in a referendum on proposals to tighten security in response to a surge in violence by drugs gangs. it comes as officials say that a prison warden was murdered in ecuador on sunday. measures include the expansion ofjoint military and police patrols, they'll also significantly boost gun controls, tightening regulations, and impose harsher prison sentences for "terrorism" and drug trafficking. ecuadoreans wanted abroad for organised crime—related offences could be extradited if the constitutional changes are passed. as he voted, president daniel noboa said the outcome would define state policy in fighting violence, corruption and organised crime. he declared a state of emergency injanuary and sent the army to take control of prisons, after a gang leader escaped. civilians in the north of niger celebrated reports that the united states is set to withdraw troops from two bases in the country, in consultation with the ruling militaryjunta. hundreds of people marched
but also to allow the government of washington to remain, to keep its bases active and ongoing inside the country. active and ongoing inside the count . ~ ., ., , country. won of the things the us tr00ps _ country. won of the things the us troops were _ country. won of the things the us troops were engaged - country. won of the things the us troops were engaged with l country. won of the things the i us troops were engaged with was the ongoing fight against islamist insurgents. —— one. what you think this means for that situation? we what you think this means for that situation?— what you think this means for that situation? we have seen in the last few _ that situation? we have seen in the last few months _ that situation? we have seen in the last few months because i that situation? we have seen in | the last few months because we have to recall military assistance has been suspended since the coup d'etat. washington has been able in a limited sense to be able to operate its drones but has not shared its intelligence with the nigerian authorities. we have only seen nigerians lose ground to extremists elements in the country but what this now does is it makes washington blind to the moves that these islamists are making throughout the region. let us not forget these drones are used to operate essentially from the atlantic ocean to the red sea,
that there has been a misuse of conservative party funds. mr menzies has strongly denied the claims. lancashire police has said it's reviewing information after the force was contacted by the labour chairwoman, annaliese dodds. british conductor sir andrew davis has died aged 80 from leukaemia. he was one of the longest—serving chief conductors of the bbc symphony orchestra. after retiring from the bbc in 2000, he moved with his wife to the us to with the lyric opera of chicago. thousands of people attended a vigil in sydney to remember those who were killed by a man with a knife last week. as the sun set on bondi beach, people lit candles in memory of the victims. six people were killed, including the mother of a nine—month old girl injured in the attack. 11 others were also hurt. you're live with bbc news. civilians in the north of niger celebrated reports that the united states is set to withdraw troops from two bases in the country — in consultation with the ruling military junta. hundreds of people marched to the city of agadez on april 13th, where they demanded the departure of more than 1,000 us soliders who were sent to niger to fight
the attack was launched by the shia popular mobilisation militia, which is backed by iran. they are also saying that a us fighterjet targeted a vehicle carrying rockets in zummar. we speak now to a research scholar at the australian national university in canberra, and former australian ambassador to lebanon. i want to get your take on these latest strikes coming from within iraq and aimed at us military assets in syria. well, at this stage, _ military assets in syria. well, at this stage, it _ military assets in syria. well, at this stage, it does - military assets in syria. well, at this stage, it does seem i military assets in syria. well, i at this stage, it does seem to be the popular mobilisation forces, the iranian—backed group in iraq. there was that explosion that you mentioned on saturday which did some damage to one of their bases, and this may be the retaliation that the popular mobilisation forces have launched. but they haven't claimed it as yet, as far as
rockets that were seemingly fired at a nearby base. all of this happening in northeastern syria. u.s. official tells fox news the u.s. forces had to respond to at least five rockets that were fired from an iranian proxy group. notice knowing -- no u.s. servicemember's were hurt or injured in the race was not damage, this is the 170 worse attack on u.s. bases in the middle east since october 17th. elsewhere in the region the israeli government is criticizing potential u.s. sanctions on an idf group. 's actions were reportedly aimed at the ultra-orthodox battalion known as that so yehuda. the unit has been criticized for it's treatment of palestinians including after the death of a 78-year-old palestinian american man. from -- prime minister jimmy netanyahu called the possibility of sanctions the peak of authority and a moral low. >> voice of interpreter: i will fiercely defend the idf
defenses, what does that mean? again, in practical terms for taiwan? >> well it's actually considerably more. its 4 billion directly to taiwan and foreign military assistance, but it's actually a lot of the money for the us military to build up submarine bases and the pacific to secure guam, to build up capabilities across that entire region. really, really important because the reality is, i've walked the beaches of taiwan. this is a very difficult operation for the chinese hello probably one of the most complex military operations in history. and we can absolutely deter them from doing so. and if we can do that, we can stabilize this conflict that i believe will be much more devastating than a, than a war in ukraine. >> we just have a couple of moments left, butt what do you think goes through president xi's head when he sees this billions in support for taiwan i think he very concerned because he is trying to build up the capabilities of the pla as quickly as possible to prevent a situation where the united states, taiwan, japan are gonna be ready for this invasion. >> all right, do mutual pair always appreciate your your time and your thoughts.
unexpected. early saturday there were explosions on an iraqi base with pro—iranian militia. there was at least one pro iranian killed and eight wounded. some form of retaliation and this appears to be retaliation and this appears to be retaliation was to be expected. firing a few rockets on an american base in syria more as a demonstration that i think is an escalation given that there is only minor damage and no casualties so far. it could be significant. there were more than 150 attacks on bases with us personnel by around like militia since october seven. hamas, followed by israel's mass killings. those attacks stopped at the end of february. they stopped because the americans carried out air strikes on the rn like militiamen. in the head
base with pro—iranian militia. there was at least one pro iranian killed and eight wounded. some form of retaliation — and this appears to be retaliation was to be expected. firing a few rockets on an american base in syria more as a demonstration that i think is an escalation given that there is only minor damage and no casualties so far. in a wider sense, it could be significant. there were more than 150 attacks on bases with us personnel by around like militia ——iran—like since october seven. hamas, followed by israel's mass killings. those attacks stopped at the end of february. they stopped because the americans carried out air strikes on the iran—like militiamen. in the head of iran's force
johnson today and three favors removing him and may be willing to help keep his role and king jeffries isn't giving definitive answer. >> to have the conversation before the house caucus but first thing is first we have to still get the national security bills over the finish line. >> overnight the senate voted 60-34 to reauthorize fisa which government uses to t gaer intelligence on foreign subjects a process that also sweeps up communications of americans they are in contact with. national security hawks say it is a critical tool while privacy advocates argue is violates some constitutional protections heads to president biden's desk for his signature will nicole and pete. pete: madeleine thank you. i don't know what speaker johnson is doing right now this is bases is completely turning on him relying on democrats he said on this couch here with us
spoke with my colleague tom llamas and down played israel's stroiks the ones that happened at the end of this week. let's take a listen. >> what happened last night was not a strike. >> did any other country tell you something was happening and they would invade your air space and attack possibly one of your bases? >> two or three -- they are more like toys that our children pliwith, not drones. it was not worth telling us before it happened. >> you are on the intelligence committee, is that an accurate assessment? is iran down playing this to cool tensions? >> what i can tell you is that the biggest risk all along with respect to iran is the risk of regional escalation. no one wants an all out regional war and it is clear that the iranians don't either. this is a chance for all parties to take an exit ramp, lower the