black smoke was still rising from sevastopol hours after the attack. russia's ministry of defence said one serviceman was missing. james waterhouse has the latest from kyiv. this is clearly a continuation of ukraine's tactic of specifically targeting sites in occupied crimea, but the apparent direct hit of russia's naval headquarters in sevastopol is hugely symbolic. it's not yet clear what operational damage will be caused for russia, but this is a place where it has exerted such dominance through its navy, where it launches missiles across ukraine, it blockades ukrainian ports. and i think what this attack does is undermine russia's continued occupation in a place that seems a cornerstone of its invasion from as far back as 2014. there is also a connection between this missile strike and ukraine's continued

counteroffensive further north. what they are trying to do is frustrate russian supply lines and isolate swathes of occupied territory in the hope that troops will run out of supplies. now, president zelensky hasjust completed a visit to the us. he's in canada currently, and i think what we're seeing now is battlefield progress increasingly getting linked to the politics of it all. because, yes, he is being warmly welcomed by both countries, but there are political corners that are growing increasingly sceptical as to what the ukrainian victory might look like and as for how long western allies should be pumping billions of dollars into ukraine. so it's becoming increasingly high—stakes for president zelensky, who's now having to do a fair bit of negotiating in his foreign policy. volodymyr zelensky is wrapping up his week—long trip to north america. on friday, he travelled to ottawa, where he made an address to

canada's parliament. canada is home to the world's largest ukrainian diaspora, numbering over 200,000. and in his speech, mr zelensky spoke to the strong ties the two countries share ukraine and canada are the same. we stand and we fight for life. ukraine, not genocide, will be victorious in this war. people will be the winners, not the kremlin. freedom will be the winner. justice will be the winner. you can know this for sure about us, because you know for sure about yourself that you would never submit to evil. applause so what did mr zelensky get for his efforts? on friday canadian prime ministerjustin trudeau pledged nearly $500 million in aid to ukraine. that includes 50 armoured vehicles as well as training for f16 pilots and engineers to be delivered over

a three year period. and it's in addition to a $325 million package from the us, announced during mr zelensky�*s visit to washington on thursday. live now to former us ambassador to ukraine steven pifer. very good you happy on bbc news. thanks forjoining us. this very good you happy on bbc news. thanks forjoining us. this package very good you happy on bbc news. thanks forjoining us. this package and very good you happy on bbc news. thanks forjoining us. this package and as very good you happy on bbc news. thanks forjoining us. this package and as from very good you happy on bbc news. thanks forjoining us. this package and as from the very good you happy on bbc news. thanks forjoining us. this package and as from the us and the aid from canada, how significant do you think this will be, ambassador? this is a consistent flow from the us and canada and other countries to make sure that ukrainians have the tools to fight. there is the will in ukraine but they need the weapons to press forward and fight but even before the announcement there was some hopefully good news today that the united states is ready to provide ukraine at some atacms missiles. these are longer range missiles that could allow ukraine to strike targets much

further behind russian lines than they have been to date and that could give the ukrainians and very important military capability. and very important military capability-— capability. rights. those re orts capability. rights. those reports have _ capability. rights. those reports have not - capability. rights. those reports have not been i capability. rights. those - reports have not been confirmed yet but certainly would make a big difference, wouldn't it, on the battlefield? but i want to ask about some of the scepticism we saw on capitol hill in washington during president zelensky�*s visit among house republicans, especially as the counteroffensive in ukraine has been moving a little bit slower than many had desired. with more accountability and more oversight over how the us aid in particular is spent in ukraine — — would that be a good step to pull some of the concerns we have seen? let me sa i concerns we have seen? let me say i think— concerns we have seen? let me say i think some _ concerns we have seen? let me say i think some of _ concerns we have seen? let me say i think some of the - say i think some of the concerns for accountability are a bit of a smokescreen. you are not going to have american military personnel on the frontline counting every bullet and every rocket the ukrainians use but thus far had been no significant reports of any american or western military equipment being diverted and remember the ukrainians have

every to make sure that stuff gets to the right place, the troops on the frontline, because they see this as a life—and—death struggle. so, i think some people when they talk about accountability, it is covering up from the fact that have other regions they are not —— reasons they are not prepared to support american assistance to ukraine.- assistance to ukraine. what about international - assistance to ukraine. what| about international support? assistance to ukraine. what about international support? we have seen poland now in this dispute with a cane over grain exports saying that it will not send as many weapons as it had committed and many countries like whistler at the un general assembl er still sceptical about supporting ukraine in the way that the us has. will it be difficult for ukraine to continue relying on the international community and particularly western allies? i think there is a bit of a spat going on between kyiv and warsaw and both sides i think are now trying to tone it down. also remember that in poland they have an election in just three weeks and my guess is that some of this pushback is

