the washington post reports that former us president barack obama has told the allies thatjoe biden needs to "seriously consider" his candidacy. at the republican national convention, donald trump is preparing to formally accept his party's nomination. the prime minister says the uk is resetting its approach to immigration. this is the scene in paris where police say a man has been shot near the champs—elysees shopping district. local media report the man was armed with a knife. the uk covid inquiry delivers a damning first report, saying the previous government "failed citizens" with flawed pandemic plans. the british prime minister has urged

european leaders to address the illegal my crime crisis and to stand firm and their support for ukraine. sir keir starmer said that while the uk would not be part of the european union, it was very much part of europe. the war in ukraine was also discussed extensively — president zelensky told the 50 leaders gathered that vladimir putin has not divided us. emmanuel macron said there was no silver bullet to tackle small boats crossing the channel. let's go live and join lewis vaughan jones. thank you very much. this rovided jones. thank you very much. this provided the _ jones. thank you very much. ti 3 provided the backdrop for this summit, a pretty spectacular place that happens to be the birthplace of winston churchill — a fact mentioned by lots of people lots of times today, president zelensky amongst them, talking about the bravery. the political imagery here is about unity in the war in ukraine. also,

cooperation between the uk and its neighbours on continental europe — something that has been strained with the eu particularly recently. it was billed as a reset and the prime minister keir starmer emphasised some achievements when it comes tojoint efforts emphasised some achievements when it comes to joint efforts to try and tackle illegal migration. some announcements from the uk side of things, £81; million for projects in africa to try and stop the problem at source, in their words. but it was a large summit with lots of european leaders here. chris mason has the story of the day. diplomacy british style. the country house sir winston churchill's birthplace, no less. welcome to blenheim palace in oxfordshire. the man doing the welcoming, a fortnight on from polling day, sir keir starmer. the european political community is an informal club of more than a0 countries, formed after russia's full—scale invasion of ukraine. also here, the secretary general

of the nato defence alliance and president zelensky, too. to make sure he continues to get the support he needs. thank you so much for being here. it is, of course, the birthplace of winston churchill, and we stand for the values that he embodies around the world. we have maintained unity in europe and are acting together, which means that putin has missed his primary target. he has failed to create division in europe. but what about the united states? how safe is ukraine, how safe is europe if donald trump is elected as america's president this autumn? good afternoon. jens stoltenberg has led the nato alliance since 2014, including during president trump's time in the white house. the time to stand for freedom and democracy is now, and the is ukraine.

donald trump's for american vice president has said he doesn't really care what happens in ukraine one way or another. are they dangerous remarks? i expect the united states to continue to support nato and continue to support ukraine. but are they dangerous remarks? the reality is we have just had to relate to those who are in charge in the united states, however they will be after the election. i expect them to continue to be supportive of ukraine. really? even when, in the face of it, the remarks of the complete opposite of what you and others in nato are saying? that is correct, but there have been similar concerns expressed in 2016 will stop the reality was it was the trump administration that started to provide lethal aid to ukraine. but make no mistake, european leaders are acutely conscious of the prospect

of a second term for donald trump. what does it mean for kyiv, what it would mean for the continent. ukraine is fighting notjust for the ukrainian people, though of course it is, but for the european people, so we pledge to president zelensky once again that we will stand with ukraine for as long as it takes. this collection of countries came together in response to this war. these leaders know there is every prospect they will have to continue gathering for years to come. chris mason, bbc news, at blenheim palace. chris's report gives you the scale of the summit, an unusual 45 odd european leaders all here. an interesting, as chris was alluding to there, plenty conversations were

taking place behind is very beautiful walls — actually that was going on in the us, what happens there in the election in november really impacts what these leaders here will have to do in ukraine. so ukraine, a huge issue talk about today, illegal migration bill a big topic of uk and other leaders, wanting to talk about, some big announcements from keir starmer. and this idea of a new uk... only two weeks into thejob, a chance to meet so many european leaders here, diplomatic speed dating as our diplomatic speed dating as our diplomatic correspondent put it, a good opportunity to try and reset the relations from that uk point of view, and a broad assessment so far is that it's a job well done.— is that it's a “ob well done. thank ou ve is that it's a job well done. thank you very much. _ is that it's a job well done. thank you very much, lewis _ is that it's a job well done. thank you very much, lewis vaughan i is that it's a job well done. thank - you very much, lewis vaughan jones. let's return to the covid inquiry, which delivered that damning first report on the government's handling of the pandemic.

