welcome to bbc news, i'm simon pusey. our top stories: gun control measures are once again approved by the us house of representatives, but they're unlikely to become law. it comes after a harrowing day of testimony. he shot my friend and a thought he was gonna come back to the room so they got the blood and i've put it all over me. renewed bombardment of ukraine's second largest city, kharkiv, as severodonetsk in the donbas region also comes under heavy fire. president biden arrives to open the summit of the americas in los angeles, and steps straight into controversy.

and on his first trip to the democratic republic of the congo, king philippe of belgium apologises for the racism and violence of his country's colonial rule in africa. welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. the issue of gun control in the us and what to do about it has challenged us lawmakers for years. today as they heard searing testimony from victims and their families of the recent mass shooting in texas, the house of representatives approved a series of measures aimed at regulating the sale of guns. but the proposals do not have the 60 votes they would need for approval in the senate, and hence are likely to go nowhere, underlining the challenge politicians face.

our north america editor sarah smith was watching the testimony, we should warn you her report contains some graphic content which some may find distressing. this is the last photograph of lexi rubio, getting a school prize just hours before she was shot dead, the last time her parents saw her. we don't want you to think of lexi as just a number. she was intelligent, compassionate and athletic. she was quiet, shy, unless she had a point to make. when she knew was right, as she so often was, she stood her ground. kimberly rubio is demanding lawmakers take action on gun control to ban assault weapons like the one used in uvalde, texas. so today we stand for lexi, and as her voice we demand action. we seek a ban on assault rifles and high—capacity magazines. we understand that, for some reason, to some people — to people with money, to people who fund political

campaigns — that guns are more important than children. so at this moment we ask for progress. miah cerrillo was in the classroom when the gunman burst in. in this video recorded for the committee, she told them what happened. as the shooting continued, she smeared herself in the blood of a classmate to pretend she was dead. dr roy guerrero described the horror of seeing the first young casualties arrive at the hospital. but what i did find was something no prayer will ever relieve. two children whose bodies had been pulverised by bullets fired at them,

decapitated, whose flesh had been ripped apart, that the only clue of their identities was their blood splattered cartoon clothes still clinging to them. clinging for life and finding none. the tragedy in uvalde has provoked a nationwide conversation about gun control. there are cross—party talks going on about new laws, but any legislation they can agree on will fall far short of what is being demanded. there will not be a ban on assault weapons. they can't even agree on raising the legal minimum age to buy one from 18 to 21. president biden is powerless to do anything about gun control without the support of at least some republicans. so despite an epidemic of mass shootings across america, nearly 250 already this year, any significant reform remains highly unlikely. sarah smith, bbc news, washington. joining us is patrick murray, the founding director of monmouth university polling institute, who is in newjersey.

when it comes to polling, what do we know about americans and where they stand on gun control? it where they stand on gun control?— where they stand on gun control? , , ., ., , ., control? it depends on how you ask the question. _ control? it depends on how you ask the question. there are a l ask the question. there are a number of different proposals that are out there that have widespread support, at least three quarters or up to 90%. these are things like background checks, red flag laws which are the laws where you can go to a judge and petition to have somebody who you feel as a threat themselves or to society not be to own a gun and raising the age to 21 to buy a gun. those are things that pretty much there is widespread support on. the question is, does support turn into a demand? and that is where things fall apart and there are a lot of republicans out there, particularly lawmakers who feel that there's not enough pressure on them that they feel that they need to do that. 50 that they feel that they need to do that-— to do that. so you say in general _ to do that. so you say in general most _ to do that. so you say in general most do -

to do that. so you say in j general most do support to do that. so you say in - general most do support some kind of form of gun control but when it gets to this pacific's and semantics, that is where it gets complicated?— and semantics, that is where it gets complicated? yes, because it becomes _ gets complicated? yes, because it becomes a _ gets complicated? yes, because it becomes a question _ gets complicated? yes, because it becomes a question about - it becomes a question about fundamental rights. it is very difficult to explain this to a european audience, but it is built into the american psyche. it is the second amendment of our constitution, the right to bear arms. the reasons for it are to have a militia that is able to be called up very quickly in case we are attacked, as was a threat to 150 years ago but it becomes built into our psyche, the idea of the wild west being tamed by people with guns, this is an idea that is very hard to get people on board, they see the common sense of it but at the end of the day you appeal to that base americanism and there are a number of people who say you know, we might not be able to change this or we have be careful that is not a threat to our fundamental right to own a