motivated not by frustration with kyiv as much as it is motivated by domestic politics within ukraine. but it does seem to me that keen international support is going to be the united states and i think one thing that president zelensky�*s conversation yesterday on capitol hill helped persuade more republicans and again today is a report has said 130 members of the house, house republicans, have come out by name in support of american assistance to ukraine. that is out of a total republican caucus of about 220 so the question is will kevin mccarthy, who has had a lot of trouble controlling his republican caucus, will he now listened to the majority of his members who want to support ukraine? if there was an open vote it would easily pass in the house with support from republicans and democrats alike. �* , ., republicans and democrats alike. �* ., ., republicans and democrats alike. ., ., ., alike. ambassador, i also want to ask you _ alike. ambassador, i also want to ask you about _ alike. ambassador, i also want to ask you about the _ alike. ambassador, i also want to ask you about the prospect. to ask you about the prospect of peace negotiations. we have had some calls in the united states and internationally to

get both sides to the negotiating table, especially as winter will be approaching in a few months and the battlefield situation will change with the advent of winter. do you think that the conditions are right at this moment to bring both sides to the table? i moment to bring both sides to the table?— the table? i believe at some oint the table? i believe at some point there _ the table? i believe at some point there will _ the table? i believe at some point there will be _ the table? i believe at some point there will be a - point there will be a negotiation between kyiv and moscow but ijust don't see the possibility now. russia has not backed off any of its maximalist demands, despite the fact that russia has not been winning on the battlefield now for over a year, and winning on the battlefield now for overa year, and in winning on the battlefield now for over a year, and in fact they actually escalated their demands last fall even though they had been losing on the battlefield. so, until there is some kind of signalfrom moscow that the kremlin is prepared to negotiate in a serious way, i don't see why the west should be pushing the ukrainians to negotiate. the ukrainians also have to contend with the situation, and that is that law president zelensky, there is a very unified ukrainian

population now that wants to see all of ukraine liberated and this war over the last 18 months that has been conducted by russia in fact has solidified that opinion and my guess is that for president zelensky, you know, he has limits in terms of how far he can negotiate because of the intensity of the ukrainian public opinion.— intensity of the ukrainian public opinion. yes, that is a aood public opinion. yes, that is a good point- _ public opinion. yes, that is a good point. ambassador, . public opinion. yes, that is a i good point. ambassador, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us tonight on bbc news. ., ~ thoughts with us tonight on bbc news. . ~ , ., newjersey democratic senator robert menendez is facing growing pressure to resign after he was indicted for allegedly accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes. his own state's democratic governor called for him to step down friday, just hours after menendez temporarily gave up his position as chairman of the senate foreign relations committe. after a years—long investigation, federal prosecutors claim menendez and his wife nadine accepted bribes from three newjersey businessmen in exchange for using the senator's influence and power to protect them and to benefit the egyptian government.

federal agents found about $500,000 in cash at the senator's home in a safety deposit box. according to the indictment, the money was "stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing, "closets and a safe". fbi agents also discovered "a lot of gold" at his home — roughly three kilograms worth of gold bars worth about $150,000. both mr and ms menendez have vehemently denied the charges. newjersey governor phil murphy hasjoined a growing list of democrats calling for menendez to resign. mr menendez has now responded, saying he's staying put. his statement reads:

all five defendents, including menendez and his wife, are expected to appear in court on wednesday. the bbc�*s nada tawfik has more. with these charges, senator bob menendez is no longer the head of the senate foreign relations committee. he was previously forced to resign due to a separate bribery case. in that one, a jury bribery case. in that one, a jury was deadlocked and he was eventually acquitted. what we have here today though is a separate bribery case involving three newjersey businessmen. apparently, these are men that were his friends, that were big fundraisers for him and he tried to not only enrich one of them but you shield to others from law enforcement prosecutions and investigations. prosecutors in new york also alleged that he tried to help the egyptian government by in part passing on sensitive information into their officials. now, of

