hello. i'm sumi somaskanda. the war in ukraine took centre stage again on the second day of the nato summit in washington. us presidentjoe biden announced that denmark and the netherlands had begun sending f—16fighterjets to ukraine as part of a new air defence to counter russian aggression. the prime minister of hungary reaffirmed its position as the only country that's opted out of participating in nato's mission to assist ukraine. and in his diplomatic debut as british prime minister, sir keir starmer arrived in washington wednesday for talks with ukrainian president zelensky at the summit. it's sir keir�*s first foreign trip after winning the uk elections by a landside with the newly elected our correspondent helena humphrey reports. all eyes in washington have been on the declaration, setting out the pathway for ukraine to join the defensive alliance, and the word that kyiv will concentrate on now is that pathway, according to the declaration,

is irreversible. the language says as long as ukraine meets the conditions set out by all of the allies, they will be able to eventually join this alliance. previously volodymyr zelensky expressed discontent not to be issued with a direct invitation but today the message from him was of gratitude, after the announcement was made that ukraine would be receiving f—16fighterjets. everybody was also watching both the performance from the new uk prime minister sir keir starmer on the world stage, watching president biden as well over the concerns about him continuing with his candidacy in the race with the white house. they held a meeting today after which president biden said they were the best of allies, calling the uk the transatlantic knot in the nato alliance.

in ukraine, emergency workers have found more bodies buried in the rubble of a kyiv residential building that was badly damaged during a series of russian air strikes on monday. six cities were also hit in the strikes. ukraine's air force says they intercepted 30 missiles. these latest strikes bring the number of people killed this week across ukraine to 43, most of them in the country's capital kyiv, making it the heaviest bombardment in almost four months. for more on the recent attacks, bbc correspondent james waterhouse is in kyiv. this is a residential block which was hit in mondays large—scale russian missile strike and as a team, we see sites like this frequently. a whole block completely blown away, trading in the middle and peoples apartments exposed where they once lived their lives. belongings are scattered around, clean—up is ferociously taking place and 1a people were killed here including five children and it is this which is influencing president zelensky�*s political strategy,

he is showcasing scenes like this and presenting them to western allies at the nato summit in washington, he is securing some long—term security guarantees as well as immediate air defences which he is calling for but the sense you get here is that there is a cap on expectations because his country wanted to be in nato for years, ukraine was promised membership in 2008, russia's aggression has — is the main reason why that has not happened. ukraine is always known that nato boots, soldiers will never be in ukrainian soil to help it fight in this war so, it is going after what it can at the moment, and i think the goal very much feels like now with an increase in missile strikes and certainly relentless and the ongoing invasion, ukraine is to be trying to survive it before

pursuing its long—term goals of nato membership, eu membership, for example, and the right for a free independent country but i think, though the concerning thing for cities like kyiv is the missile strikes will only continue, russian has shown in table to carry them out and the political efforts we are seeing across the atlantic in washington are central to ukraine's ability to defend itself and ultimately, in hopes of kyiv, fight its war in the longer term. earlier, i spoke to us ambassador to the united nations linda thomas—greenfield. we talked about the war in ukraine in the israel— gaza war. ambassador, the united nations security council met to discuss the russian strike on children's hospital in kyiv, russia is a permanent member of the council and says that russia is not responsible, this was a ukrainian defence missile — can ijust get your response to that? let me see if i can be diplomatic in my response. it's baloney.