it says ministers and devolved nations "failed their citizens" with flawed pandemic plans. we can speak now to tricia barnett, from the campaign group covid—i9 bereaved families for justice. tricia's brother, lawrence, died from covid shortly before the uk went into lockdown in 2020. thank you very much forjoining us. first of all, just tell us what happened to your brother, lawrence. it was incredibly simple and extremely shocking. a healthy man, he has an eye appointment at moorefield hospital on a monday morning. he travels and by public transport, goes to north fields. it's the week before locked down, there's huge anxiety in the country, family tell him not to go, he says, "i've got an appointment, i can't let them go, i need to go." he arrives at the hospital and nobody is masked, nobody. on the wednesday

he's ill, and by sunday he's dead. so incredibly fast that people were dying at that point in the pandemic. so in yourfamily�*s dying at that point in the pandemic. so in your family's experience, dying at that point in the pandemic. so in yourfamily�*s experience, your personal point of view, this report which says the uk just wasn't prepared, it's borne out by what you went through? yes prepared, it's borne out by what you went through?— went through? yes it is indeed, and the reort went through? yes it is indeed, and the report is— went through? yes it is indeed, and the report is - _ went through? yes it is indeed, and the report is - i _ went through? yes it is indeed, and the report is - i haven't _ went through? yes it is indeed, and the report is - i haven't read - went through? yes it is indeed, and the report is - i haven't read the - the report is — i haven't read the whole thing, it's over 200 pages — but we've all seen the presentation by the baroness, and i valued her anger by the presentation, but as a group we have given lots of recommendations. but she doesn't really touch the underlying issues, as i understand it. why was the country in such a state at that time? why was the health service so diminished after ten years of cuts

and unable to cope? why where the health service in such a pour state? i look at the report and feel really pleased that she makes recommendations for change, structural change, deep structural change — but it's not enough, ifeel that it needs — we feel that it needs some ministerial appointment for preparedness, which utterly failed us. and yes, my brother was a real victim, as many others were. so we talk about a shocking figure like 230,000 plus dead, others like my brother — he wasn't even recorded. and you'll never know, will you, whether his death was avoidable? i know his death was avoidable, i know that. i know that because we have family in china who said in february, "don't think this is flu, it's not, it's something much more

serious, go get masks." this was in february. we knew it was much more serious — the whole country was on edge knowing it was more serious and people were dying — and nothing was happening no decisions were made. and when decisions are made, the equipment wasn't there for people in hospitals, there were no masks. i went looking for masks in early march and all the big chemists, i had to order them by post. nobody was masked. you know, it was terrific, what was happening. find terrific, what was happening. and want to pick _ terrific, what was happening. and want to pick up — terrific, what was happening. and want to pick up on something you just mentioned, in terms of how much further you'd like to see things go. the baroness's report talks about taking response ability for pandemic planning away from the department of health and creating a ministerial body in each of our nations for this

response ability of emergency. but you mention something else, appointing a ministerfor appointing a minister for preparedness.— appointing a minister for re aredness. , ., , preparedness. yes, with cabinet decision-making _ preparedness. yes, with cabinet decision-making abilities. - preparedness. yes, with cabinet i decision-making abilities. because decision—making abilities. because we had a committee upon committee — somebody needs to be at the helm who is in government and can sit at cabinet meetings.— is in government and can sit at cabinet meetings. this is the first of at least nine _ cabinet meetings. this is the first of at least nine inquiry _ cabinet meetings. this is the first of at least nine inquiry reports - of at least nine inquiry reports covering everything from political decision—making to vaccines, so there may be much more for you that ijust later there may be much more for you that i just later on, there may be much more for you that ijust later on, i'm sure that's what you're hoping. that's what i'm hoping, but i'm not quite sure we can believe it, because surely it would come out in can believe it, because surely it would come ou— can believe it, because surely it would come out in this very first re ort. would come out in this very first report- its _ would come out in this very first report. it's another _ would come out in this very first report. it's another committee i would come out in this very first| report. it's another committee - would come out in this very first - report. it's another committee - why report. it's another committee — why do we need another committee? we need someone at the home to make sure that those in power hear the voice as and when it's needed, and

is at the helm to make sure that everything is prepared the whole time. because guess what, she says, and what everybody else says, it's not if there'll be another pandemic, it's when. . . ., not if there'll be another pandemic, it's when. . . . ., it's when. patricia barnett, from covid-19 bereaved _ it's when. patricia barnett, from covid-19 bereaved families - it's when. patricia barnett, from covid-19 bereaved families for. covid—i9 bereaved families for justice, thank you for talking to us about lawrence.— justice, thank you for talking to us about lawrence. thank you for having me. still to come on the world today — the time where uk sixth—form pupils and their families agonsied over personal statements for their university application forms will soon be a thing of the past. around the world and across the uk, this is the world today on bbc news.

