ukraine is getting stronger. gradually, the war is returning to the territory of russia. and we have a special report where we talk to a mother about why it's getting easier to be a single parent in china. live from our studio in singapore - this is bbc news. _ live from our studio in singapore — this is bbc news. it's newsday. hello and welcome to the programme. we start in pakistan where at least 44 people have been killed, in what police suspect was a suicide bomb attack, at a political rally, in the north—west of the country. well over 100 were injured in the blast, at the event in the bajaur district,

near the border with afghanistan. our pakistan correspondent, caroline davies has the latest, from the capital, islamabad. a sunday afternoon political rally by one of pakistan's biggest religious parties, jamiat ulema—e—islam. hundreds crowded in, flags, chanting, then the explosion. emraan was one of the rally�*s organisers on stage at the time it happened. his ears are still ringing from the blast. what do you remember after the explosion? translation: it was all injured people around, l all dead bodies and flesh. it was like doomsday. local people tried to help. there were not enough ambulances so people were taking their own cars. he says several people around him died. he isn't sure why he survived. these pictures show some of the chaos. stretchered or carried by any hands that could offer help. the district hospital declared a health emergency and a call was put out for blood donations.

as the wards filled up some were taken by helicopter to nearby peshawar. the death toll rose quickly. police have said that they have struggled to identify all of the dead. among those named is a local political leader. pakistan's prime minister condemned the attack. there has been an increase in violent attacks across pakistan, particularly in this province. the police have said they've discovered evidence suggesting the explosion might have been a suicide bomber but have not yet confirmed it. if this was an attack, it's not clear what the motive could be and no group has claimed it. it leaves many questions about what has happened and how it could affect the build—up to pakistan's much anticipated general election, still expected later this year. i'm joined now by our south asia editor, anbarasan ethirajan.

thank you forjoining us on the programme. what can you tell us about the group at the political rally, and who might want to harm them? well, this islamist political party is called... it is that a member of the governing coalition at the national level. it is an influential political party in pakistan they have been a number of rallies across the country over the years. they are seen as a hard—line political party. this is not the first time they were under attack. this is not the first time they were underattack. some this is not the first time they were under attack. some of the leaders were attacked a couple of years ago, they also came under attack in 2014, they also came under attack in 2014, the leader ofjamiat the leader of jamiat ulema—e—islam—fazl came under a suicide attack, but he escaped very narrowly. so there have been attacks on them claimed by the islamic state group in south asia chapter and also another muslim extremist group because they think this political

party is not truly islamic, and that has been a controversy going on in pakistan, but this is a rude awakening and shock to political parties because the elections are later this year, expected to be held later this year, expected to be held later this year, so this is outraged by the look political party to reach out to the supporters in the district which is on the border with afghanistan. so it is as a big security concern for the pakistani government has various political parties, they want to get in touch with people by organising these kinds of rallies and energising their workers, working out strategies how to reach out to people. so it is a big concern for the government and the political parties. we the government and the political arties. ~ ~' ., . , parties. we know there have been several attacks. _ parties. we know there have been several attacks. is _ parties. we know there have been several attacks. is there _ parties. we know there have been several attacks. is there any - several attacks. is there any connection to any recent ones that have gone on?— have gone on? there has been an increase in _ have gone on? there has been an increase in the _ have gone on? there has been an increase in the number— have gone on? there has been an increase in the number of- have gone on? there has been an increase in the number of attacks | increase in the number of attacks in northwest pakistan as well as in the

province. that is a group called taliban pakistan, they called emphases prior to the next cease—fire with security forces and since then they have been targeting pakistan security forces, but according to one media report, they deny any involvement in the latest attack, but we haven't heard from other militant groups, but what is really concerning pakistan are considered differences have been increasing attacks from these militants and the pakistani government blames militants, which they accuse them of harbouring inside afghanistan, however, the taliban administration in afghanistan denied those charges, but the pakistani military has suffered a lot of casualties, and according to one think tank reports, more than 380 people have been killed since the beginning of this year due to this violence. finally, before we — year due to this violence. finally, before we go. — year due to this violence. finally, before we go, afghanistan, - year due to this violence. finally, before we go, afghanistan, you l before we go, afghanistan, you mentioned, this is a great security