course, senator menendez has come out and said these are baseless allegations and he intends to fight them. he will continue for now in his senate seat. prosecutors say that the fbi found gold bars, envelopes full of cash in his suit jackets when they searched his home and the envelopes of cash had the fingerprints of one of the newjersey businessmen. no doubt throughout the coming weeks, perhaps months, democrats will want to know what else comes to light, but bob menendez faces real lecture next year and this is a critical year for democrats as they face already a narrow majority in the senate and cannot afford to lose any seats. for more, my colleague catriona perry sat down earlier with robert costa, chief election and campaign correspondent at cbs news. things look like they are very serious for senator menendez now. , ., serious for senator menendez now. , . , ., , serious for senator menendez now. , ., now. they are serious and he has said _ now. they are serious and he has said he — now. they are serious and he has said he will— now. they are serious and he has said he will defend - now. they are serious and he i has said he will defend himself along with his wife against these charges but you have the

democratic governor of new jersey, phil murphy, someone considered a possible presidential contender down the line, to step out so early after this latest indictment and to call for menendez�*s resignation, it reflects what i have heard in recent hours behind—the—scenes from top democrats. they are concerned about menendez and his political standing in new jersey. two of them that are represented by democrats, it is a reliably blue state, at least in recent cycles, though it has also been a state where a republican like former governor chris christie had found success so you are seeing some success so you are seeing some nervousness success so you are seeing some nervousness from success so you are seeing some nervousness from democrats about whether menendez not only can legally survive but politically survive. talk to us about the — politically survive. talk to us about the indictment - politically survive. talk to us about the indictment and - politically survive. talk to us about the indictment and of| about the indictment and of course, senator menendez is not convicted of anything at this point. it isjust convicted of anything at this point. it is just an indictment. it isjust point. it is just an indictment. it is just charges. menendez is being accused alongside his wife nadine of accepting bribes and of taking

cash, cultivars, gifts, having a luxury car from cash, cultivars, gifts, having a luxury carfrom egyptian businessmen who were doing businessmen who were doing business in and around new jersey, some of it related to a halal business relating to food contracts and he is also being accused of in some way of assisting the egyptian government in terms of the information he was providing to certain people. menendez is a powerfulfigure in certain people. menendez is a powerful figure in washington certain people. menendez is a powerfulfigure in washington — the chair of the senate foreign relations committee. due to the senate democratic rules that might not to the law — he has two stepdad from his position as a committee chairman. that decision has been applauded by the senate majority leader chuck schumer though he continues publicly to defend menendez so we will see how this all plays out. it is a fast moving story. let's ta ke let's take a look at some other headlines. china's president xijinping has called on the west to lift sanctions on syria. xi held rare in—person talks with syria's president bashar

al—assad in china on friday as part of assad's push to return to the global stage. xi also offered rebuild syria's ruined economy by upgrading ties to a "strategic partnership". king charles and queen camilla have wrapped up a 3—day state visit to france. they ended the trip at a vineyard in the south western city of bordeaux, where the king and queen sampled wine. the trip included two days of formal events in paris — where he gave a speech to the french senate. it's been six weeks since 10—year—old sara sharif was found dead at her home in the uk. on friday, surrey police released new images of sara with the hope of prompting people to come forward with information as they try to build a picture of her life. bbc news home affairs correspondent daniel sandford has more. a smiling sara sharif, seen here in a picture much more recent than those we had seen before. surrey police have released the image and a school photograph in the hope more people will come forward with information

about her and herfamily. both pictures show her wearing a headscarf, as she usually did in the last few months before her death. the ten—year—old was found dead six weeks ago at herfamily home in woking. she was found to have what prosecutors called a constellation of injuries which police said were multiple and extensive. her uncle, faisal malik, her father earl urfan sharif and her stepmother beinash batool appeared via video link at the old bailey on tuesday charged with murder and causing or allowing the death of a child. the three left the country for pakistan the day before sara was found dead. they flew back last wednesday but without sara's five siblings, who are currently in the care of the pakistani government. the three were arrested on friday and face trial next september. detectives say the investigation into the death of sara is very active and they are keen to hear from anyone

with any information, no matter how insignificant, which would help piece together a picture of sara's life. they say members of the public have already helped but they would like more people to come forward, and they hope the two new pictures showing sara in a headscarf will help to jog people's memories. daniel sandford, bbc news. russell brand has posted a fresh video online in which he thanked his supporters. 0bviously obviously it has been an extraordinary and distressing week. thank you for your support and for questioning the information you have been presented with. he doesn't address the sexual assault allegations directly or indirectly apart from to say he had an extraordinary week. he talks about the mainstream media but the key thing is that there is no detail or new rebuttal on the accusations of sexual assault against him. although he has previously said all his relationships were consensual.

