mines and explosives. ukraine is now the most heavily mined country in the world and it is what has bogged down their advance. russia has laid hundreds of thousands of mines across ukraine, scattered over an area the size of florida. in some places, the minefields are ten kilometres deep. and in just one square metre, there could be as many as five mines. sappers like this man are now being targeted by russian forces, so they mostly have to conduct their work at night and there are simply not enough of them. would you describe being a sapper in ukraine at the moment as being the most dangerous job in the world? yes, absolutely. are a lot of them being killed by mines, by russian artillery because they are working on the front line? have you lost many friends? yeah. what message would you like to send to the west? keep going. we need your help. is that because you are worried that the west will not keep going? because we will not make it by our own. but when we make stuff safe, we should make sure the other team's in cover... this training and support is appreciated. the uk has also supplied ukraine with 1,500 mine detectors, the hope that it will make a difference. we are fellow soldiers at the end of the day and we share experiences throughout the course of our experiences and their experiences and we train together. and you think you have given them the skills to stay alive? we have added to them. the clock is ticking on the ukrainian offensive and still in their way are the minefields, and the booby—traps laid on an industrial scale. the slow roll out of their homeland. this is a journey no one squeezed into their vehicles ever imagined they would make. ethnic armenians fleeing nagorno—karabakh on whatever transport they can find. it is a week since azerbaijan seized back the enclave. it did promise to protect the armenian majority there, but no—one we found dared believe that. instead, they flooded here to armenia. we met this family of seven who had crammed their whole lives into a few cases. hungry and exhausted after more than a day crushed into one car. and still reeling from what they have had to give up. translation: it was tough there, but it was our - land for generations. armenian land and now today we are here, we are homeless. armenia initially prepared to host 40,000 refugees. it could be facing many more. the cars keep coming through the mountains. there are still hundreds of people leaving nagorno—karabakh every single hour. people who have left behind their homes and their land and almost everything they own and i have not met a single person who has told me they think they are ever going back. this is not a temporary evacuation, it is an exodus. we cannot get to nagorno—karabakh from armenia now azerbaijan is in control there, but a localjournalist we called told me everyone he knows plans to leave as soon as the giant traffic jams die down. translation: there was a war, but things are really hard - before that too. so people did not really think long about whether to stay or go. they decided to leave. because we lost, it was a capitulation. so what could we do? in a nearby town there is now a desperate crush for information and for aid. from people who suddenly have nothing. there are donations, though not much. and no clear picture on where all of these people will end up. and many are still shaken by two days of shelling last week. as azerbaijan retook nagorno—karabakh by force, this woman and her grandchildren huddled in their cellar. she has now had to tell them they will not be going home because she is scared to live under the rule of azerbaijan. so they have joined the crowds now heading into uncertainty, as the face of nagorno—karabakh is transformed. driving across niger, the countryside appears peaceful. but despite the veneer of normality, this is one of the ten deadliest countries in the world for terrorism. pro—junta protestors have been camped outside a french military base here for weeks. they say the french have failed to stop the terror attacks. every friday since the military transition in this country, friday prayers have been held here right outside the french military base. hundreds of people are in attendance and in the sermon today the imam was preaching patience, saying in a divorce between a man and a woman it takes time. similarly, he says, niger is divorcing with france and that will take time. for the imam, perceived french hypocrisy is to blame for the anger here. translation: why is emmanuel macron saying he does not - recognise our authorities when he has recognised juntas in other countries like gabon and chad? that is what has made us angry and we think france takes us for idiots. the junta has seized on his talk of resentment at the french to argue that niger can go it alone. i asked the newly appointed governor whether the junta can keep his country safe from terrorists. he replies that niger forces have always ensured the safety of their people and can defend their country without foreign partners. but those opposed to the coup believe the departure of french troops could be dangerous. translation: in the fight against terrorists, france i is a key partner that provides most of the intelligence that helps us beat the terrorists trying to attack niger. but many local people are frustrated with the lack of progress when it comes to the war on terror. this woman is originally from one of the regions worst affected byjihadi violence. she tells me her mother's cousin, a village chief, was assassinated by terrorists seven months ago. they killed him by slitting his throat. she does not believe the french have successfully reduced terrorism in the sahel. there has been some progress in the fight against extremism. last year terror—related deaths in nigerfell by 79%. no—one critical of the junta will speak to us on the record and the military follow our every move, so it is unclear what proportion of the population wants the french to stay, but as france loses its last base in the sahel, its influence in the region has been dealt a blow. for the past year, italy has had