foreign ministers from poland, hungary, and latvia fail to show for a historic eu meeting in kyiv. the sexual abuse of young footballers in gabon. bbc africa eye investigates claims fifa failed to take effective action when it was made aware. there are reports that the regional capital of nagorno—karabakh is deserted following the flight of more than a 120,000 ethnic armenians. they fled because of fears of persecution and ethnic cleansing charges denied by azerbaijan, which last month seized the disputed territory. and afp news agency is reporting armenian claims that one person was killed and two injured in cross—border fire today. 0ur correspondent reyhan demytrie reports from goris, in armenia.

playing under a peaceful sky at last. just two weeks ago, these children were hiding in bomb shelters. 15—year—old macias says everything still feels like a bad dream. when on 19 september, azerbaijan launched its military offensive to establish full control over nagorno—karabakh, he was at school in his hometown of martuni. translation: at around 2pm, we finished lessons at school. | i was on my way home with a friend. we heard loud banging. at first, i thought it was a military exercise. then the explosions started to happen, one after another. we ran to the nearby police station to hide in the basement to save our lives. macias is sheltering in the centre in the outskirts of goris with his parents, siblings and his aunt. everyone here is traumatised by the violence and the sudden uprooting from their homes.

"we didn't imagine that all this would happen to us", says lucina, the mother of four. "we have been abandoned, we're alone", she says. the armenian authorities have provided temporary accommodation to 35,000 refugees out of the 100,000 that were forced to flee nagorno—karabakh. but this shelter is the initiative of a local non—governmental organisation, women in network. we adapted our home as a shelter, providing them accommodation, food, some hygiene, hygiene items. this warm and welcoming place is only a temporary solution for karabakh armenians that are still coming to terms with the events of the past weeks. their lives have been turned upside down and what these people need the most is a place they can call home.

inga is waiting for transportation. she decided to move herfamily to rastan in central armenia. nnow that the unrecognized republic of artsakh cease to exist, she's asking what was all the sacrifice for? translation: let god give us peace to our land. - i do not want anything else. i just want peace. gohar is drawing the road from karabakh. "it's empty", she says, "because everyone has left". rayhan demetrie, bbc news, goris, armenia. i spoke to freelance journalist neil hauer, in the armenian capital, yerevan. imean, i mean, there's been a huge influx of people over the first and last week, it was a constant stream of people coming across the border there. just in their cars, 5—6 to a car, whatever they could carry strap to the top of the car, and the

authorities have done a pretty good job of distributing around the country, giving them transport the places where there is temporary accommodation for them, but it's still a lot to deal with for a small country. still a lot to deal with for a small count . �* ., �* , still a lot to deal with for a small count . �* ., �*, ,., still a lot to deal with for a small count . �* ., �*, , �* country. and that's the point, isn't it? that this _ country. and that's the point, isn't it? that this is — country. and that's the point, isn't it? that this is about _ country. and that's the point, isn't it? that this is about temporary i it? that this is about temporary accommodation — it's a question of whether they can actually maintain the support that they are currently offering. the support that they are currently offerina. ., ., ~ the support that they are currently offerin.. ., ., ~' ., , offering. yeah, i mean i think any country would _ offering. yeah, i mean i think any country would be _ offering. yeah, i mean i think any country would be hard-pressed i offering. yeah, i mean i think anyj country would be hard-pressed to country would be hard—pressed to deal with a sudden influx of 120,000 refugees in a week, let alone a developing country of under 3 million like armenia is. there's not just houses sitting around waiting for 120,000 people in it, so it'll take a lot of international support to get these people long—term housing. to get these people long-term housina. , , . to get these people long-term housina. , , , ., housing. give us a sense of the international— housing. give us a sense of the international support, - housing. give us a sense of the international support, where i housing. give us a sense of the| international support, where are housing. give us a sense of the i international support, where are we with that? because the un is saying they'll send a mission to nagorno—karabakh, but in terms of the international condemnation of this situation, there hasn't really