to the us now, and we're just over a week away from the deadline to fund the federal government orface a shutdown. so as the prospect becomes likelier, let's take a look at what a shutdown would mean. the funding for the government expires at the end of the day on saturday september 30th at midnight, which marks the start of a new fiscal year. if congress fails to pass legislation to renew funding by then, much of the federal government will shutdown at midnight. many government operations come to a halt if that happens. but some services deemed "essential" continue. those could include border protection, federal law enforcement, and air traffic control. but they will not be paid during the shutdown. federal employees whose work is deemed "non—essential" will be put on furlough, meaning they will not work and will not be paid. once the shutdown is over, those who worked or were furloughed will receive backpay. earlier my colleague caitriona perry spoke with republican representative zach nunn of iowa for his thoughts on the possibility of a shutdown.

thank you forjoining us. the clock is ticking and if there is no deal done yet. are you preparing for a shutdown at this point? we preparing for a shutdown at this point?— preparing for a shutdown at this oint? ~ , , this point? we will use every measure _ this point? we will use every measure possible _ this point? we will use every measure possible to - this point? we will use every measure possible to avoid i this point? we will use every measure possible to avoid a | measure possible to avoid a shot down the puts us military members on the front line without pay, making our southern border less secure thanit southern border less secure than it already is all put a situation where american families may not have the resources they need to be successful stop that is why i am staying in dc over the weekend to work with this away from my family so i can fight for the families in my district get a plan before a shutdown becomes inevitable. you get a plan before a shutdown becomes inevitable. you may be sta in: becomes inevitable. you may be staying there — becomes inevitable. you may be staying there for _ becomes inevitable. you may be staying there for the _ becomes inevitable. you may be staying there for the weekend i staying there for the weekend but the entire house is not. should kevin mccarthy have kept everyone there? i should kevin mccarthy have kept everyone there?— everyone there? i think we have onl a everyone there? i think we have only a few _ everyone there? i think we have only a few days _ everyone there? i think we have only a few days left _ everyone there? i think we have only a few days left until - everyone there? i think we have only a few days left until the i only a few days left until the end of the fiscal year and we need to be all hands on deck working on this. from leadership down to every single

rank—and—file member of congress we all need to be here working towards a solution. yet the speaker _ working towards a solution. yet the speaker has not mandated that. he the speaker has not mandated that. . , the speaker has not mandated that. ., , ,., ., , that. he has empowered a number of us to start _ that. he has empowered a number of us to start having _ of us to start having conversations one—on—one and i have reached out to a small group of what i consider people in the middle and on the left to say what can we agree on that will keep the government open cut back the spending that is coming out of washington, that would secure our nation and make sure that our military troops have access to it. there are three bills on this and members of congress, if we do shutdown, they do not paid. this is what we see too many people leaving the city to do, to make a personal name for themselves and not do the hard work required to make sure that the us government takes care of the us government takes care of the us government takes care of the us people. the us government takes care of the us people-— the us people. twice this week a defence _ the us people. twice this week a defence bill _ the us people. twice this week a defence bill funding - the us people. twice this week a defence bill funding for- a defence bill funding for

defence failed to get past. what do you say to that part of your own party who are really the one standing in the way of the one standing in the way of the deal here? i have very direct words. come to the table and pass appropriation bills as we want to do and i also have a direct conversation with my colleagues on the other side. don't lock rules let's have a debate. this is not on the actual bill, this is on the rule that we can have the debate about passing budgets. this is something that every american, every member of congress should make a priority. thousands more auto workers here in the us are now on strike, expanding the protest that began last week. the walkouts threaten to raise car prices, and disrupt an industry that makes up about 3% of the entire us economy. president biden announced he will visit the striking autoworkers on tuesday. biden said on x — formerly known as twitter — "tuesday, i'll go to michigan tojoin the picket line and stand in solidarity with the men and women of uaw as they fight for a fair share

of the value they helped create. it's time for a win—win agreement that keeps american auto manufacturing thriving with well—paid uawjobs." the united auto workers union said strikes are expanding against detroit automakers general motors and stellantis — but not ford. the uaw noted they are making real progress in their talks. this comes as the uaw seeks a rise in pay and an end to a system allowing newer hires to be paid less. they're also seeking automatic pay increases tied to inflation among other demands. with today's expansion, the autoworkers' union is now striking against 38 more plants across the us at general motors and stella ntis. the uaw represents more than 140,000 workers at the detroit big three automakers. about 5,600 more workers went on strike friday. in total, there are now 18,300 auto employees on strike. union president shawn fain spoke earlier on the lack of movement in negotiation.