we know that russia attacked this hospital. we saw the damage and heard from the doctors, we saw the evidence, and what is appalling is that they would this when they are a permanent member of the security council and they are sitting in the rotational chair. as president of the security council. the meeting yesterday called russia out for this appalling act, it also allowed a doctor — the main doctor from the hospital to give the security council and the world a briefing on the horrific conditions that resulted from that attack and allowed the ukrainian ambassador and the eu as well as poland and neighbouring country to speak before the council. can i ask you... crosstalk russia didn't do this. as you said, russia's current

rotational president of the council, what does it say about the body and its ability to change the situation if russia appears undeterred? look, they are permanent member of the security council, that is something that unfortunately we cannot change. and the presidency of the council rotates on the monthly basis and unfortunately, this is the month that russia happens to be in the chair but because they're sitting on the chair does not mean we cannot have serious discussions about what is happening in ukraine, ukraine called for this meeting, we and other members of the council supported ukraine's call for the meeting, we supported ukraine speaking at the meeting so, despite the fact that russia is sitting in the chair, they were not able to block us having this very important meeting. i guess the question is — what do you think, with the weight of western countries and their allies behind ukraine, what do you think will actually deter russia and vladimir putin?

we are going to stand with ukraine, and i think russia has this impression that somehow the international community, that the united states, that nato, the opinions will turn their backs on ukraine and what they have seen over and over and over again for the past two plus years is that we continue to stand with ukraine, we are standing with ukraine as they try to fight for their sovereignty, to win their territory back and also, we stand with them, as i said, in security council, we stand with them in the security council with their right to speak before the council. russia is not going to win this war, they will not defeat the ukrainians and they will not defeat our efforts to stand with the ukrainians.

what about what we saw taking place in southern gaza. we saw an israeli air strike that he displays people as that every school in officials say that 29 people were killed. israel says it was a precise ministry to target a terrorist but people were sheltering here. what is your response? we were sheltering here. what is your response?— were sheltering here. what is your response? we have been clear that _ your response? we have been clear that the _ your response? we have been clear that the present, - your response? we have been clear that the present, the - clear that the present, the secretary, myself and others that israel has a responsibility to protect civilians who are in gaza, and that protection goes with also providing them with support should they feel they have to do take military action in an area where there are civilians. this is something that we feel very strongly about... this was the fourth attack on or near to schools sheltering displaced people in four days. what is your message to israel? our message to israel is do everything you can to protect civilians, there is another

message here, that we cannot ignore, and that is hamas has to stop taking refuge in areas where civilians are. they cannot use civilian facilities, schools and hospitals and refugee camps to hide behind the scourge of civilians. so the responsibility on hamas's side as well. one final question, about sudan, something you have been vocal about. the ethiopian prime minister is meeting two and the devastating war. what is the international community need to do? we is the international community need to do?— is the international community needto do? ., ., , , need to do? we need to ramp up our efforts _ need to do? we need to ramp up our efforts and _ need to do? we need to ramp up our efforts and our— need to do? we need to ramp up our efforts and our engagement l our efforts and our engagement on this situation in sudan. we are seeing the devastating impact of this war for between two generals who have no interest in their civilian

population. we are working closely with the secretary general is personnel envoy, our special envoy, they are both in geneva right now, pulling together the parties to talk about how they address the humanitarian situation on the ground that also looking at how to address the political situation on the ground. there is no military solution to this war, there has to be a political solution, war, there has to be a politicalsolution, it war, there has to be a political solution, it has to take place at the negotiating table. ., , take place at the negotiating table. . , ., ., , table. civilians in a gaza city are being — table. civilians in a gaza city are being told _ table. civilians in a gaza city are being told to _ table. civilians in a gaza city are being told to leave - table. civilians in a gaza city are being told to leave their| are being told to leave their homes and head south. the army dropped thousands of leaflets telling more than a quarter million people the area remains a dangerous combat zone. further south 29 palestinians were killed and dozens more wounded in as it air strike on a for displaced people. the health industry says the strike

was next to the gate of a nearby school just east of the city of khan younis. a warning — this report contains distressing images. the women of the house of abu abed. they have lost a brother. mohammed was 27, trained to teach special needs children, and about to be married. translation: he was going out to call his fiancee. _ next week, the borders will open and he could go see her. hejoked, "goodbye, gaza, goodbye." mohammed was planning to join his future wife in egypt, herfamily escaped there after nine were killed in an earlierairstrike. his sister—in—law, inas, blinded in one eye then and mohammed's fiance, hadil.