the headquarters of the national television station in bangladesh has been stormed and set on fire. it's the latest development in the violent clashes that have been taking place between protesters

and security forces. there are reports of dozens of people killed, but bbc bengali have been able to verify 19 deaths. the bangladeshi information minister told the bbc that broadcasts had been stopped, and most employees had left the building in dhaka. it is now surrounded by security personnel. the minister said protesters had been warned of tough action if they remained inside. protesters in dhaka are calling for the authorities to scrap a controversial quota system for governmentjobs that gives favour to relatives of independence fighters. the prime minister sheikh hasina's appeals for calm appear to have gone unheeded. a spokesperson for the former professional dancer on strictly, graziano di prima, has confirmed the star did kick his celebrity partner, zara mcdermott, last year. speaking to the bbc, his publicist said graziano knew he made a mistake, apologised at the time, and thought the matter had been resolved.

but video of the incident is believed to have been brought to the bbc�*s attention last week, and the dancer was then removed from this year's line up. katie razzall has the latest. to people at home, it looked like a showbiz fairy tale, but a rehearsal room video recently surfaced and graziano di prima was dropped as a strictly dancer. he apologised for what happened and said his determination to win may have affected his training regime. his spokesperson has now confirmed to the bbc that di prima kicked zara mcdermott. he is obviously trying to find a way of actually getting the best out of it, and i'm afraid that might have been pushed too far. but surely there is never a time when kicking somebody... no, there is never a time when kicking or any sense of it is right. and he knows that? he knows that. after the story emerged documentary maker and influencer zara mcdermott talked of incredibly distressing incidents in the training room with di prima.

it follows accusations about the behaviour of another strictly mac dancer, giovanni pernice, towards amanda abbington. he denies it and the bbc is investigating. the bbc�*s biggest entertainment show is under pressure with questions swirling over whether the corporation has overseen an environment where misbehaviour was tolerated and insiders were too scared to report what was happening. others have blamed a culture clash with the exacting world of dance. kristina rihanoff was a strictly pro for eight years but said in recent series for the dancers and the stars it has reached another level. there was so much more pressure to deliver, to out dance each other. i do understand you get frustrated, tired, but physical abuse, obviously it is a no. and calling names is a no. it's not acceptable in our society and shouldn't be acceptable on the show. while not reaching for excuses,

graziano di prima's spokesman said it was a one—off and not a pattern of behaviour. dance show training can be brutal, he says and non—strictly there is a pressure to win. i think the bbc are aware of all the professionals and how hard they push it. these people go on the cliched journey. they go from virtual cart horses to these amazing swans. what does it take to do that? we are beginning to see it is tough. the bbc says it will always take issues of inappropriate behaviour seriously and act if they are raised. for the vast majority of contestants it adds the strictly experience is positive. katie razzall, bbc news. the time where sixth—formers and their families agonsied over personal statements for their university application forms will soon be a thing of the past, as ucas — the uk's university

admission service — say they will scrap personal statements from september next year. you can hear the national collective sigh. they believe the change will help students from disadvantaged backgrounds apply to their chosen universities. so what will happen next? instead of writing a statement limited to 4,000 characters, those applying for undergraduate courses for 2026 will be asked to answer three questions which should make the process a lot easier. let's take take a look at what they are. let's speak to evie croll, an a—level student who recently finished her ucas personal statement. she's a very young woman. she has an offer to study english at the university of cambridge in september.