both companies are still offering a deficient cost of living allowance that is projected to provide zero increases over the next four years. both of those companies have rejected all of ourjob security proposals. both gm and salinas have rejected our profit—sharing proposals and both companies have rejected our proposals to convert temps. 0ur correspondent has the latest from new york. with joe withjoe biden with joe biden headed withjoe biden headed to michigan next tuesday and with republican presidential hopeful donald trump due to talk to auto workers on wednesday there is no doubt that pressure is being ratcheted up on the two sides to try and reach some agreement. with the expansion of the uaw strike, specifically targeting general motors and still enters but leaving out

ford we see a return to perhaps a more traditional negotiating style by the union where in the past they have tried to strike a deal with one company and then put pressure on the other two firms to maximise that deal. in some ways that is what we have seen. there is also a benefit to that. the union has offered to pay workers who are on strike $500 a week. by taking this limited and targeted approach we get to conserve money and make things last longer. they have chosen as the next target car parts and distribution centres where you could start to see that have an impact is on dealers who are unable to get parts and in turn that will start to affect the american consumer. but it is still fairly limited in terms of the kind of pain that they could potentially have inflicted and i think that is deliberate. the union wants to slowly turn up the dial and turn up the pressure on these companies to try and reach a

deal and at the same time the companies question whether the union is negotiating in good faith a statement from gm and still enters have both raised the question and they say they are still prepared to return to the bargaining table but at the moment it is a long way from this dispute reaching some kind of conclusion. this weekend, a capsule with important clues for the formation of our solar system is expected to fall from space and land in the american state of utah. this is the moment that the 0siris—rex spacecraft collected a sample of the bennu asteroid. after being safely stowed away in a capsule, the precious cargo travelled billions of miles through space at 27,000 miles an hour. after traversing the seven billion kilometres, the dust will make landfall in a utah desert on sunday — when scientists can begin studying how our solar system came to be.

that is the show for this hour. head to our website for all of the latest news information and analysis around—the—clock. stay with us here on bbc news. hello. it's the autumn equinox on saturday morning, so the first day of autumn, officially. how about the weather? it's looking a little mixed this weekend, and quite an interesting headline there. the tail end of a hurricane is expected to bring us some warm weather to some parts of the country, but also a dose of wind and rain. and here it is, hurricane nigel soon to become an ex—hurricane, also being absorbed by the weather systems in the mid—latitudes and all of that is heading our way. and also a south—southwesterly wind ahead of it will develop, ahead of this large area of low pressure and that means somewhat warmer weather streaming in from the south. so it's a tale of two halves, quite literally. so the forecast then through the early morning shows clear skies across most of the uk. having said that,

it is going to be quite chilly despite this remnant storm heading our way. temperatures will be around eight degrees even in the south of the country, and close to freezing, if not below, in the sheltered glens of scotland. now, here it is, that weather front by this stage bringing cloud, a shield of cloud to northern ireland, wales, and the southwest. within it, some outbreaks of rain. but out towards the east and the north, it's a cracking day both in the morning and the afternoon. we're expecting sunny spells, temperatures around 18 in london, a bit fresher there in scotland. and then it's saturday night into sunday that that weather front sweeps across the uk. the winds will freshen and we are expecting some rain. some of the rain will be heavy at times. so here's the forecast then — out towards the west and the north, increasing winds, gale force winds around some of the coasts and some heavy rain at times. the further east and southeast you are, the sunnier and warmer it will be. in fact, 20 degrees in london. but even further north

where it's cloudy and rainy, temperatures will be close to 20. but let's take a closer look. and here are the gusts of wind, 50 to even 60 miles an hour. now, that is a strong wind blowing out of the south. and then all of that rain sweeping across the country as well sunday evening into the early hours of monday. now, here's the outlook into the week ahead. those temperatures remain in the low 20s across the south of the country. but be warned, at times we could be seeing some pretty gusty, rainy, windy weather in the week ahead. bye— bye.

voice-over: 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. these women in russia's north caucasus are allegedly being abused and imprisoned by their own families. they have made disturbing accusations of kidnappings and exorcisms. female genital mutilation is. and honour killings.

pushing back against traditions and institutions that dominate this remote part of russia. will they ever find freedom? this woman is from a small town, 70 kilometres from the capital of dagestan, in south—western russia.