translation: up to the last minute, _ i was planning for him to arrive here. we were going to stay for a while and if things improved, go back to gaza. now i don't know what to do. the missile was fired around 7:30 in the evening. youths playing nearby ran to help, and saw children's bodies, parts of bodies. the israeli military says it was targeting a hamas member allegedly involved in the october 7 massacres. in doing so, they killed 29 people. dozens more were wounded. they've been bombed, displaced — from one fragile

refuge to another. and there is what they have seen, and what cannot be unremembered. they lean in to stop the child struggling as shrapnel is removed from his head. pure chance the direction of the blast saved this infant. the israelis say they used precise munitions and are reviewing the circumstances of the air strike. the teacher mohammed abed was one of those buried today, by sisters still trapped in this hell, grieving for him and for what their children must endure. fergal keane, bbc news, jerusalem.

and now to the uk. hertfordshire police say a man suspected of killing the wife and two daughters of the bbc horse racing commentator, john hunt, is receiving medical treatment, after being found in north london. carol hunt, who was 61, and her two daughters, hannah, who was 28, and louise who was 25, were seriously wounded yesterday evening, and died at the scene in bushey in hertfordshire. police were called to the house shortly before 7:00 in the evening, and say they believe it was a targeted attack with a crossbow and possibly other weapons. the suspect, kyle clifford, who was 26 and from enfield in north london, is now in hospital. lucy manning sent this report. it's quite hard to fathom what happened here. in the quiet hertfordshire suburbs, a family brutally attacked, a mother and her two daughters not safe in their own home, and a suspect who went on the run for 2h hours. the family who lived here in bushey

are the family of our bbc colleague — racing commentatorjohn hunt. his wife, 61—year—old carol, was killed, as were their daughters, 28—year—old hannah and 25—year—old louise. last night, armed police arrived around 7pm as screams were heard by neighbours. air ambulances scrambled to the scene to try to save the women. it was about ten police cars. there was ambulances and everything going down there, and the thing that really struck me was that there was police with guns. police searched all night and all day for kyle clifford, 26 years old and a former soldier. the concern was that he was armed with a crossbow. it's believed he was known to the hunt family and police say the killings were a targeted attack. at lunchtime, they described the scale of their search. we have extensive police resources deployed to various locations

in north london and also the bushey area of hertfordshire. the man—hunt also involves armed police officers and specialist search teams responding at pace in the wake of what has been an horrific incident involving what is currently believed to be a crossbow, but other weapons may also have been used. the search for kyle clifford centred on enfield in north london. helicopters, armed police all involved. local schools were told to keep children inside during the day. by late afternoon, armed police and ambulances massed at lavender hill cemetery. the cemetery was closed off as officers and medics rushed in. police confirming early this evening that they had apprehended kyle clifford. no shots were fired, they said, but he was found with some injuries. as flowers were left in tribute in bushey, his bbc 5 live colleagues paid their own ones on air. this has been a heartbreaking day. john hunt is our colleague and ourfriend.

on behalf of everybody connected with 5 live sport, our love and thoughts and support are withjohn and his family. a family with their lives ahead of them. an inexplicable, brutal end that has ripped john hunt from those he loved the most. stu d e nts students have been told their cases will go to trial at the start of 2026. around 5000 students and proclaims again universities after teaching was cancelled or moved online. the case is the first to go to court but current and former students are seeking compensation from other universities as well. thousands could make compensation claims