concern. have we heard other neighbouring countries? iran has condemned _ neighbouring countries? iran has condemned this _ neighbouring countries? iran has condemned this blast _ neighbouring countries? iran has condemned this blast and - neighbouring countries? iran has condemned this blast and they . condemned this blast and they offered their condolences. iran is on the other side of pakistan, and also, the taliban spokesperson, they have offered their condolences and they also wish a speedy recovery for those injured, and in this particular bomb blast, this condemnation has come from all across pakistan, cutting across various political parties and the united states embassy in islamabad has also tweeted condemning this incident. ., ~ has also tweeted condemning this incident. ., ,, , ., , has also tweeted condemning this incident. ., ~' , ., , . for that update. earlier the bbc spoke to senior analyst for pakistan news channel geo — mazhar abbas. this is the worst attack. it is just before, two weeks before

the assemblies will be dissolved and we will go for elections, so such an attack is really scary and one can foresee such an attack during an election as happened in 2013, in the same area, in the same locality. this attack directly targeted, on a political rally, on a political gathering. the situation is likely to go from bad to worse. and although the security in the last few years have launched the several targeted operations and many militants, but it seems they still have sleeper cells and target and pick their targets, and in the last few weeks or so, they targeted security personnel, also police officers.

this is the first time in recent, during this government, that they have targeted a huge rally of a government ally. the head of the ruling alliance, it is definitely directly an attack on a government coalition partner. there are concerns of more security risks, especially as we move and you can follow all the latest developments on our website or on the bbc news app. ukraine's president zelensky has said the war is gradually coming home to russia. he was speaking hours after russia said it had downed three ukrainian drones over moscow. the russian defence ministry said three drones were downed with two crashing into offices, a local airport had to be briefly closed. kyiv has been blamed, although it hasn't openly admitted responsibility. here's what president zelensky said.

translation: russian aggression has gone bankrupt on the battlefield. - today is the 522nd day of the so—called special military operation, which the russian leadership expected to last for a week or two. ukraine is getting stronger. gradually, the war is returning to the territory of russia, to its symbolic centres and military bases, and this is an inevitable, natural and absolutely fair process. earlier we spoke to our correspondent james waterhouse in kyiv about president zelensky�*s statement. if we just look at the language used by president zelensky that these attacks are a natural, inevitable, fear, then that is a level up from keith's previous denials of responsibility when these attacks took place. i remember the bridge brings struck in unoccupied crimea, president zelensky described the bridge as a legitimate target. that is the most cautionary language we have seen to this point.

why is he doing this? he is not only looking to apply pressure on vladimir putin and the kremlin, but also the russian people because the majority of them appear to believe that the invasion of ukraine is both just and fair. if people in russia, as per president zelensky�*s suggestion, start to connect the explosions in the city with what is happening inside ukraine, then it mightjust make it more difficult for vladimir putin to justify this invasion. that is at least the help, but all signs are pointing to him only throwing more of what he still calls his special military operation. still to come on the programme: we'll be taking a look into why it's getting easier to be a single mother in china with a special report from our china correspondent, stephen mcdonell and we'll be talking to ya—show wang, china

researcher at human rights watch — do stay with us for that. but first, to niger, where the economic community of west african states has agreed to impose immediate financial sanctions— on the leaders of the military coup there. following a meeting in neighbouring nigeria, the bloc — known as ecowas — gave the junta —a week to hand back power, and said it wouldn't rule out the use of force. niger's ambassador to the united states told the bbc he would welcome military intervention if a peaceful solution was not reached. the bloc has also imposed a no fly zone —on all commercial flights to and from the country, and closed all land borders between niger and member countries. aneliese bernard is director of strategic stabilisation advisers, a washington—based risk advisory group —focused on west africa. she was formally with the state department in niger. this military coup was not exactly precedented. that said, we need to be clear that

niger itself has only had one democratic election, that being the one that got us president bazoum in the first place. so coups in general are somewhat of a familiar terrain for nigeriens and for the government, for the region, for that matter. that said, ecowas�*s response to this coup is incredibly significant and probably one of the more severe responses we've seen in the region. the last time ecowas threatened the potential use of force to dislodge the coup was for the gambian coup that took place in 2016. before that was in mali in 2012. so the point made is that the past five coups that have taken place in the sahel have not been met with such strong rhetoric by the regional bloc, but also the international community. so this is quite significant. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. bbc news — bringing you different stories from across the uk.

