying to add some comfort. we wanted, really, just a show we cared. we wanted to show that, actually, there is support from the local community and we partly wanted to help them, give them some of the things they might need. portland itself hasn't got the infrastructure. i can see that point of view. but we have to welcome them. they're here now, we have to welcome them. charity begins at home! but voices like ian's are hard to ignore. this is my island. pleading for portland to come first. this isn't being racist, this is us saying we need to look after ourselves. they have ensuite showers, they are getting three cooked meals a day. really, they are living like kings. we need this to go up from portland. this is the welcome for the asylum seekers as they arrive on the buses here. but i think what this shows is the division in this community, and the strength of feeling on both sides. beset by delays, loaded with contention. when journalists were shown around, we were told operational by the end ofjuly. but there were safety issues. the fire service raised concerns, then the fire brigades union called it a death trap. ministers highlight a safety record housing oil rig workers and asylum seekers in other countries. but bunk beds and shared rooms have doubled its capacity, and added worry. we need to remember these are human beings. they are people, and they have dreams and aspirations just like everybody else. the small boats crossings are dangerous, deadly. absolutely. the hotel bills are enormous. is it not right to tackle this? the way to tackle something like that is to prevent it, and the way to prevent that is to invest properly in the asylum and immigration system. 20 men are refusing to move, fearful of conditions here, floating with 500 others. but more are due this week. the vessel and the policy it is the flagship for are no longer empty. danjohnson, bbc news, portland. severe thunderstorms have impacted large parts of the us east coast. here's the weather front as it passed over the white house, government offices in the capitol also closed early. the national weather service issued a tornado watch for areas from alabama to new york, covering almost 30 million people. there's also been more extreme heat across the us, it's being felt on land, but also in the ocean. scientists are racing to save coral species from destruction. here's manuel bojorquez from our news partner cbs. scientists with the national administration took us to a spot of island morata. this is a resilient reef? it has been. up a resilient reef? it has been. up until now.— a resilient reef? it has been. up until now. yes. ian has been doin: up until now. yes. ian has been doing research _ up until now. yes. ian has been doing research here _ up until now. yes. ian has been doing research here for - up until now. yes. ian has been doing research here for about i doing research here for about ten years. he was not prepared for what he saw, a virtual moonscape, a condition known as a bleaching. extremely warm water causes the coral to lose the algae it needs to survive. this is what it looked like in 2017. �* , this is what it looked like in 2017. m ,. , , this is what it looked like in 2017. a ,. , , , this is what it looked like in 2017. ,, y. 2017. as scientists we try not to be emotional _ 2017. as scientists we try not to be emotional but - 2017. as scientists we try not to be emotional but to - 2017. as scientists we try not to be emotional but to see i 2017. as scientists we try not. to be emotional but to see the scale of death, it is hard to come to terms with it. it is not subtle, it is 100%. scientists believe that the temperature heating is due in part to human caused climate change. now there is a race to save the coral. ironically by removing them from their habitat. ~ . , ., habitat. we are trying to rescue as _ habitat. we are trying to rescue as much - habitat. we are trying to rescue as much of- habitat. we are trying to rescue as much of the i habitat. we are trying to - rescue as much of the genetic diversity and much of the stock is paramount to the survival of the species in the florida keys. the species in the florida ke s. ., , ., , keys. volunteers have been takinu keys. volunteers have been taking 20 — keys. volunteers have been taking 20 different - keys. volunteers have been taking 20 different species l keys. volunteers have been l taking 20 different species of coral from the seas to the lab, where they are placed into tanks and simulate more normal conditions. the goal to keep them alive and returned them once the have called. latte them alive and returned them once the have called. we have seen species _ once the have called. we have seen species disappear - once the have called. we have seen species disappear but. once the have called. we have seen species disappear but an | seen species disappear but an entire ecosystem? we have not seen that and i do not want to be part of a generation that sees that. be part of a generation that sees that-— be part of a generation that sees that. this is more than about coral. _ sees that. this