against british airways, after the uk supreme court ruled a flight being cancelled because of a pilot becoming ill before work did not count as an "extraordinary circumstance." that means passengers are entitled to compensation. the court says the decision has the potential to affect tens of thousands of claims made annually. the room behind buckingham palace's famous balcony will open to the public next week. after five years of renovations, the east wing of the palace has been carefully restored and on a trial basis is open to paying customers. for the first time, visitors will be able to look down from the inside. but they won't be able to step out onto the balcony itself because of safety reasons. tickets for the east wing will cost £75. you're watching bbc news. president biden is under mounting pressure to abandon his bid for re—election. on wednesday peter welsh called on mr biden to step aside. he is the first senator to publicly do so alongside nine members of the... it is time for a new

nominee. the leader of the party in the house said he would be delaying his members concerned at a meeting on friday. it is notjust elected politicians calling for a change at the top of the ticket. george clooney, a lifelong democrat who hosted a $28 million fundraiserfor lifelong democrat who hosted a $28 million fundraiser for mr biden last month wrote an opinion on wednesday's york times that mr biden should make way for another candidate, and speaking to the baby on wednesday, michael douglas, another prominent hollywood democrat also expressed deep concerns about his candidacy. he has done an incrediblejob. but i am worried. it is so hard for me to imagine a man 4.5 years down the line from now particularly at a time that is so combative. mr particularly at a time that is so combative.— particularly at a time that is so combative. mr biden still has the support _ so combative. mr biden still has the support of _ so combative. mr biden still has the support of many - has the support of many democrat selected and in the grassroots. on tuesday he held a call with mayors across the

country. the mayor of kansas city was on the line. afterwards he took to posting stood with joe. afterwards he took to posting stood withjoe. i spoke with him a short time ago. what did you hear on the call that convinced you president biden should stay in the race? i heard him talk about what he has actually done. i heard about the success we have had in the united states coming out of covid investing in commuters and families in healthcare and you heard about the distinction from president donald trump. president biden often mentions you shouldn't compare him to the almighty, you should stay comparative to the alternative. biden often mentions you do not compare him to the almighty, or compare him to the alternative, and that is what hundreds of mayors and people in the us think. different washington intrigue, i know what is interesting

for many, i stand by the biden—harris ticket analyst the president makes a change at some point, then we probably will stay with him. the concerns here washington was so much about the record over the past 3.5 years whether he is up to defeating donald trump and shipping president again for the next four years. what is your response? as i understand it, and particularly in comparison to donald trump who yesterday was talking about the appearances of women, incredibly insane types of schemes. it is clear that biden is ready to continue to lead the country. he is doing a fine job today and i think everyone he would talk to believe that he is a good president one month ago, they believed he was a wonderful present six months ago, so what has changed materially? the debate, what you are hearing now for many, particularly mayors and a grassroots, they see what is this campaign, what is this election about? it is about beating donald trump for democrats but also about pushing any number of issues werejoe biden has been on the right side of things. it was interesting, you said that in the last few weeks

it has been forgotten that president biden has a connection with black communities and labour unions. there are doubts in washington over whether the connection is still strong. is your sense that it is still strong, that bond president biden has with them? when i talk to people at labour unions, i had lunch with them today, when i talk to black americans, they have largely said that they stand with the president, the black caucus have said most if not all speak officially, see the continues and with the president, representatives who is younger than me, and i am only 39, they spoke in support ofjoe biden yesterday, and i do not think there is a clear groundswell against him. what you are seeing is different opinions as to what they think should occur for the future of our country, but i think it is very simple. the president of the united states and the vice president harris won the democratic

primaries, they are likely to be the nominees unless something changes, and i am proud to stand with them and their records, and i think as people look at the records of donald trump versusjoe biden, that will continue to be what is discussed. i want to pick up on one of those points because the trump campaign has picked up seen among black men in particular. why do you think that is, and what do you think president biden and his team would have to do to address those concerns that the community has? whether we talk about the uk, france, any part of the world, i think there has been a growth of a populist right, i think that there are certain easy issues president trump has spoken to at times, and he speaks with a level of clarity, even if you dig even slightly in depth, you see there is not much substance there. that is the thing you hear from the populist and you can pick up voters. i do think there is work to do for the biden—harris campaign, for democrats, for all of us who are interested in making