gun. our fundamental right to own a nun. �* ., our fundamental right to own a . un, �* ., �* . ., gun. built into the american -s che gun. built into the american psyche of— gun. built into the american psyche of course _ gun. built into the american psyche of course but - gun. built into the american l psyche of course but also built into the american psyche is surely some natural instinct in terms of when there are mass shootings day after day, that begins to change, surely? you would wish. _ begins to change, surely? you would wish. but _ begins to change, surely? you would wish. but we _ begins to change, surely? 7m, would wish. but we have seen too many of these and things haven't changed, and that is what it comes down to, is that there is enough folks in the middle who support these measures but won't go to the mat for them and what they mean by that is that they look at what is happening around the world and the kind of it and say, sorry, not around the world, around this country, and they say well it is probably not going to happen in my neighbourhood or a will be immune and that is what it is coming down to as, i think most americans really don't fully understand how much of an epidemic gun violence is here, relative to almost every other country in the western world and so that is why. americans are kind of blinkered. we do

our polling on them, theyjust don't really understand how different it is here in america thanit different it is here in america than it is everywhere else. that is really interesting about how you ask the question depending on what the answer is. that's all we have time for, thank you very much indeed for, thank you very much indeed for coming on. ukraine's second city of kharkiv, has come under renewed attack with a number of russian missile strikes over the past 2a hours. although russia's main focus remains the donbas region further south, kharkiv is just 20 miles from the border, and the strikes have raised concerns that it could again become a target for intensive russian artillery fire. wirra davies has this report from the city. after a relatively benign few weeks, kharkiv has again become the focus of russian attacks. a late—night missile strike on this shopping centre in the eastern suburbs caused considerable damage, but no casualties. elsewhere in the city, a man was reportedly killed and several others injured in another bombing.

explosions. right at the start of this war, as russian troops invaded, there was intense fighting around kharkiv, a key russian objective. ukraine's second largest city, an important industrial complex and just 20 miles from the russian border. but ukrainian troops prevailed... shouting. ..forcing the russians back, but not far. and that's the problem. from just across the border, kharkiv and its 1.4 million residents are still well within range of russian artillery and missiles. translation: we are worried because people started coming back to the city with their children and families, yet it's all starting again, really bad things. the bombardments are

even more intense. much of the focus of recent russian attacks has been down in the donbas region, but recent intelligence reports do suggest that the russians might be regrouping and refocusing, attacking again places like kharkiv further to the north. it's a monumental effort defending the donbas cities of severodonetsk and lysycha nsk, where civilians struggle to survive under relentless russian fire. if russia was to amplify the northern and eastern fronts, it would undoubtedly stretch limited ukrainian resources. president zelensky has appealed for more military help. longer range rocket launchers have been promised by the uk and others, but time is of the essence. explosion. wyre davies, bbc news, kharkiv. let's get some of the day's other news. a woman has been killed and 1a school children injured after a car drove into a crowd on a street in berlin.

the person who died was a schoolteacher who was on a trip with a class of teenagers. the driver, a 29—year—old man has been detained, but police say it is unclear whether the incident was intentional or an accident. dozens of human rights groups are putting pressure on the un human rights chief to resign immediately, arguing that she whitewashed the situation in china during her visit there last month. they say michelle bachelet had squandered a rare chance to push for accountability over what they allege is beijing's systematic human rights violations against muslim uyghurs and others in the xinjiang region. former hollywood film producer harvey weinstein is facing two criminal charges of indecent assault. the alleged offences took place in london 26 years ago. the metropolitan police charged mr weinstein after reviewing the evidence against him. more than 90 women have filed a lawsuit against the fbi for failing to stop the convicted sex abuser larry nassar, despite knowing of complaints against him.

the claimants, who include the us olympic medallist simone biles, are seeking more than $1 billion in collective damages. sir, you do not deserve to walk outside of a prison ever again. thejudge was addressing outside of a prison ever again. the judge was addressing the former us domestics coach larry nassar. more than four years ago, after handing him a life sentence for sexually abusing young women and girls. she called it his death warrant. butjustice came far called it his death warrant. but justice came far too called it his death warrant. butjustice came far too late. according to dozens of women who say they were abused by him. they are planning on suing the fbi for over $1 billion, arguing the agency's failure to act allowed the dock to assault them. the star claimants include olympic gold—medallist simone biles, ali reisman and