is more than about coral. they _ sees that. this is more than about coral. they are - sees that. this is more than | about coral. they are critical to food supply, tourism and shoreline protection. for sea turtles, it is a matter of survival. turtles, it is a matter of survival-— turtles, it is a matter of survival. , . ., ., , survival. this animal was in our oceans _ survival. this animal was in our oceans when _ survival. this animal was in our oceans when dinosaurs| survival. this animal was in - our oceans when dinosaurs were on our land. what we see happening to them will eventually effect all life. this manager says warming want to contribute to abnormalities and deformities in turtles but could also affect the species long—term. nests and warmer sand yield more female totals. we are only seeing female hatchlings. it we are only seeing female hatchlings.— hatchlings. it is a fragile ecosystem _ hatchlings. it is a fragile ecosystem at _ hatchlings. it is a fragile ecosystem at risk - hatchlings. it is a fragile i ecosystem at risk whichian hatchlings. it is a fragile - ecosystem at risk whichian is not willing to give up hope on. we have too much at stake so we have no other option than to try to turn this around and i think we can. stay with us here on bbc news. plenty more coming up at the top of the hour and you can check us out online. thank you for your company. check us out online. thank you foryour company. bye check us out online. thank you for your company. bye for now. hello there. there's a promise of something a little bit warmer for all of us, towards the end of the week. but it's going to be a short—lived warm snap, as cooler, wetter conditions return for many northern and western areas over the weekend. for the next few days, its southern areas which will see the mist, the murk, the cloud, the rain. a bit brighter further north. this deep area of low pressure will bring all sorts of problems to scandinavia, with localised flooding, heavy rain and strong winds. but the weather front pushing in across the south of the uk for tuesday will be a much weakeraffair, bringing increasing cloud to the southern half of the country, with some patchy rain and drizzle, low cloud, some sea fog around south—western coasts and into wales. but for northern england, northern ireland, scotland, bright with some sunny spells, one or two showers in north—east scotland, where it will be windier, especially in the northern isles — gusts up to 50 miles an hour here, with only 12 degrees in lerwick. but for the mainland of the uk, 16 to maybe 20 degrees from north to south. as we move through tuesday night, it looks like the showers, long spells of rain across the south of england clear away and it turns dry with lengthy clear spells. but it will continue to be windy in the north—east of scotland, into the northern isles. temperatures in single digits across the north. another chilly night to come here, but milder in the south and west, where it will be a bit more humid, misty and murky. wednesday, then, not a bad—looking day. quite a bit of sunshine around. still windy in the north—east of scotland and the northern isles, but thicker cloud will push into western areas at times and there will be some mist and murk around too. but i think most places will stay dry. increasing sunshine across the east and south—east of england. so, here, 2a, maybe 25 degrees and it'll feel increasingly humid as well. towards the end of the week, we start to tap into that warmer air over the near continent, so it will turn drier and sunnier. but it will turn a little bit humid as well. but you can see the red and orange colours spreading their way northwards across the uk. we could be up to the mid—20s in scotland on thursday and the high 20s for parts of england and wales. but it will be a short—lived warm spell. low pressure out in the atlantic will send a weather front across the uk during friday, which will bring showers or longer spells of rain, particularly to the north and the west of the uk. some of them may be heavy. and as it moves through, temperatures will drop back down below the seasonal norm once again. so an unsettled theme as we head into friday and the weekend across the north and the west of the uk. not looking that bad, though, across southern and eastern parts of england. voiceover: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. whoopi goldberg is one of the very few people to have won all four of america's big entertainment awards... whoopi goldberg! ..emmy, grammy, 0scarand tony, for her work in film, theatre and television. lovely to meet you. thank you. please take a seat. brought up by a single mother in a new york housing project, she first made her name with a solo comedy show onstage before turning to dramatic acting roles, starting with her movie debut in the color purple. until you do right by me, everything you think about is going to crumble. since then, she's made around 100 films, including ghost and sister act. she's hosted the academy awards several times and has forged a career as an outspoken and controversial television