sure we continue to see the real success. this is no different than if you find yourself in a grammar school debate, if you are the person who is actually saying substantive things, sometimes you come across as more boring, more elite, as opposed to the guy who was saying "free lunch for everybody." what democrats need to continue to do is make a clear message to the american people about not only the stakes of this election, but the fact that we want someone mature and whom we are proud of representing us globally rather than what we saw from president trump in the priorfour years. are you confident that president biden can win in november and also lift up other democrats who are running in other races for congress or senate? that has made significant discussion in the last days, i think president biden can win in november. i continue to think he will. when you look at the upper midwestern states, on the issues, i think it will be a campaign type attack, how often are they out?

what types of what communications does he have directly with the american people, that is the work that is necessary and importantly how much you give vice president harris as well. we do have more coverage of those questions swirling around president biden's campaign for re—election. that is on our website. we'll find headlines and analysis from our correspondence there. i am in washington. thank you so much for watching bbc news, andrew brayshaw to stick with us. —— and do be sure. hello. on wednesday, itjust wouldn't stop raining across parts of northeast scotland. in parts of aberdeenshire, we had over 70mm of rain in places — that's over a month's worth of rain. as well as the wet weather, it was also quite windy and cold. northeast scotland nowjoins parts of southern england and the midlands in places of the uk that already had well over a month's worth of rain so far this month, and we're onlyjust past the first week, of course. it continues to rain across northeast scotland, as well, with our area of low

pressure, slow—moving out in the north sea, it continues to be wet here. but we do have another weather front bringing some rain across northern ireland, northern england and over the next few hours thatjust sinks a bit further southwards. so, heading into the first part of thursday morning, you might find a few patches of rain arrive across north wales and the north midlands. it's going to be a mild start to the day, though, on thursday, at least — temperatures 11—14 degrees. quite varied weather conditions from place to place on thursday. the low pressure continues to feed rain into northeast scotland — the rain, though, turning lighter and patchier, but potentially still damp even into the afternoon here. western scotland, brighter, some sunny spells and some sunshine coming through for northern ireland into the afternoon. for northern england, wales, and parts of the north midlands, a few patches of rain in the morning, a few heavy showers into the afternoon. the south midlands, throughout southern england and probably south wales, a lot of dry, sunny and warm weather, with temperatures widely into the low 20s, and peaking at 23 — that's going to feel very pleasant in the sunshine. otherwise, temperatures around 15—19 degrees.

for friday's forecast, we're watching this area of low pressure as it moves across northern france. it could come close enough to bring a band of persistent rain into southeast england. it's going to be be there or thereabouts, so we'lljust keep an eye on the developments with that. further northwest, this ridge of high pressure should break the cloud up across parts of west scotland, northern ireland, northwest england, so they're probably going to be the driest and brightest spots. but generally, the winds coming in from a northerly direction, so temperatures will continue to run below average, about 15—20 degrees for your high. now, the weekend sees low pressure get close to the northeast of the uk — so it's across eastern scotland and northeast england that will probably have some general outbreaks of rain developing. otherwise, quite a lot of dry weather on saturday, just a few brief showers. sunday, mostly fine with temperatures high teens to low—20s. bye for now.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur. the west's collective defence club, nato, is celebrating its 75th anniversary. amid the self—congratulation, there are hard questions about nato's staying power as a backer of ukraine in its war against russia.

also about the lessons learned from nato's 20—year involvement in afghanistan. three years ago, western troops pulled out. the taliban regained power. my guest was there when it happened. sir laurie bristow was the last british ambassador in kabul. now he's ready to reflect on the significance of failure in afghanistan. sir laurie bristow, welcome to hardtalk. thank you. three years ago, you were a key player in the chaotic western withdrawalfrom kabul.