michaela maroney who testified in front of the us senate last year. in front of the us senate last ear. , ., ., ., . year. they allowed a child molester _ year. they allowed a child molester to _ year. they allowed a child molester to go _ year. they allowed a child molester to go free - year. they allowed a child molester to go free for i year. they allowed a child i molester to go free for more than a yearand molester to go free for more than a year and this an action directly allowed nassar�*s abuse to continue. what is the point of reporting abuse of our own fbi agents are going to take it upon themselves to bury that report in a drawer? the upon themselves to bury that report in a drawer?— report in a drawer? the fbi's own watchdog _ report in a drawer? the fbi's own watchdog came - report in a drawer? the fbi's own watchdog came to - report in a drawer? the fbi's own watchdog came to the l report in a drawer? the fbi's- own watchdog came to the same conclusion in a scathing report last year. had found the agency allowed the abuse to continue for more than a year after the case was first opened in 2015. it also pointed to numerous mistakes and cover—ups by agents. mistakes and cover-ups by auents. , ., , , agents. they did not properly handle the allegations, - agents. they did not properly handle the allegations, theyl handle the allegations, they didn't properly handle them off to a differentjurisdiction or take them seriously in terms of doing proper interviews, and

that when they were asked about it by investigators, they made false statements and lied about what happened. but false statements and lied about what happened.— what happened. but despite all this the suit _ what happened. but despite all this the suit comes _ what happened. but despite all this the suit comes as - what happened. but despite all this the suit comes as the - this the suit comes as the justice department wants again declined to prosecute the two fbi agents concerned, claiming there is a lack of evidence. that is why michaela maroney described the suit as their only path to justice and healing. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: it's the most lucrative golf tournament ever and probably one of the most controversial. what's the story with the liv tournament about to get under way in england? the day the british

liberated the falklands. and by tonight, british troops have begun the task of disarming the enemy. in the heart of the west german capital, this was gorbymania at its height. the crowd packed to see the man who, for them, has raised great hopes for an end to the division of europe. it happened as the queen moved towards horse guards parade - for the start of- trooping the colour. gunshots the queen looks worried, but recovers quickly. - as long as they'll pay to go see me, i'll get out there and kick �*em down the hills. what does it feel like to be the first man to go across the channel by your own power? it feels pretty neat. - it feels marvellous, really. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: new gun control measures have been passed by the us house of representatives but they

do not have the votes they would need for approval in the senate. ukraine's second city, kharkiv, comes under bombardment, as severodonetsk and cities in the donbas region take heavy fire. president biden has opened the summit of americas in los angeles. it is supposed to be a chance for the white house to demonstrate its leadership on big regional issues such as migration but the summit is already marred by controversy. washington didn't invite the leaders of cuba, nicaragua and venezuela, calling the leaders of these countries "dictators". our correspondent, david willis, joins us now. how significant is it that these countries are not attending?— these countries are not attendin: ? ~ ., , , attending? the white house is seekin: attending? the white house is seeking to _ attending? the white house is seeking to downplay _ attending? the white house is seeking to downplay the - attending? the white house is i seeking to downplay the absence of the mexican president and some other key leaders. they make a point that 23 heads of state will be in attendance, they make the point that the

mexican president, mr lopes on the door will be meeting with joe biden next month one—on—one at the white house, and they say this is a good opportunity to discuss serious subjects such as the pandemic, immigration and climate control but for all of their attempts to dismiss the absences, this is a real blow because this was hailed as an opportunity for the united states to rekindle its ties with countries in the region, countries that have grown closer in many cases to china in the absence owns of strong leadership from the united states and as the mexican president put it, you can't have a summit of the americas if you don't have all the countries of the americas in attendance. brute the countries of the americas in attendance.— in attendance. we are 'ust seeinu in attendance. we are 'ust seeing joe i in attendance. we are 'ust seeing joe biden �* in attendance. we are just seeing joe biden address | in attendance. we are just i seeing joe biden address the conference there, of pressing issues but what are the main things the agenda? president biden is expected _ things the agenda? president biden is expected to - things the agenda? president| biden is expected to announce plans for an economic

partnership with the region including increased investment on the part of the united states, more preferable trade deals, the strengthening of regional supply lines, and so on, but there will be no tariff decreases by the sounds of it and it will be confined, these agreements, to countries with whom the united states already has some sort of trade agreement in place, by the very fact that as well as mexico, the heads of countries such as guatemala and honduras and el salvador will also be absent, makes it very difficult for the organisers of this summit to credibly say that they have reached some sort of agreement on for the example the thorny issue of immigration which looms larger with this gathering of those nations, those absent nations, among those absent nations, among those that contribute the most migrants to the situation on the southern border of the united states.—