the most right—wing government since world war ii. the lgbt community has been living in fear. all queer people in the community are under attack. the government is working on a bill that would make surrogacy a universal crime. many gay couples say their chance of having a family is being destroyed. you are having to seek political asylum? and considering all the possible ways to escape as quick as possible. so is the italian government eroding the rights of lgbt families? i grew up here in italy and this is a country where the influence of the catholic church has always been strong. gay marriage is illegal and same sex couples have fewer rights than in most of western europe. surrogacy, adoption or artificial insemination is against the law. surrogacy, when a woman carries a pregnancy for another couple, has been illegal in italy for years, so same—sex couples travel to countries where it is regulated, such as the us, canada or the uk. then they bring their newborn babies back home. like mauro and mauricio. they have been together for 20 years. and these are their twins, born to a surrogate in america. giorgia is smiling and laughing a lot. for louisa, she is caring, she seems to need more protection. as a gay couple, how difficult has it been to become parents in italy? very difficult. we considered adopting, but italy it is impossible to adopt for a gay couple. so for them surrogacy was the only option to become dads. but now, the italian parliament is working on a bill that would make surrogacy a universal crime. that means that couples who go abroad to undertake surrogacy in countries where it is legal could face a i million euros fine and up to two years injail. to be the son of a universal crime is a stigma on our children, like in the '70s it was a stigma to be born out of wedlock. the parliament discussion about the new law against surrogacy, it was painful to watch because it was full of lies. what is a universal crime? it's a crime so serious it is prosecuted even if committed abroad, but that is normally human trafficking, paedophilia or war crimes. it feels odd that surrogacy, which is legal in many countries, would fall under this category. many people feel that this is about ideology, it is a political attack and it is personal. so what have italian politicians been saying about this? the political debate has been extremely fractious. the politicians, when they talk about surrogacy, they call it uterus for rent, which is terrible. there is no dignity for all the people involved in calling a woman a uterus, 0k? and saying she is for rent. because they want to humiliate anybody. if you call it uterus for rent, you cannot have a positive opinion about that. how can you say, "oh, yes, i think it's good"? no other country in the world has a similar ban, but is making surrogacy a universal crime legal? in this case, _ there is a contradiction. this italian criminal law- would like to punish as crimes things that are perfectly legal in the country _ in which they are performed. would it really be possible to tell countries such as the united states, canada, that they are allowing illegal activities within their borders? well, this bill is saying precisely that- to countries- that are our allies, that they are performing illegal procedures - in their own legal systems. it is a very serious issue when it comes to international relations, i believe. _ but it is notjust about surrogacy. the italian government is using other ways to come down on lgbt parents. they described it to me as small, but systematic ambushes that are making it more difficult for them to create a family. and critics of the italian government are pointing to what is happening to 33 young children born to lesbian parents in northern italy. my name is valentina. my name is daniela. she is katarina, our daughter. we are both teachers. our love story started very quickly. we fell in love. it was love at first sight. katarina was born using a danish sperm donor. she was registered in italy as having two mothers. but in december, only a couple of months after the government took power, their world was turned upside down. all lesbian mothers in the area received letters from the public prosecutor, challenging their children's birth certificates. all queer people in italy are under attack. and ourfamilies are not really families. in the opinion of the actual government. the decision has left several children suspended in legal limbo. because daniela is not the biological mother, she could lose all parenting rights to her child. we feel like the italian government is going through a battle against children that is absolutely violent and absurd and very dangerous for the future of these children. but the prime minister says children deserve the best and that is being raised by a mother and father. she said it so many times that her words were remixed into a house music song that played in clubs and on the radio. i wanted to speak to someone in government about this, so i am going to meet the mp who drafted the bill that would make surrogacy a universal crime. she believes that even in countries like the us and canada where surrogacy is regulated, women do it for the money. we are on our way to meet two men who are expecting a baby through surrogacy. they are really scared of what could happen to them and their baby, and so they have asked us not to reveal their identities or where they live. they fear someone in government could watch this, figure out who they are and target them. how do you feel about the fact that you are about to become parents for the first time? laughs it is super, super exciting. considering that it is not an easy process. we are finally getting there. if the bill is passed before their baby is born, they could face severe consequences. i am afraid that our child will not have his parents because their parents are injail. if the baby comes and we're going to go to jail, who takes care of the baby? in that case, we have to be ready to escape as quick as possible. they are looking for countries where it is easier for them to be gay