been onto a large extent, what one would've expected?— been onto a large extent, what one would've expected? exactly, the un mission is there _ would've expected? exactly, the un mission is there now, _ would've expected? exactly, the un mission is there now, which - would've expected? exactly, the un mission is there now, which is i mission is there now, which is largely beside the point, there's no one left — they themselves said in a release a couple minutes ago that there are 50 armenians there that they found, that are still staying there. and that's the other thing, azerbaijan has suffered no consequences for doing this, there's been no threat of sanctions or downgrading of ties with azerbaijan from any other country for launching this military offensive that led to 120,000 people being kicked out of their homes. i 120,000 people being kicked out of their homes-— their homes. i suppose, for people who are watching _ their homes. i suppose, for people who are watching at _ their homes. i suppose, for people who are watching at home, - their homes. i suppose, for people who are watching at home, to i who are watching at home, to some who are watching at home, to some who may not be following this situation, they would think that perhaps this had been bubbling under the surface for a very long time — this is almost like going back to the future, because we have seen

this enmity, this hatred of the two communities for a very long time. yes, in this particular event, this eventual military assault near azerbaijan was expected. any expulsion of the community, azerbaijan spent nine months starving and bucketing the region, despite an icj order and other calls to reopen the road there, people were literally starving to death. then under two weeks ago, azerbaijan launched a military offensive and killed hundreds of people, and on still today still didn't allow any entry by humanitarian organisations. poland, latvia, and hungary have not attended a meeting of european union foreign ministers in kyiv. all 27 ministers were expected, but the polish and latvian ministers were reportedly ill and the hungarian minister did not show, a source told the bbc. earlier, the union's most senior diplomat, josep borrell, told the bbc he's "worried" by the us's decision to not include any new support for ukraine

in a short term funding deal. us congress was forced to drop the support to avert a government shutdown. before today's meeting, mr borell spoke to our ukraine correspondent james waterhouse about that decision. they are worried by the decision to cut ukrainianfunding. they are worried by the decision to cut ukrainian funding. but one thing is clear — for us europeans, the war of russia against ukraine is an existential threat, and we have to react according to that. if existential threat, and we have to react according to that.— react according to that. if there is a us president — react according to that. if there is a us president elected _ react according to that. if there is a us president elected next i react according to that. if there is a us president elected next year| react according to that. if there is l a us president elected next year on a us president elected next year on a ticket to pull out support, what would the eu do? would you further increase your support for ukraine to try and step up, if you like, into that void that will be created? well, we have to wait for this possibility to propose to increase support to ukraine. i, myself, propose to my colleagues in the

defence council and the european fund for supporting ukraine, 20 billion euros. the president of the commission has proposed to the member states ace of his dutch civilian site, 50 billion for ukraine. this was decided much before any speculation of about the future of us politics. so yes, we want to increase our support to ukraine. congresswoman marcy kaptur, founder and co—chair of congressional ukraine caucus, has been telling me earlier if it is right to be worried. well, i think this is a short—term issue here in the united states, because of other applications with legislation we've been having. so we passed a bill that will keep our government functional for 45 more days — so ukraine got caught up in another measure so, in order to keep

our government operational, that was merely tabled for the moment. but we have the word of the leadership of the senate, both political parties which are very evenly divided in the senate, that they want to move a bill that would continue funding for ukraine. it could come up at any time. i will tell you ukraine. it could come up at any time. iwill tell you here ukraine. it could come up at any time. i will tell you here in the house, i'm a member of our 433 member house, we have two members missing, we have between three quarters of the members supporting ukraine, and do so strongly. just our ukraine caucus has 92 members. so other boats we took last week show continuing strong support for ukraine that got caught up because of a extreme minority in the house. but that extreme minority is getting louder, the voices getting louder, and there is concern — i was in ukrainejust a few and there is concern — i was in ukraine just a few months ago, and certainly their top leadership are concerned about this. behind closed doors, they are worried that if things change politically in the

