gathered on the streets of the seaside town of bray to pay their respects to the singer and also to the activist, sinead o'connor. fix, the activist, sinead o'connor. a huge shock for many when she died last month at the age of 56. what we can see here is herfuneral cartridgejust can see here is herfuneral cartridge just proceeding along the seafront in bray. people have been leaving flowers, throwing flowers as well. very sombre in bray, thousands have gathered. sinead o'connor best known for her single nothing compares two u, that was a big hit backin compares two u, that was a big hit back in 1990, lived in this town which is just back in 1990, lived in this town which isjust outside dublin, for the past 15 years and was loved by many as we can see by the crowds that have shown up. to watch the funeral cortege go past. sombre scenes in bray and we will return live later in the programme. we are going to turn out to a major political emergency unfolding in west africa. diplomatic efforts to find a resolution to the crisis — have stepped up a gear — with a warning from washington. speaking to the bbc, the us secretary of state — antony blinken — has voiced his concern that niger'sjunta might turn to the russian mercenary group — wagner — for help. the group is active in neighbouring countries and its leader has welcomed the takeover. the coup leaders are currently standing firm against calls to restore democratic rule. here's what mr blinken had to say — about wagner — a little earlier: for sure we have concerns when we see something like the wagner group possibly manifesting itself in different parts of the sahel. and here is why we are concerned. because every single place that this group, wagner group has gone, death, destruction and exploitation have followed. insecurity has gone up, not down. it has not been a response to the needs of the countries in question for greater security. i think what happened and what continues to happen in niger was not instigated by russia or by wagner but to the extent that they try to take advantage of it and we see a repeat of what has happened in other countries where they've brought nothing but bad things in their wake, that wouldn't be good. well, niger has been a crucial staging post for us and other troops — fighting islamists in the region. so will us troops stay — if the junta continues to defy calls from the regional bloc ecowas — to step down? here's what mr blinken had to say: we strongly support the work that ecowas is doing to try to help restore the constitutional order in niger. i've been in close touch with president bazoum and many colleagues in the region including the nigerian president, colleagues at the african union, and it is very important that that constitutional order be restored. and right now, i think ecowas is playing a very important role in moving the country back in that direction. so, an important role for ecowas, says mr blinken, as many observers are asking how did niger reach this point? the country has seen military coups in the past, but has been relatively stable when compared to several of its neighbours. in fact, the us state department has described niger as an "important as a linchpin for stability" in the region. niger and neighbouring countries, including mali and burkina faso, have seen violence from islamist groups in recent years. the coup leaders, from niger's presidential guard, insist they're more able to deal with growing security concerns than the previous democratically—elected government. wagner group mercenarie have been active in the region. they're seen here in the central african republic. niger's president bazoum, deposed in the coup, had complained of "disinformation campaigns" by wagner against his government. well, the wagner leader, yevgeny prigozhin, has released an audio message refering to the coup in niger. the recording was released on telegram, though the date and location cannot be independently verified. he had this message, apparently, for the coup leaders. translation: we are always on the side of goodness, - justice and on the side of those who fight for sovereignty and for the rights of their people. call us anytime. 0ur correspondent nkechi 0gbonna is monitoring developments from neighbouring nigeria. there is a lot to discuss. can we look at the warning from antony blinken about wagner being in niger and how destabilising that could be and how destabilising that could be and could you tell us what is the presence of wagner in niger are all the only active in neighbouring countries? it the only active in neighbouring countries?— countries? it is uncertain to confirm at _ countries? it is uncertain to confirm at this _ countries? it is uncertain to confirm at this time - countries? it is uncertain to confirm at this time if - countries? it is uncertain to l confirm at this time if wagner forces are in niger. however, they have had huge presence in mali and burkina faso where the military leaders have requested for their support ever since those two countries had military operations with the former colony france. we know that a few days ago, niger's leaders reach out to wagner for support, especially in military operations as equal was threaten use military intervention should the coup leaders remain defiant and seek to power. and? what is the american influence in niger in terms of age and militarily as well? what influence in niger in terms of age and militarily as well? what would ha en if and militarily as well? what would happen if he _ and militarily as well? what would happen if he withdrew _ and militarily as well? what would happen if he withdrew that - and militarily as well? what would happen if he withdrew that two - happen if he withdrew that two sub—sahara africa has been a huge beneficiary of eight from the us but in niger alone according to the us aig, niger received about $2110 million in 2021 which was used in humanitarian and life—threatening aid in the region. however, niger relies on over 40% of aid for its budget. 