united states. absolutely, david willis _ united states. absolutely, david willis live _ united states. absolutely, david willis live there - united states. absolutely, david willis live there in i united states. absolutely, i david willis live there in la, thank you for bringing us up to date. king philippe of belgium has condemned the discrimination and racism of his country's colonial rule in africa. he made the comments on a week—long trip to the democratic republic of the congo. while there, he returned a tribal mask — one of thousands of artefacts taken during belgian rule. ata at a ceremony in kinshasa, a symbol perhaps of a new beginning. this giant mask being returned to its rightful home, just one of more than 80,000 artefacts taken during colonial rule that will now be given back. colonial rule that will now be given back-— colonial rule that will now be civen back. ~ , , given back. with unrest brewing elsewhere... _ given back. with unrest brewing elsewhere... belgium _ given back. with unrest brewing elsewhere... belgium was - given back. with unrest brewing elsewhere... belgium was in - elsewhere... belgium was in charue elsewhere... belgium was in charge here _ elsewhere... belgium was in charge here from _ elsewhere... belgium was in charge here from 1885 - elsewhere... belgium was in charge here from 1885 until. charge here from 1885 until 1960. it was at times a particularly brutal occupation.

during the earliest period as well as 10 million people are thought to have died. the colonial regime _ thought to have died. the colonial regime was - thought to have died. tie: colonial regime was based on exploitation and domination. it was a regime marked by discrimination and racism. on my first trip to the congo here in front of the congolese people, they wish to reaffirm my deepest regret is that these past wounds. my deepest regret is that these past wounds-— past wounds. and yet, despite this dark history, _ past wounds. and yet, despite this dark history, the - past wounds. and yet, despite this dark history, the people i this dark history, the people of kinshasa seemed to offer the warm welcome to the descendant of their former rulers. of theirformer rulers. translation: during his speech he said he had not forgotten everything that had happened said this woman. he remembers perfectly our past which was so tragic. perfectly our past which was so tra . ic. .. , ., perfectly our past which was so traaic. ,, ., ., , , tragic. saying a few words is something _ tragic. saying a few words is something that _ tragic. saying a few words is something that has - tragic. saying a few words is something that has touched | tragic. saying a few words is . something that has touched me tragic. saying a few words is - something that has touched me a lot of said this man. we did not expect the king to acknowledge some of the wrongdoings we have had to endure. earlier in the dating philippe gave a to corporal

albert, the last surviving congolese soldier who fought with the belgians in world war ii. if this is a new beginning, and attempt to build a new future, it's important not to forget the past. ambassador rama yade, is the senior director of the atlantic council's africa center — she joins us now from washington. what exactly does this visit and its symbolism mean? this visit was initially _ and its symbolism mean? t�*u 3 visit was initially scheduled forjune 2020, the 60th anniversary of congo's independence, it has been postponed three times because of the pandemic in the war in ukraine, but it was necessary and so necessary to organise it before the presidential elections to avoid being accused of interfering with the election, as it is visit, like you said, in your report, has a very strong memorial timing since the king has planned to

visit the memorial veterans, where the issue of the restitution of our objects as discussed, and during his speech, the king reiterated his regrets about its impact but some are already disappointed because they were expecting more opportunities and reparations. j more opportunities and reparations.— more opportunities and reparations. i was going to sa , an reparations. i was going to say, an admission - reparations. i was going to say, an admission of - reparations. i was going to l say, an admission of racism there, million suffered under colonialism and colonisation, does this go to some way to repair the damage or is there more to do?— more to do? this is the first visit of the _ more to do? this is the first visit of the king _ more to do? this is the first visit of the king of— more to do? this is the first visit of the king of the - visit of the king of the belgians to this former colony, but the first by the king of belgium in 12 years. in 2020, when the king expressed his deep regrets on the occasion of

the 60th anniversary of independence i was just independence i wasjust mentioning over the violence committed by the belgians under the leopold ii, people said it is not enough, and regarding this past, obviously more today than before and this official visit is around, for example, this incredible story, the body of the first democratically elected prime minister of congo who was an icon in congo, and he was assassinated after announcing those crimes in 1961, has been dissolved in acid, so in order to make him disappear completely, and a police officer described a type of hunting trophy secretly there is over a0 years and this