united states, it could impact ukraine in a massive way. well, i do think that the _ ukraine in a massive way. well, i do think that the issue _ ukraine in a massive way. well, i do think that the issue of _ ukraine in a massive way. well, i do think that the issue of foreign i think that the issue of foreign policy and different directions will come up in next year's campaign. i don't know who the republican party will nominate, i don't know if donald trump — he certainly avoided military service in his own career and i don't see any member of his family who served that is living or has any history... imilli family who served that is living or has any history. . ._ has any history... will heed is certainly _ has any history... will heed is certainly the _ has any history... will heed is certainly the front _ has any history. .. will heed is certainly the front runner- has any history... will heed is certainly the front runner at l has any history... will heed is l certainly the front runner at this point, —— well, he is certainly. so the chance now remains if he is the front runner, and he's made his position quite clear on ukraine? sadly he can have his opinion, but liberty needs champions and the american people are champions of liberty and ukraine. there's a lot of public money going to ukraine, but there are many private chairs and organisations donating notjust ukraine, but to ukraine's neighbours

who are helping ukraine at this pivotal moment. i'm very confident ukraine will win, i wish it would happen in the shorter term rather than the longer term, and i'm sorry for the speedbump in congress. if you look at the votes for actual support of ukraine, you will see that a 71-82% support of ukraine, you will see that a 71—82% of members consistently — so i wouldn't make too much of this, i'm conscious of it, we fight for ukraine and we just delivered m1 tanks, the best tanks in the world to ukraine, the attack abrams have been delivered, as woelfel stops on the weaponry ukraine needs is flowing her way, and they have the will to fight. a political row has developed in germany. it's linked to a dispute with italy over german state funding for migrant rescue charities operating in the mediterranean. the italian prime minister, giorgia meloni, recently wrote to chancellor 0laf scholz to protest against such funding. now, some high—ranking german conservative politicians are backing italy's stance. ms meloni warns europe will be "overwhelmed" by migration

unless the eu finds solutions. italy currently receives the largest number of people smugglers boats, at 133,000 the number of arrivals is nearly double that of last year. 0ur correspondent mark lowen has been to two locations along the french italian border, where migrants are trying to cross. preparing, they hope, their footsteps to freedom. they trod the long path of desperation to europe, but even now, in italy, they want to go on to france and beyond. numbers here have doubled since last year, armed with their dreams and kit from this charity to cross the tough alpine border. 0marfrom nigeria went via libya, paying smugglers $800 to reach the southern italian island of lampedusa. his aim — to get to britain. i just want to have a good life, to study there. but have you not seen all the pictures and have you not

heard about people being sent back from britain or sent back from france? yes, i am seeing, but you know, i willjust try my best to... i will try again to go. some fail early — an egyptian is sent back, but the checks this side are rare. volunteer eleanor, says the italian police seem to turn a blind eye. they know exactly what we do here. they know exactly what these people are here for, so it is like a game somehow. they know but they pretend not to know. a short bus ride and they are at the border. but most avoid the official crossing, fearing police. instead, they scatter into the forest, waiting to dash over the alps. the pull of europe leads through perilous parts that have already taken the lives of some seeking new ones.

0thers try a different route across, further south in ventimiglia, close to nice. but on the french side, controls are stringent. each train is checked, leaving no door open. it is a constant to—and—fro, the italian authorities happy enough to see the migrants cross here into france, no longer their responsibility, only for the french police to say, "we don't want them either", and to send them back across the border. but caught in the middle of europe's game of cat and mouse are the desperate. they may have failed today but whatever the impediment, it is likely they will keep on trying. translation: the eu is not working. each country is setting its own migration limits and italy has to shoulder the burden alone. france suspended free movement at its border and we are forced to take back huge numbers, which is only slowing the flow to calais and britain, not solving it. migrants have spat and urinated in the cemetery. we have reached our limit.

we could become the lampedusa of the north. at the alpine border, the red cross helps ease hunger and cold until the migrants will make their move away from prying eyes. europe faces a new bottleneck here, and whatever its leaders seem to do, hope and determination are proving impossible to extinguish. mark lowen, bbc news, on the italy—france border. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. bbc news — bringing you different stories from across the uk. 0k, ladies — so on three, i would like you to walk in that direction, just laughing and smiling. and just hold the balloons so they're covering the important parts. for the ladies at wellingborough, the dress code — somewhat relaxed. don't want to be showing everything. perfect. liz was diagnosed with breast cancer 1a years ago. taking part is just a small sacrifice to help others.