parents, like malta and the netherlands. you would have to pack up and move? yes. in the worst scenario, yes. we have to. how do you feel about having to leave the country where you were born in? i feel really bad because it took time to create a good environment, a good community. i would not like to leave my country because i have a good job and i am proud to be italian. i am feeling judged for something which is not a crime. actually, i have been trying to be part of this society, be honest in order to be a good citizen, and now you are telling me that i am a criminal. so do you feel like you are having to seek political asylum? yes, i do. ifeel like i am being exiled for having done something which is actually normal. so, becoming a father without exploiting anybody. exploitation is the accusation often used against these couples, but they say they have a great relationship with their surrogate. a few weeks ago, she sent them this letter with a gift. "congratulations on your baby boy. "we are so grateful you chose us "to go on this journey with you." "this is a very special bear. "enjoy your gift! "we can't wait to see you. "it's coming so fast. "all our love." it was written like "hug it" and we were, like, why should we hug it? and there was a sound and there was a heartbeat. heartbeat sound and this is a symbol of everything, of the journey. so, we are not doing anything bad. so far, there is no suggestion the government will back down. the proposal to make surrogacy a universal crime is likely to become law, chipping away at the already fragile status of italy's lgbt community. everyone we spoke to told us that they are not going to give up. they don't want their children to be treated as second—class citizens just because they have two mums or two dads. no matter what the italian government does next, they will keep fighting for their rights to have a family. we need to be vigilant and we need to fight for our rights. they think they have the right to give us the permission to live our lives? this is discrimination. this is homophobia. they could not stop us in the past and they will not stop us in the future. hello there. we're now all into some fresher feeling air. but temperatures are still a little above the average for this time of year. tuesday was rather blustery with sunshine and showers for most of the uk. there will be some more rain in the forecast as we head through the week, but it's mostly out towards the north and the west. the further south and east you are, the drier your week is likely to be, and then things will be turning warmer, some more autumn warmth for most as we head into the weekend. now, on wednesday, as you can see, we've got rain out towards parts of western scotland, across northern ireland too, driven in by this area of low pressure. so it's a wet start to the day here, further south across england and wales, lots of clear skies throughout the night. so a chillier start to the morning than we've been used to of late and still rather breezy with a brisk westerly wind. now, it's across western areas of scotland, the west highlands, argyll and bute. there are some localised weather warnings in force, some of this rain likely to pep up at times. it curls around across to northeastern scotland, up towards the northern isles, and then our front sinks southwards across northern ireland, the borders, into northern england perhaps as we head through the afternoon. bright skies to the north of the weather front with a few showers around, the sunniest skies across england and wales, a few isolated showers out towards the west. temperatures again in the mid to the high teens with a brisk westerly wind blowing. now, we don't have to wait for too long before the next low—pressure system pushes some more fronts our way. and they're going to arrive as we head through thursday morning. so some further outbreaks of rain, quite saturated ground by now out towards southwestern areas of scotland. the warnings extending further north as we head towards the end of the week. some spells of rain too for northern ireland. a lot of cloud being thrown towards eastern areas, the best of any brightness towards the southeast of england. temperatures once again in the mid to the high teens in celsius. now, as we head through friday, you'll notice that these weather fronts are starting to come more round towards the north and the west, being driven away by the high pressure building in from europe. and that is going to keep us largely dry throughout the weekend. and there will be a lot of sunshine around. as you can see with that now southerly wind, we start to see the warmer air feed through and the temperatures rise, particularly for england and wales. so it will be feeling warmer over the weekend. temperatures up to 26 celsius in southeast england on sunday, low to the mid 20s across much of wales, low 20s for northern ireland, perhaps a little cooler and wetter for scotland. bye— bye. live from washington, this is bbc news kevin mccarthy says he won't run again for us house speaker, after being ousted in a dramatic vote in congress. former president donald trump tells the bbc he does plan to testify in the fraud case against him. we'll have the latest from the court. plus, at least 21 people have been killed in a bus crash in venice. the city's mayor called it an "an apocalyptic scene". the office of the speaker of the house of the united states house of representatives is hereby declared vacant. history in the united states congress — kevin mccarthy officially the first speaker of the house of representatives to be forced out of his post after a vote by lawmakers. i'm sumi somaskanda, on a busy day here in the us capital. that vote has thrown the us house of representatives into chaos. republicans will not meet again until next week to sort out who will become the next speaker. kevin mccarthy said he will not run again, blaming those in his conference who voted against him for creating turmoil here in washington. my fear is the institution fell today.

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