is still in belgium, and congo wanted back.— is still in belgium, and congo wanted back. looks like there is more to _ wanted back. looks like there is more to go _ wanted back. looks like there is more to go to _ wanted back. looks like there is more to go to please - is more to go to please everyone. weighs it all happening now? it has been delayed a couple of years but why has it taken so long for to happen? why has it taken so long for to ha en?�* , why has it taken so long for to hauen?�* , , , why has it taken so long for to hau�*en? , , , , happen? because this visit is also an answer— happen? because this visit is also an answer that - happen? because this visit is| also an answer that mobilised after the murder of george floyd here in the united states. in belgium, the black lives matter movement has been widely prolonged by the descendant generations, so it has a domestic dimension and impact and that's why the king is travelling right now in congo, but in the meantime, it's a taboo, because it took a long time before this trip has been made possible.- long time before this trip has

been made possible. that's all we've got _ been made possible. that's all we've got time _ been made possible. that's all we've got time for, _ been made possible. that's all we've got time for, live - been made possible. that's all we've got time for, live there l we've got time for, live there for us in washington, thank you much indeed for explaining the situation. the world of men's professional golf is being rocked by a breakaway saudi—backed tournament that's about to get underway in the english town of st albans. the eight events will have prize money totalling £200 million, with many players rumoured to be getting hundreds of millions more simply for turning up. the us golf body, the pga, has threatened to ban any of its members that play in the events. our sports editor dan roan has the story. some players have resigned from the player �*s body to avoid having disciplinary action taken against them. a quick reminder of our headlines now. gun control measures once again approved by the us house of representatives are unlikely to become law, coming after a

harrowing day of testimony. that's all we've got time for now, stay tuned to bbc news. good morning. wednesday was certainly a day of contrasting conditions. if you managed to keep the sunshine, you also had some warmth. it was very pleasant out there. in fact, we saw a high of 23.5 celsius in london through wednesday afternoon. but there were some showers, and if you got caught in one or two of them, you would certainly know about it. they were heavy with hail and thunder at times. in fact, if we take a look back at wednesday, we had some fairly persistent rain throughout the day moving through central and northern scotland and a cluster of showers piling in behind. some of those, as i say, heavy and thundery. those showers tending to fade away as we speak, and we keep some clear skies over the next few hours across central and southern england, a little bit of nuisance cloud further north with an odd isolated shower. but it will be a relatively mild start to thursday morning, temperatures holding up, 10—12 celsius.

the best of the sunshine certainly across central and southern parts of england first thing in the morning. we'll see cloud and light, patchy rain gathering in from the west. that's going to drift its way steadily eastwards, so eventually the sunshine being nibbled away with cloud as it moves its way steadily eastwards. we'll keep some light rain and some misty, murky conditions along west—facing coasts, the highest temperatures where we see the best of the sunshine — 22 degrees, 72 fahrenheit. and it's certainly worth bearing in mind if you are a hay fever sufferer that where we've got that sunshine, grass pollen is now reaching its peak, so very high levels of pollen expected through the course of the afternoon. so, if we move out of thursday into friday, we've got this area of low pressure. it is the ex—tropical storm alex, the remnants of that storm bringing some windy conditions to the far north and west but also some warmth, as it's a south—westerly wind to go with it. so we keep a cluster of showers and winds perhaps gusting in excess of a0—50 mph in exposed coasts. but across much of england

and wales, with some sunshine coming through, a breezy afternoon but warm with it. we could see highs of 23 degrees. that low pressure just drifts to the north of scotland, so we still keep the squeeze in the isobars, the strongest of the winds here, but high pressure is starting to build in from the southwest, calming things down quite nicely. so, yes, some showers to the north and west and still a fresh breeze to contend with, but an improving picture as we go through the weekend.

hello. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: the us house of representatives has approved a series of measures aimed at regulating the sale of guns, including raising the age for purchasing semi—automatic rifles. but the proposals do not have the 60 votes they would need for approval in the senate, and are unlikely to become law. ukraine's second city of kharkiv has come under renewed attack from a number of russian missile strikes. the city of severodonetsk is also under heavy fire. prime minister volodomyr zelenzky says, in many respects, the fate of the donbas region is being decided in that region. president biden has arrived in los angeles to open the summit of the americas, which has become bogged down

in controversy before it begins. the us didn't invite the leaders of cuba,