so this is my box of tricks. these are all the medications that jeanette has to take every day to ease the symptoms of potts. the condition that leaves her feeling exhausted have dizzy spells and brain fog. the difference is such a simple treatment that's not cost wise, it's pence. but the difference it can make. she'd been on a trial for a new treatment, which allowed her to walk the dog and go shopping for the first time in over a year. she's not the only potts sufferer calling for the medication to be reinstated. wanting to do things like she'd be downstairs or she'd like, have the energy to go out. and it wasjust a lot better, and it felt like things were getting better. and obviously they stopped it and it wasjust sort of like... for more stories from across the uk head to the bbc news website. you're live with bbc news.

in china, until recently, it was extremely difficult for single women to have children. last year the government said health insurance should cover the cost of giving birth for single mothers, and that they should also get paid maternity leave. despite widespread conservative cultural attitudes, a shift is under way — especially in the big cities — where more unmarried women are choosing to continue their pregnancies. as our correspondent stephen mcdonell reports from south—east china. two—month—old hung—hung is being raised by his mother and grandmother. it's a lifestyle still frowned on by many, especially in rural areas or smaller towns where beliefs are more conservative. attitudes are definitely changing towards single mothers in china, but mainly only in the big cities. this mother said she was lucky

to have moved to shanghai to run a business. translation: i'm grateful l for the tolerance of shanghai. i'm from rural hunan, an area which will have a lot of discrimination against me as a single mum. she became a single mother after her boyfriend's family rejected his choice of bride because her income and status was too modest. although she was pregnant, he broke up with her. her mother says the choice to continue with a pregnancy under such circumstances would have been impossible when she was young because of community pressure and official regulations. that this change in community attitudes has happened at this precise moment in history has been crucial. with an ageing population, the government wants more babies and yet many young couples have refused to answer the call on financial grounds, so more and more we are seeing officials starting to change the rules which had been blocking single women from giving birth.

yet this woman isn't waiting for the government to sort out all the health insurance hurdles. she'll soon become a single mum on her own terms. we met her at an expo in hangzhou showcasing her online sales platform. translation: my mum always told me that women should - be more independent, confident and strong. i don't want to marry into another familyjust because of a child. the 30—year—old says the time wasn't right for marriage when she accidentally became pregnant with her much younger boyfriend. however, women's status and financial independence are shifting in china, giving more options. translation: traditionally, women relied on men - and the family for support. as we earn more, men and women become more equal. women can even employ people to help them.

the situation is patchy in china. even in some cities, single mothers on lower incomes are being denied the paid leave and health insurance needed to give birth. unmarried parents can now get the documents to, for example, process a child's school application. however, other government regulations still need to catch up with what's becoming a reality in china. stephen mcdonell, bbc news, hangzhou. for more on this we're joined by ya—show wang — china researcherfor human rights watch. thank you forjoining us on the programme. as wejust thank you forjoining us on the programme. as we just heard and at peace, china has given more rights and benefits to single mothers, but it still sounds quite hard. so what are the major challenges single mothers are facing?— are the major challenges single mothers are facing? there are two asects, mothers are facing? there are two aspects. one _ mothers are facing? there are two aspects. one is— mothers are facing? there are two aspects, one is that _ mothers are facing? there are two aspects, one is that it _ mothers are facing? there are two aspects, one is that it is _ mothers are facing? there are two aspects, one is that it is illegal - aspects, one is that it is illegal to have babies as an unmarried woman, but it is still hard to get