the point i want to get over is it is as important to have a mammogram, as it is to examine yourself. because i think if i hadn't had that mammogram, i wouldn't have been here by now. lovely. the calendar�*s being released this month. preorders are looking strong, and they've had no shortage of volunteers. they hope 2024 will be a profitable year for charity — if a little cheeky. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. your live with bbc news. football's governing bodies face accusations that they failed to protect hundreds of young players in gabon from sexual abuse. a bbc�*s africa eye investigation has heard from more than 30 witnesses, who spoke of a network that plagued all levels of the game for three decades. khadidiatou cisse travelled to gabon to investigate one

of the biggest sexual abuse scandals in the history of football. we were at a football training camp for the under 17 selection team. this young man is talking about his time as a footballer in gabon's youth team. we're using an actor's voice to protect his identity. 0n the fourth night of the camp, they came to wake me and my best friend. they took us to a room with red lights. it was full of naked men. they started touching me and my friend, and ijust didn't understand. i wanted to scream. he says he was sexually assaulted and made to watch his friend get raped by their football coaches. among them was patrick assoumou eyi — better known as "capello" — the head coach of gabon's youth team. africa eye has spoken to more than 30 witnesses who said capello and others were predators

in a sexual abuse ring that has plagued gabon's football world for decades. the bbc was told the gabonese football federation, fgft, were made aware of it. it was only after an expose in the guardian in 2021 that capello was arrested. he admitted to charges of raping, grooming, and exploiting young players. months later, the president of fgft, pierre alain mounguengui, was also arrested on the charge of failing to report crimes of paedophilia. but, unlike capello, football governing bodies did not suspend him from his role. after almost six months in prison, mounguengui was provisionally released and, in july 2023, he was re—elected to the executive committee of caf —

the confederation of african football, a fifa subsidiary. caf's secretary general has defended the decision to not impose sanctions on mounguengui. if, today, there is no decision of the justice saying that, "mounguengui, you are guilty, you are guilty, you are sanctioned," how tough can sanctions be? but witnesses say no meaningful child protection measures have been put in place, and both caf and fifa have come under criticism for failing to act. caf, and/or fifa, they have no obligation to wait for a state decision before they sanction someone for violations of disciplinary codes and codes of ethics. the bbc believes all suspensions of those arrested have now lapsed. pierre alain mounguengui, fgft, fifa, and caf deny all the allegations made against them.

it's almost time to say goodbye to our international audiences, and i wanted to add that this will also be the last time i present on bbc news. i just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you. it has been an absolute privilege and honour to be able to share your stories. i will forever be grateful for the oportunities i've had to report on some of the most important stories of our times. i will always hold my time at the bbc with fondness and admiration for the exceptional people. thank you to my talented colleagues, for their support and collaboration over the years. thank you to all of you, and goodbye. back to business now. let's return to the hs2 high—speed rail project, because downing street is insisting

that "no final decisions have been taken" on the future of the link. it says reports that prime minister rishi sunak has decided to scrap the birmingham to manchester leg of the high—speed rail link are "incorrect". let's go live to zoe billingham, the director of the ippr north — a centre—left think tank for the north of england. thank you so much forjoining us here on the programme. this issue has really overshadowed the entire conference. has really overshadowed the entire conference-— has really overshadowed the entire conference. ., �*, ., , , conference. that's absolutely right. hs2 conference. that's absolutely right. h52 is conference. that's absolutely right. hs2 is what — conference. that's absolutely right. h52 is what everyone _ conference. that's absolutely right. h52 is what everyone is _ conference. that's absolutely right. h52 is what everyone is talking i hs2 is what everyone is talking about in the corridors, and conference events, and indeed with ministers and metro mayors alike. so hsz ministers and metro mayors alike. so hs2 is dominating and very much overshadowing the chancellor's speech this afternoon, and looks yet to overshadow even the prime minister on wednesday. find to overshadow even the prime minister on wednesday.- to overshadow even the prime minister on wednesday. and i suppose if ou could minister on wednesday. and i suppose if you could just _ minister on wednesday. and i suppose if you could just talk _ minister on wednesday. and i suppose if you could just talk us _ minister on wednesday. and i suppose if you could just talk us through - if you could just talk us through what's being decided here, what's at stake, what's actually happening? so stake, what's actually happening? sr we've heard, based on a leak only, that the second leg of hs2, which