thanks forjoining us here on bbc news. how daunted were you writing this statement? a lot of people dread it. it this statement? a lot of people dread it. ., , , dread it. it was definitely something _ dread it. it was definitely something that - dread it. it was definitely something that took - dread it. it was definitely something that took a i dread it. it was definitely| something that took a lot dread it. it was definitely i something that took a lot of dread it. it was definitely - something that took a lot of time, probably the longest part of applying to university. i was quite lucky i had some help from a mentor on this platform called zero gravity, and she studies english at the university of cambridge — and because i'm from a disadvantaged area, that was all free for me to use — but i know a lot of people who didn't have that support that really struggled. didn't have that support that really stru: led. ~ ., ,, didn't have that support that really stru~led. ~ . , didn't have that support that really stru: led. ~ . i. , struggled. what did you put in it? so i struggled. what did you put in it? so i basically _ struggled. what did you put in it? so i basically spoke _ struggled. what did you put in it? so i basically spoke about - struggled. what did you put in it? so i basically spoke about how - struggled. what did you put in it? | so i basically spoke about howl did so i basically spoke about how i did a lot of super curricular activities, whichjust a lot of super curricular activities, which just means activities, which just means activities outside of school based on your subjects, and i'll hopefully study english literature, so i spoke about some programmes i did at the university of cambridge, my e p i did at school, which was a 5000 word essay about literature —— e p0. hope

essay about literature -- e pq. how do ou essay about literature -- e pq. how do you feel — essay about literature -- e pq. how do you feel like _ essay about literature -- e pq. how do you feel like the _ essay about literature —— e p0. how do you feel like the statement of your quality help to get in? i think it was useful _ your quality help to get in? i think it was useful because _ your quality help to get in? i think it was useful because i was - your quality help to get in? i think| it was useful because i was advised to do it like a journey of why i wanted to study english — which is basically one of the questions that are now being implemented — so i don't think they are too different to be honest. but i think it was quite helpful because it actually gave me my voice, rather than this criteria of where i come from, how old i am, what my gcses are. it was very personal to me and quite daunting because it's so diverse, but i think it was really helpful. it breaks down into three questions, do you think it would've been ok with what they are proposing? i think if i was the first year group to have this new set of questions, i think i'd be quite worried only because i had a lot of support as i could see other people's personal statements and what i needed to

include — and they might not have as much of an idea because they would've been the first year to do and i wouldn't know how to structure it, especially for oxbridge who prioritise talking about why you like your subject, rather than other things you've done that are in relation to it.— relation to it. just briefly, results come _ relation to it. just briefly, results come out - relation to it. just briefly, results come out in - relation to it. just briefly, l results come out in august, relation to it. just briefly, - results come out in august, what do you need to get in to take this offer? i you need to get in to take this offer? ., ., you need to get in to take this offer? . ., , ., , offer? i need an a star in english literature and _ offer? i need an a star in english literature and a's _ offer? i need an a star in english literature and a's in _ offer? i need an a star in english literature and a's in my - offer? i need an a star in english literature and a's in my other. literature and a's in my other languages. literature and a's in my other languages-— literature and a's in my other languages. good luck, will be thinkina languages. good luck, will be thinking of — languages. good luck, will be thinking of you _ languages. good luck, will be thinking of you on _ languages. good luck, will be thinking of you on that - thinking of you on that all—important day, best of luck and we hope you're heading to cambridge in the autumn. thank you very much. thank you. in the autumn. thank you very much. thank ou. ., �* in the autumn. thank you very much. thank you-— in the autumn. thank you very much. thank ou. ., �* . . �* �* , a retired pianist who spent his career playing in hotel bars has found fame at the age of 92. richard cameron says he now has fans around the world after a friend posted videos of him playing on social media. phil connell has the story.

classical music plays richard cameron has played the piano for most of his 92 years. his talented fingers still as quick and as nimble as ever. the joy i like is what you can do with, say, for example, summertime. so simple. and are your fingers still as nimble today as they were 30—a0 years ago? that's about the only part of me that is! but they're still going strong? yeah, yeah. for 30 years, richard was a professional pianist, playing to guests in some of the best hotels in york and london. now, though, thanks to karl mullen, a friend and fellow musician, richard has found newfound fame, with karl posting videos of richard on his youtube channel.

they've been viewed thousands of times with richard thrilling music lovers around the world. i'll be amazed if i'm still able to play like that, if i'm still breathing at that age, but i'm able to play or able to play anything like at the level that richard can. yeah, it's... ..it's amazing. loads of nice comments. people saying, "wish he was my neighbour so i could listen "to the sounds all day". "splendid, richard." " bravo! " for richard though, who still plays the piano every day, fame in his twilight years has all been a bit bemusing. tried it for 13 years and nothing ever happened before that. and to find all of a sudden at 92 that, er... it's unbelievable. all my girlfriends seem to have gone absolutely mad. there's one in hungary, sends everything over to hungary, and there's a...