the benefits and the maternity leave, insurance, all of that step. you can apply, there are a lot of hurdles. the bureaucrat said the government doesn't understand, the company doesn't want to help you do that, this is one aspect. the other is really social stigma. it is still very stigmatized to be a single mother in china and to give birth without a dad next to the mum. so people feel ashamed, people feel there are a lot ofjudgements. hagar. there are a lot of 'udgements. now, there are a lot of 'udgements. now, the population — there are a lot ofjudgements. now, the population growth _ there are a lot ofjudgements. now, the population growth is _ there are a lot ofjudgements. now, the population growth is a _ there are a lot ofjudgements. now, the population growth is a major concern for china. in terms of what officials are doing, they have helped with some of the regulations, but are they doing anything to change the perception of single parents and society? i change the perception of single parents and society?— change the perception of single parents and society? i don't think so because _ parents and society? i don't think so because there _ parents and society? i don't think so because there is _ parents and society? i don't think so because there is actually - parents and society? i don't think so because there is actually a - parents and society? i don't think so because there is actually a lot| so because there is actually a lot of propaganda coming from the very top, including the president of china saying to me you know, women should espouse traditional value. women should go home and raise children, support their husband. so i think the propaganda is going the other way. the chinese government

wants women to have more children, still, they want women to have children with in the framework within the institution of marriage. i want to talk to a little bit more about this stigma. in china, why is it taboo for a single mother to have a child? ~ ~ �* , it taboo for a single mother to have achild? ~ ~ 3 , it taboo for a single mother to have a child? ~ ~ �*, , ., a child? well, i think it's 'ust a traditionalfi a child? well, i think it's 'ust a traditional value �* a child? well, i think it's 'ust a traditional value that has]- a child? well, i think it'sjust a traditional value that has been| traditional value that has been going on for thousands of years. therefore we need to have children outside of marriage is very, very rare. and as we mentioned earlier, there are institutional, political hurdles for women to do that. just a few years ago, it's not even possible to have children outside of marriage because in order to register your baby, you have to present the marriage licence. your baby can't even get registered if your baby is born outside of marriage, but this is a traditional value. it's notjust limited to china. in east asia, generally, in korea, japan, it is also quite a

stigma to have children outside of marriage. stigma to have children outside of marriaue. ., , marriage. even though these new procedures _ marriage. even though these new procedures have _ marriage. even though these new procedures have been _ marriage. even though these new procedures have been put - marriage. even though these new procedures have been put in - marriage. even though these new| procedures have been put in place marriage. even though these new i procedures have been put in place to make it easier for single procedures have been put in place to make it easierfor single mothers, clearly there are single parents in china that is just kind of the way the world works. so what are some of the world works. so what are some of the challenges that they encounter in society? we the challenges that they encounter in socie ? ~ ., ., the challenges that they encounter insocie ?~ ., ., in society? we have to say, you know, in society? we have to say, you know. these — in society? we have to say, you know, these women _ in society? we have to say, you know, these women are - in society? we have to say, you know, these women are very i know, these women are very courageous, young chinese woman. i understand there is stigma, pressure and an adjustment dignityjudgment people have on you for giving birth outside of marriage. i would say people are very courageous to do that. and ifeel, you know, there are these communities can especially within big cities that women are getting together and feel it is ok to do that, we don't have to conform ourselves into the institution of marriage in order to have children. 0n the other hand, you know, there are economic independence that arise from economic development in china, so, you know, there is stigma attached to that. there are

political hurdles, but i feel the situation is getting better. thank you so much forjoining us on the programme. thank you so much for 'oining us on the programmth thank you so much for 'oining us on the programmeh thank you so much for 'oining us on the programme. thank you for having me. in the uk, the prime minister has said he's reviewing what he called "anti—car schemes" — such as low traffic neighbourhoods across england. mr sunak has faced pressure to water down some of his environmental commitments— after a conservative by—election victory was linked to the party's opposition —for plans to extend london's ultra low emission zone. earlier this month, it was announced funding would end for any new projects in england. from newcastle, alison freeman has more. all quiet on this street in newcastle today. it's part of one of several hundred low traffic neighbourhoods known as ltns that have been introduced in cities across the country. the aim — to reduce traffic in residential areas and stop side roads being used as rat runs. it's sort of adding 10 minutes

onto yourjourney and you sort of think to yourself, is this actually doing any good for the environment? my road might be quieter, but the main roads are chock a block. it's definitely quieter down the roads and the traffic down the main road's not even that bad. so i don't really see what the problem is. tell me about the clean air sitting in those queues, i those incessant queues. queues. queues, queues of cars pumping out fumes and using up extra fuel. - this ltn, which was introduced back in march, is going to be trialled for 18 months. but these bollards have not only physically divided jesmond, they've divided opinion too, with more than 4000 people already signing a petition against it. feelings about low traffic neighbourhoods have been running high nationally. protests in places like ealing in west london led to the reversal of some zones there. and earlier this month, the government said it was halting money for new schemes.