40% of its budget comes from aid, especially from international bodies. apart from the aid, it would mean that the country would worsen in its poverty levels. we have seen a huge humanitarian crisis in the region as a result of these operations. they have sent a lot of people into displacement across the region and that we just worsen the situation in general.— region and that we just worsen the situation in general. thank you very much forjoining _ situation in general. thank you very much forjoining us. _ situation in general. thank you very much forjoining us. we _ situation in general. thank you very much forjoining us. we want - situation in general. thank you very much forjoining us. we want to - situation in general. thank you very l much forjoining us. we want to take you back to the streets of bray, incredibly moving to see the thousands of people who have shown up thousands of people who have shown up in bray, they are there as sinead 0'connor�*s funeral cortege passes through. they will be a private burial later but this is in very public moment for people to gather, to remember, to mourn as well. if we listen, we can hear the sounds of people clapping. i say sad, but there are moments ofjoy, there is reiki playing on a loudspeaker and i have read that moments ago, there were people who were gathered near the cortege who broke into a rendition of nothing compares two u which was sinead 0'connor�*s greatest hit that she had back in 1990. roads are closed in bray where she used to live, fans were able to pay their respects here and lots of people meeting outside of her house, laid notes and flowers and then, as you can see, the funeral cortege moving along the coastal road, you can see the scene there, bidding farewell, and then the procession goes on to a private service. let's take you to sarah who joins me live from bray. we were hearing some music, i think it was reckoned that was playing, so some moments ofjoy and some lovely memories that people are sharing. yes, you are absolutely right. it has been a day of mixed emotions, of course people are mourning the loss of sinead o'connor at the age of only 56, but they are also celebrating her life and music. you heard some ready there, the funeral cortege has just passed, heard some ready there, the funeral cortege hasjust passed, sorry, as you can imagine, we have a crowd of thousands here. it hasjust you can imagine, we have a crowd of thousands here. it has just passed by her former home thousands here. it has just passed by herformer home in bray where thousands here. it has just passed by her former home in bray where she lived for 15 years. there was a volkswagen van with speakers strapped to the top of it playing of her greatest hits. a few moments before the cortege pass, there was a singalong, people broke out into their own version of nothing compares two u. that music was playing. they stopped in front of her former playing. they stopped in front of herformer home, the music was cut, they may have been hoping for a moment of silence, but people were clapping and clapping and clapping. and that is what you are going to hear now. the cortege is passing along the coast road, it is one kilometre long, thousands of people are following and have lined the streets. sinead 0'connor�*s family members and friends who are just passing along at the moment. as you say, they are going on to a private burial. it was a private service this morning, this is the only public part of her funeral. it shows you how important bray was to her, she lived here for more than a decade, she was part of the community, and it was bray that her family said she loved it and shall of the people here. that has become the focus of her funeral today. there is a private service and a private burial to mark the end of a life that was left for so many years in the public eye.— life that was left for so many years in the public eye. sarah, how many --eole in the public eye. sarah, how many peeple are — in the public eye. sarah, how many people are talking _ in the public eye. sarah, how many people are talking today, _ in the public eye. sarah, how many people are talking today, not - in the public eye. sarah, how many people are talking today, not only. people are talking today, not only about her music and what she meant to them but also her activism many people are speaking about that. one family said earlier that her music was a way to sinead but when he fell in love with her and became a super fun was when he became aware of her activism. ,, , ., , .,, activism. she spoke for people who did not have _ activism. she spoke for people who did not have invoice, _ activism. she spoke for people who did not have invoice, in _ activism. she spoke for people who did not have invoice, in the - activism. she spoke for people who did not have invoice, in the 90s, i did not have invoice, in the 90s, she was talking about abuse, misogyny, hypocrisy when no one else in ireland was talking about that. that is why her fans want to stand here for her today. we that is why her fans want to stand here for her today.— that is why her fans want to stand here for her today. we are taking a moment to — here for her today. we are taking a moment to listen _ here for her today. we are taking a moment to listen in. _ here for her today. we are taking a moment to listen in. we _ here for her today. we are taking a moment to listen in. we can - moment to listen in. we can hear those thousands of people who are at their walking along clapping as the funeral cortege goes past. do we know what is going to happen later today in terms of the private ceremony? h0 today in terms of the private ceremony?