i've got quite a following out there. a whole new fan base! yeah. with help from karl, richard's planning to post more videos in the coming weeks and months, proving it's never too late to show the world what you can do. phil connell, bbc news, york. beautifully done, richard. from today, there's a special display which shows just that — the come as you really are moore exhibition showcases more than ia,000 objects collected, created or customised british hobbyists. david cilento has been to have a look. show me your hobby. laughter meet zahra nadeem and her nails. what was a private passion in her home in rochdale is now on public display in a gallery. whenever i do crazy artwork

or i show a few family or friends, they would joke and say, "that should be in an exhibition." and i would laugh and say, "no one's going to look at nails in an exhibition." and it's notjust nails. here are a collection of 2,000 carrier bags, a plastic memory lane of shopping history. 50! rubbers which over the years were left in classrooms and collected by a teacher. and here, 4,000 my little ponies. miranda worby�*s collection is so large, she had to move house. there are 14,000 objects and home—made artworks here in what is to be the first of a series of exhibitions created by the artist hetain patel. we're just kind of fascinated by hobbies and wanting to celebrate them. you know, just to see what people are doing and the different ways they are doing it. and for eleanor roberts, who makes capes as a form of therapy, this chance for her work to be seen publicly really means something. how does it feel for

you to have it on show? amazing. just amazing. from knitted beatles to painted pebbles, a snapshot of britain's hidden passions. david sillito, bbc news, croydon. that's all for me, but ben thompson is here next with the context moore. stay with us on bbc news. hello. we've seen some very warm weather today, particularly across the south and the east of the uk. it's been a bit more complicated further north and west with more cloud, a little bit of rain, but tomorrow it will be warmer generally and hot for some of us. we could see the highest temperatures of the year so far, 3i celsius possibly. quite a humid feel as well. thejet stream is running to the north of the uk at the moment, allowing us to bring in this feed of warm and humid airfrom the south. but with that increasing humidity, as we head through tonight, we will see quite a lot of mist, and murk, and low cloud rolling

into coasts and hills in the west. today's rain, i think, tending to peter out. the best of the clear skies further south and east. certainly not a cold night — in fact, quite a warm one, temperatures holding up in most places between 13—17 celsius. so, into tomorrow morning, quite a warm start, and where we see that sunshine, the best of it across england and wales, while the temperatures really will start to climb. still some of this mist and murk clinging to western coasts. northern ireland and scotland generally seeing a bit more in the way of cloud. and this frontal system will start to bring some outbreaks of rain at later. temperatures, though, 22 celsius for aberdeen, 25 celsius for liverpool, 30 celsius in london, somewhere in the southeast likely to get to 3! celsius, so well above the seasonal average. but into friday evening, we will see those misty, murky conditions out towards the west and some outbreaks of rain in northern ireland and western scotland, as this frontal system moves its way in. now this front is going to bring a big change through the weekend. it will eventually bring cooler air from the atlantic, but it looks like this front will take its time to move eastwards, so still a chance across eastern parts of england for some pretty warm weather on saturday.

some spells of sunshine here. we may see some sharp showers and thunderstorms erupting as we head through the late afternoon. but out towards the west, our frontal system bringing a slow—moving band of heavy rain. underneath the frontal system and behind it, it is going to turn cooler. so, 18 celsius for plymouth, 16 celsius for belfast. but ahead of that front, i wouldn't be at all surprised if we got up into the high—20s celsius in some parts of eastern england. however, that weather front will then slide its way northwards and eastwards, and all of us will be in the cooler air for sunday. not a bad day weather—wise — some spells of sunshine, just one or two showers, but temperatures at best between 15—22 celsius.

hello, i'm ben thompson.

you're watching the context on bbc news. ifi if i had some medical condition that emerge, if doctors said, it's probably time to go. it was just a few days ago that donald trump was almost assassinated, and that, of course is an event that looms large over this convention. as questions swirl by president biden staying in the race and show of unified dues unity with donald trump set to state we'll take the stage tonight. a matter of when, not if. the words of senior democrats tonight, as the pressure builds onjoe biden to quit the presidential race. he's currently isolating at home with — what his team describes as — �*mild covid symptoms'. his campaign events are currently on hold. also tonight: the uk government "failed its citizens".