today the prime minister said the government will be reviewing existing low traffic neighbourhoods and that he is on the side of drivers. but labour argues there is still a place for the zones. we are in favour of well—planned, low traffic neighbourhoods but as i say, they have to be decisions that are made by local communities. many people here say it's created more problems than it's solved, but with the drive towards net zero, more ways of tackling pollution need to be found. alison freeman, bbc news, newcastle. let's take a look atjust a few stories making headlines across the uk. police searching for a man who's believed to have fallen into the river wye in hereford, have arrested three men on suspicion of murder. officers say the man was involved in an altercation before he disappeared. teams have continued to search the river but unfortunately have yet to find the missing man.

a midwife who told a patient that terrorists could contaminate milk formula to quote "kill the babies" has been struck off. anna semenenko, who worked at royal gwent hospital in newport, made the remark when trying to persuade a patient to breastfeed. she was banned from the profession earlier this month. the nursing and midwifery council found mrs semenenko's comments were "false and misleading". finally this half hour, how's this for a declaration of love. a farmer in the us has planted a massive field on sunflowers as a surprise gift for his wife. lee wilson from kansas planted 1.2 million sunflowers on 80 acres of land for his wife, renee, to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. he got his son to help secretly

plant the field back in may. tourists have flocked to the field to take pictures of the state flower in bloom. a recap of our top story. well over 100 people have been injured in an eventin 100 people have been injured in an event in bajaur district in pakistan near the border of afghanistan. i met monica miller. thanks for watching our programme. ——i'm monica miller. hello. july has been a very wet month across the uk. and as we look towards the very end of the month, and, indeed, into the start of the new one, well, there's more rain on the way. spells of wind and rain this week, rather cool as well. now, looking back at the rainfall we've had so far, these figures are valid up to 10am on sunday. can see that in preston 285% of the averagejuly rainfall. that means preston has had close to three times the rainfall we would expect in a typicaljuly.

and those figures got a further top up as sunday went on because we saw a band of heavy rain pushing northwards and eastwards in association with this frontal system still with us for monday morning. all tied in with this area of low pressure, which will be wobbling its way eastwards through the day. so a band of rain pushing northwards across scotland, some sunshine, at least for a time in the north of scotland, and then to the south of that, for northern ireland, for england and wales, large amounts of clouds and mist and murk, some splashes of rain and, actually, some really heavy and persistent rain across the channel islands that may just graze into southern counties of england at times. temperatures 17—21 degrees in most places. so at the oval for the crickets, i think we are going to see some showers at times. i'm hopeful of some lengthy dry spells as well to allow some play to take place. and then as we move through monday nights, well, quite a mishmash of weather. some areas of clouds, a bit of mist and murk, some splashes of rain. we mayjust see a few more clear

spells working into the mix by the end of the night, temperatures of 12 or 13 or 14 degrees. now, tuesday looks set to be one of the drier days of the week. i can't promise it's going to be completely dry. there'll still be some bits and pieces of rain, some showers around. but we should at least get to see some spells of sunshine and some decent dry gaps between the showers. rain, though, you'll notice, returning to the far south west of england later in the day. and temperatures at best 17—21 degrees, not particularly impressive for the first day of august. and then for wednesday, well, this deep area of low pressure pushes eastwards. this is a very autumnal looking weather chart. there will be some really strong winds, particularly on the southern flank of this low around the south west of england, also through the channel islands can be very windy indeed. some outbreaks of rain, and then it looks like staying decidedly cool towards the end of the week.

this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, as newsday continues straight after hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur. holding governments to account for their abuses of human rights is hard.

it requires focused, forensic investigation, impartiality, and no little courage. for six decades, amnesty international has been advocating for prisoners of conscience in the face of state repression. but in recent times, it's both broadened its focus, and faced unprecedented criticism. my guest is agnes callamard, secretary general of amnesty international. is amnesty facing a credibility crisis? agnes callamard, welcome to hardtalk.