— today in terms of the private ceremony? today in terms of the private ceremon ? ., ., , ., ., ., ceremony? no details of that have been released _ ceremony? no details of that have been released as _ ceremony? no details of that have been released as yet. _ ceremony? no details of that have been released as yet. we - ceremony? no details of that have been released as yet. we know . ceremony? no details of that have. been released as yet. we know that sinead o'connor was a reluctant superstar, she was the pop star who did not want to be a star and really struggled with life in the public eye for many years. that is why perhaps are many elements of the funeral today have been private. the private service that was held nearby here. there has been speculation about what kind of service it was because we know that sinead o'connor converted to islam for a number of years ago. this is the only private part of her funeral proceedings today, the rest is private and no other details been released by her family members or her management or anyone. we saw them pass by a few moments ago. for them, she was a global superstar, moments ago. for them, she was a globalsuperstar, but moments ago. for them, she was a global superstar, but she chose to have her funeral proceedings global superstar, but she chose to have herfuneral proceedings here in bray, a coastal town. it is a moment for them to have their sinead. bray, a coastaltown. it is a moment for them to have their sinead. thank ou so for them to have their sinead. thank you so much- _ for them to have their sinead. thank you so much- we — for them to have their sinead. thank you so much. we leave _ for them to have their sinead. thank you so much. we leave those - for them to have their sinead. thank you so much. we leave those pictures in bray but we will return there throughout the day here on bbc news. thousands of people walking alongside, clapping, throwing flowers, working alongside the funeral cortege, paying their respects to sinead o'connor. fifteen men have spent their first night on the government's new accommodation barge for asylum seekers in dorset. more are expected to board the bibby stockholm later in the week. 20 people have refused to get on, and have launched legal challenges. 0ur political correspondent, ellie price, sent this report from portland, where the barge is moored. the first steps to the new way britain deals with asylum—seekers. 15 arrived on the barge yesterday. but not everyone who was supposed to come here did. 20 migrants refused to get on and have launched a legal challenge, with the help of charities. they're survivors of torture, of kidnap, of war, conflict, persecution. and suddenly they find themselves being put onto a barge that they didn't understand. why is it? what's it for? why am i going there? is this because my asylum claim has been messed up somehow? have i done something wrong? there's a huge amount of stress and anxiety within the community. but this morning, the government was still determined to fill the barge to its full capacity of 500 people. we will continue to be absolutely focused on being fair to individuals, but fair to the british people as well. so, yes, of course, it's frustrating. but that doesn't mean that we in any way, you know, it doesn't diminish our resolve to solve this. we do want to solve it. we're committed to doing so. and the work continues. today will be the first full day the new residents of the barge have to get used to their new surroundings. we're told there'll be hourly buses to take them to nearby areas. but how local people feel about their arrival, well, opinions are mixed. chants: refugees are welcome here. the welcome by some was warm, even if they oppose the government's policy. charity begins at home. but for others, concerns over the impact on local services. more migrants are expected to arrive today, though again, more legal challenges are also likely. the government first floated the idea of this barge in april. this floating idea is very slowly becoming a reality. ellie price, bbc news, portland. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news in the uk. nhs flu jabs and covid boosters will be scrapped for under—65s this winter. 12 million people aged 50 to 64 who were eligible during the pandemic — can no longer get the free jabs. the roll—out of boosters is expected to start in october, a full month later than usual. civil servants in the scottish government spent tens of thousands of taxpayers' money, including spending nearly £10,000 on vip airport services. formerfirst minister nicola sturgeon, and her staff, were given fast—track security and access to lounges at uk and european airports. officials say all purchases were subject to "robust authorisation". a man is due in court over the death of a 12—year—old boy who was hit by a car while crossing a motorway. callum rycroft died on the m62 in west yorkshire on saturday. 