would connect birmingham to manchester, is due to be scrapped by number ten, manchester, is due to be scrapped by numberten, and manchester, is due to be scrapped by number ten, and that's very much a row back on government policy. now thatjust row back on government policy. now that just comes from row back on government policy. now thatjust comes from a leak, so we are also speculating at the moment, but number ten hasn't denied that it is true, and it feels like the decision is still very much alive. it really matters for the north — firstly, of course, the hs2 connecting london to manchester is both a question of speed and capacity, more people on trains and off roads, and that's a good in and off roads, and that's a good in and of itself. 0thers off roads, and that's a good in and of itself. others a secondary effect for the north too, and it's that if we lose hs2 between birmingham and manchester, that also undermines a second piece of critical info structure for the north, and that's northern powerhouse rail running from liverpool to hold. so it would be a double blow for the north if the government really does decide to row back on plans to build hs2. this

row back on plans to build hsz. as you say, at the moment it's all speculation, but the concern has been around the fact that number ten hasn't necessarily denied this. i just want to talk a bit more about the impact of this decision on the north, because as you say, it could be a blow — tell us a bit more about that. fit be a blow - tell us a bit more about that. . ., , ., be a blow - tell us a bit more about that. _, , ., . ~ ., that. of course, going back to 2019, this government _ that. of course, going back to 2019, this government is _ that. of course, going back to 2019, this government is still _ that. of course, going back to 2019, this government is still on _ that. of course, going back to 2019, this government is still on a - that. of course, going back to 2019, this government is still on a 2019 i this government is still on a 2019 election mandate which promised to level up the country. and to do so, transport is a major part of that, it's not the only element but it's a major part of it. it provides the connectivity between places, whether that's for work opportunities or families across the country, and for those that have an experience to travelling across the north or to the north, maybe some have got a little taste of that this conference season and they'll maybe see that we have unreliable, slow and busy trains, and it's isn't simply if instructor fit for the 21st century, so this is a game of catch up. just

tell us what's _ so this is a game of catch up. just tell us what's been the reaction up north to this? 50 tell us what's been the reaction up north to this?— tell us what's been the reaction up north to this? so the north has been united, north to this? so the north has been united. cross — north to this? so the north has been united, cross party, _ north to this? so the north has been united, cross party, in _ north to this? so the north has been united, cross party, in saying - north to this? so the north has been united, cross party, in saying that i united, cross party, in saying that this would be the wrong decision to scrap hs2. indeed, we saw this afternoon the metro mayor of the west midlands, andy street, a conservative mayor coming out very strongly against the government's decision to perhaps scrap the second leg of hs2. so it's united politicians across party, its united people in the north and south. so there really is a strong sense that this would be ultimately the wrong decision to make. just this would be ultimately the wrong decision to make.— decision to make. just talk us throu . h decision to make. just talk us through the — decision to make. just talk us through the government i through the government decision—making process, and how it's organised around something like this. 50 it's organised around something like this. �* , it's organised around something like this, �*, ., it's organised around something like this. �* , ., , this. so there's a few elements auoin on this. so there's a few elements going on here- _ this. so there's a few elements going on here. of— this. so there's a few elements going on here. of course i this. so there's a few elements i going on here. of course originally, going on here. of course originally, this is a transport decision, so the secretary of state for transport would have been involved in its original inception and ideas, then ultimately would've gone to cabinet for collective decision—making,