36—year—old matthew rycroft will appear at leeds magistrates�* court today charged with causing or allowing the death of a child. you're live with bbc news. the leaders of eight south american nations that share the amazon rainforest are gathering in brazil to discuss how best to protect it. scientists are concerned that deforestation in the amazon may be approaching an irreversible tipping point. brazil's president lula da silva is seeking a coordinated regional approach to tackle illegal mining and logging, as well as other environmental crimes. the amazon is a crucial buffer in the global fight against climate change and 60% of it is located in brazil. the rainforest acts as a major carbon sink, absorbing carbon dioxide emissions, which are driving the climate crisis. president lula has already promised to end deforestation by 2030. rainforest destruction had surged under his predecessor, jair bolsonaro. and it appears some progress is already being made. injuly of this year, 500 square kilometres of rainforest was cleared in brazil — 66% less than injuly of last year. the rainforest is home to 50 million people, including hundreds of indigenous groups. indigenous leaders have called for bold action to protect their rights as well as the ecosystem they depend on. 0ur south america correspondent katy watson now reports from par , the most deforested state in brazil. virgin forests still exist here in the amazon, but every day, the illegal loggers get closer. for those living under the rainforest's canopy, it's been a difficult few years. translator: you have no idea how much pressure i there was in our community under the bolsonaro government. landowners circling planes, soya farmers wanting to buy the land to deforest it. but hobson and his trees stood firm. he's buying into a booming carbon credit industry, taking part in sustainable farming projects that sell carbon credits to companies wanting to offset their emissions. it's become so popular in this part of the amazon that authorities have accused carbon credit companies of harassment, pressuring communities to sign contracts. bianca and herfamily, like many in the region, want better services, like schools and health centres. but they're suspicious of these newcomers offering to help. translator: it is not that transparent. - we cannot see how it would give us a secure life. we are always on the back foot and fear the consequences. because of these stories we heard, we decided not to sign a contract. how to ensure the amazon's future and how to provide for its people is the biggest dilemma facing leaders at this week's summit in belem. lula's ambitious, but it's no easy task. just to get to this part of the amazon, it took 13 hours overnight on a riverboat and now this smaller boat to get to the communities here. but if you look on a map, it all looks so close together, and itjust goes to show how vast the amazon is, but also how difficult it is to navigate and, ultimately, also how difficult it will be for lula to achieve his zero deforestation by 2030. this is hernandes' plantation, the tools and training funded by a carbon credit company. last year, the community had to drive out five illegal sawmills felling trees from their land. but defending their territory from loggers is an impossible task on their own. partnering with those who have the funds is the only option. for the company, empowering the community is key. so too is empowering the region as a whole. when global north comes to global south and says, "i have the solution," we're like, "really? have you been to the amazon? how do you know what's good for them? you don't have your boots on the ground." so it's very easy to say, "i have the solution." people here want south america's voice heard before it's too late. katy watson, bbc news in para. new satellite images show the size of wildfires raging in portugal. smoke from those blazes has destroyed roughly 60 square kilometres of forest and undergrowth — that's about 23 square miles of foliage. more than 11—hundred firefighters and 1a water—carrying aircraft have been deployed to battle the fires. this all comes as portugal recorded its hottest day on—record this year — raising the risks for fires. temperatures are in the 40s they are and it is not the first heatwave they have had this year, they are on to their at the moment. the american red cross has announced it will allow gay and bisexual men to donate blood without restriction. the move comes after the federal food and drug administration further eased a longstanding policy that specifically targeted them over their sexual orientation. restrictions were introduced early in the aids epidemic, before blood screening for hiv infection was effective. the american red cross says a recent shortage of donations led to an appeal for more donors. we are going to talk more about what is happening in bray today. we have seen some very emotional scenes as roads were closed and thousands gathered near the former home of sinead o'connor. the gather to pay their respects as the late irish singer funeral cortege passed their respects as the late irish singerfuneral cortege passed by. singer funeral cortege passed by. lots singerfuneral cortege passed by. lots of people went to her old house in bray, the late notes and fires as well. then it went along the coastal road to say farewell, and the procession we understand will leave the public area and then there will be a private service. the music journalist and broadcaster is joining us from dublin. did you find it moving watching those scenes? the amount of people, the music being played, people have been clapping as the funeral cortege goes past, the flowers, the notes. it the funeral cortege goes past, the flowers, the notes.— the funeral cortege goes past, the flowers, the notes. if you look back at the early — flowers, the notes. if you look back at the early 90s _ flowers, the notes. if you look back at the early 90s which _ flowers, the notes. if you look back at the early 90s which is _ flowers, the notes. if you look back at the early 90s which is a - flowers, the notes. if you look back at the early 90s which is a long - at the early 90s which is a long time ago, 33 years ago, she was a visionary and an artist who was treated disdainfully by everyone. instead of opening people's eyes to the staggeringly huge extent of the abuse by the church and the cover—up, she became the target of vitriol and public protest even. it was quite strange. she was telling the truth and the public targeted herfor the truth and the public targeted her for a the truth and the public targeted herfor a metaphorical stoning. the her for a metaphorical stoning. the point herfor a metaphorical stoning. the point is now, people saw in the year 2000, the church him out and admitted a few things, but right now, they can see how many causes and social activity she was involved in where she said this, this and this and she was proved right. my god, she paid it all. she lost a lot in trying to tell the truth.- in trying to tell the truth. there is a si . n in trying to tell the truth. there is a sign on _ in trying to tell the truth. there is a sign on a — in trying to tell the truth. there is a sign on a wall, _ in trying to tell the truth. there is a sign on a wall, possibly - in trying to tell the truth. there is a sign on a wall, possibly on | in trying to tell the truth. there i is a sign on a wall, possibly on her house, where words fail, music speaks. that was partly her power, it was not the magic of her voice or lyrics but the activism. you it was not the magic of her voice or lyrics but the activism.— it was not the magic of her voice or lyrics but the activism. you can see it in almost — lyrics but the activism. you can see it in almost every _ lyrics but the activism. you can see it in almost every song _ lyrics but the activism. you can see it in almost every song she - lyrics but the activism. you can see it in almost every song she sang. i it in almost every song she sang. the second album made her a superstar up there with madonna and she did not want that, she did not want fame, the treadmill that she had to go on. nothing against those who want that, she wanted to do the opposite, follow her muse, go into different genres of music and that is what she did. but that there excite what she wanted to say. the first album, a collection ofjazz standards, after that, she did all sorts of music, irish music, read reggae music injamaica, she had certain things to say about the way the world was in terms of social activism and all of that feminism. somebody said earlier on she was a huge breakthrough forfeminism in ireland, i would say around the world. ., , ., . ., , world. lovely to have your thoughts as we continue _ world. lovely to have your thoughts as we continue to _ world. lovely to have your thoughts as we continue to watch _ world. lovely to have your thoughts as we continue to watch those - as we continue to watch those pictures coming to us from bray. you can see thousands of people gathered to pay their respects and they are holding signs, they have got flowers, handwritten notes as well. people have been clapping. there has been some singing as well. we leave you with these pictures from bray in ireland. i think we have had to manage our expectations with summer 2023 across the uk. the next few days are no exception. the best of the sun shine through the north, scotland, northern ireland and northern england. there has been a north south divide, further south, cloudy and misty. the cloud and drizzle is pushing east as we speak. 0ut drizzle is pushing east as we speak. out of wales, out of south—west england towards the capital and along the coast of kent for the remainder of the afternoon. we draw a line from north wales over to lincolnshire, anywhere north of that will continue to see the best of the sunshine, a few showers, the winds will strengthen to gale force across the northern isles, there is system affecting scandinavia at the moment. 0ne unifying factor is the feel of the weather, disappointing for the of year, high teens, if we are lucky, 21 celsius. this evening and overnight, the rain eases away from the kent coast, some cloud across the kent coast, some cloud across the south west, where there are breaks in the crowd, temperatures in single figures. it feels quite humid ijy single figures. it feels quite humid by the end of the night in the south—west as we tap into the warm air coming from the near continent. high pressure is building, we will start to see an improving picture on wednesday, the warm front across the high will introduce cloud and drizzle, market conditions once again on the exposed west coast. northern and eastern areas see the best of the sunshine and potentially the best of the warm weather on wednesday. we will all be a degree orso wednesday. we will all be a degree or so up, low 20s, possibly as high as 25 celsius. warmer still as they go into thursday, some extreme heat pushing its way up from iberia, when it gets to us, it will not be as hot, nevertheless, thursday is going to be the hottest day of the week as we see the temperatures widely into the mid 20s, possibly as high as 27 degrees. it is not expected to last. cool and chilly conditions will return on friday and into the weekend. that is it. take care. this is bbc news. the headlines: a warning from washington about the wagner mercenary group taking advantage of the coup in niger. us secretary of state, antony blinken, speaks to the bbc: every single place that this group, this wagner group has gone, death, destruction and exploitation have followed. we'll be live in ireland as thousands gather on the streets of bray to pay their respects to the singer sinead o'connor, who died last month. after years of rampant deforestation in the world's biggest rainforest, leaders meet in brazil to find ways to save the amazon. some breaking news to bring you neu about the woman's world cup. you may well know with the —— know the name of laurenjames, the england star. an incident in the game