collective ability... but we've seen them called out at an event saying there actually is just actually as much in the dark as everyone else, it seems cabinet members are not even getting the information from number ten that they need. secondly, we expect a decision like this to be announced in parliament to mps first and foremost, but it sounds like we will get a decision this week during conference season at conservative conference, ratherthan conference season at conservative conference, rather than to parliament. and the third really important thing is that this affects places, regions up and down the country, and we've seen the metro mayor, andy street, a conservative mayor, andy street, a conservative mayor, as well as andy burnham, the labour mayor of crete, or greater manchester, coming out against the government's decision to pull out of h52, government's decision to pull out of hs2, and it feels like they are also being left in the dark. so we are waiting for number ten to make the final call. ministers, parliament, and metro mayors alike feel like they are being left in the dark. irate they are being left in the dark. we are watching the story very closely,

thanks so much forjoining us here on the programme. thanks so much for “oining us here on the programme.— thanks so much for “oining us here i on the programme.i that's on the programme. thank you. that's it from me and _ on the programme. thank you. that's it from me and the _ on the programme. thank you. that's it from me and the team. _ now here's the weather with elizabeth rizzini. hi there, good evening. it's been another day of contrasts across the uk — still warm for the time of year with some of the best of the sunshine today across areas of scotland and northern ireland, but also a good scattering of showers here. misty, murky, still humid further south, with outbreaks of rain, but fresher—feeling conditions developing across the board tomorrow. there'll be some sunny spells, but again, some showers — heaviest and most frequent towards the north and the west. now, today's showery outbreaks of rain across england and wales were courtesy of this warm front, pulling out into the north sea overnight tonight, followed by a cold front that will sweep away the humidity and the air. but still, we're likely to see a few more thunderstorms perhaps across east anglia for a time tonight, then it will turn a lot drier. showers fizzling out as they track the way further eastward, some of the coolest of the conditions across northeast scotland — again, a chilly start here to tomorrow morning, but for most, it's still mild

for this time in october. now tomorrow, after that initial hangback of cloud clears away from eastern counties, then we're likely to see more sunshine develop. sunny spells, but then some showers tracking eastwards on a brisk westerly—to—northwesterly wind — again, they're likely to be heaviest out towards western areas of scotland and northern ireland. temperatures are lower, peaking between the mid—to—high teens in celsius, but again, that's slightly above the seasonal average. and that's probably it, in terms of rainfall for the south of the uk for the rest of the week, because high pressure starts to build in from the south as we head through tuesday and into wednesday. so it's likely to be a dry, rather cool night here, milderfurther north. this is where we think the rain will probably be on wednesday, most likely to be heavy, i think, across south western areas of scotland. there are localised weather warnings in force, so most of the rain again towards the north and the west, temperatures on a par with tuesday's. brighter and drier the further south and east you are — and that's also true on wednesday

into thursday, too. again, there'll be further weather fronts pushing in from the southwest. the temperatures won't get much past the high teens in celsius, but that is set to change as we head into the weekend. we start to draw in some very warm air from the south, we've got high pressure building in from europe. so temperatures are likely to rise across the board. here's the outlook for our capital cities — so by the time we get to saturday, temperatures in much of scotland could be in the low 20s, also true for northern ireland and wales. mid—20s further south and east. bye— bye.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. categorically, no final decision on this has been made. there has been no final sign—off to cut the leg from birmingham to manchester. it is definitely scrapped. there will be an announcement later in the week about scrapping hsz phase two, and replacing it

with other schemes, and others say that it is all speculation and that nothing is going to happen. either, as the rumours say, go on, cancel euston, cancel to manchester, but you will be turning your back on an opportunity to level up, a once in a generation opportunity. the chancellor refuses to speculate on the speculation that is overshadowing the conservative party conference. but the rumour in manchester is that the northern leg of hs2 which ends, yes in manchester, is being cancelled. we will get reaction tonight from the director of the northern also tonight, donald trump in court in new york, attacking the very man who sits as judge and jury over his case. "just so you know, said trump, my financial statements are phenomenal." the one thing i know about said the judge "is the legal definition of fraud".