this is bbc news: i'm samantha simmonds with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. 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... severodonetsk under fire. this battle might decide the fate of the whole donbas region, says president zelensky. the battle for the capitol laid bare. the january the 6th committee prepares to go public with its findings. and on his first trip to the democratic republic

of the congo, king philippe of belgium returns a priceless kakungu mask taken out of the country before independence in 1960. hello and welcome. the issue of gun control in the us and what to do about it has challenged us lawmakers for years. after hearing 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. of the house nancy pelosi spoke before the vote.

to those for whom a moment of silence is good enough because you don't have the courage to take the boat to protect the children, i would say, your political survival is totally insignificant. to the survival, compared to the survival of our children. , , ., ~ compared to the survival of our children. , , . ~ , ., children. the speaker started b sa in: children. the speaker started by saying this _ children. the speaker started by saying this bill _ children. the speaker started by saying this bill is - children. the speaker started by saying this bill is about. by saying this bill is about protecting our kids, that's important, yes it is but this bill doesn't do it, what this bill doesn't do it, what this bill does _ bill doesn't do it, what this bill does is take away second amendment rights, god—given rights, — amendment rights, god—given rights, protected by our constitution from law—abiding american citizens, that's what this legislation does and thars— this legislation does and that's why we should oppose it! our north america editor sarah smith was watching the testimony before that vote in the house of representatives. we should warn you, her report contains some graphic content you 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's 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. let's get more from our north america correspondent david willis. just explain what happened with this vote? the just explain what happened with this vote? ., , ., this vote? the house of representatives - this vote? the house of representatives voted l this vote? the house of- representatives voted more or less along party lines with five republicansjoining less along party lines with five republicans joining the democrats in approving these

measures, which would ban so—called ghost guns, guns without serial numbers, and would also raise the age at which hit was legal to buy a semiautomatic weapon from 18, which is the current age, to 21. that passed in the house, but there is a long way to go for such legislation to pass into law, hence that is very, very unlikely to happen. democrats control the house, this unit is divided equally, 50-50, this unit is divided equally, 50—50, and there are a lot of republicans there who oppose any amendment to this country's gun laws. so, what is likely to happen, as the best gun—control advocates can hope for is some sort of move to come out of bipartisan talks involving a small group of senators who met again today for about an hour to hammer out measures which are expected to be more modest

than those that were approved by the house of representatives today. do by the house of representatives toda . ~ ., ., , today. do we know what they mi . ht today. do we know what they might include _ today. do we know what they might include to _ today. do we know what they might include to try - today. do we know what they might include to try to - today. do we know what they might include to try to push l might include to try to push through something? it might include to try to push through something? it looks as thou:h through something? it looks as though they — through something? it looks as though they will _ through something? it looks as though they will probably - though they will probably consist of a limited extension of background checks, juvenile records and so on and the introduction, the federal introduction, the federal introduction of so—called red flag laws which enable officials to confiscate weapons officials to confiscate weapons of a person who owns them is deemed to be a risk to themselves or to other people. but all that is a long, long way from the sort of measures that president biden recommended after the u—value shooting, he called for a ban on assault weapons and for widespread background checks on those seeking to buy firearms in this country and so on. that is not going to happen, republicans oppose anything that will constrain the right of gun owners in this country to bear arms, as the constitution puts it.

let's get some of the day's other news. thailand has eased its rules on cannabis and hemp plants. people will be allowed to grow it at home but smoking it for recreational purposes is still forbidden. the country will remove cannabis and hemp plants from its narcotics list. it's part of a drive to tap into the growing interest in infused drinks and medical treatments. only the use of low potency marijuana is permitted. 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. the united nations is warning that the war in ukraine is threatening to "unleash an unprecedented wave of hunger and destitution". the comment from secretary—general antonio guterres comes as russia's foreign minister,

sergei lavrov, has denied the conflict is causing a global food crisis despite soaring prices driven by the collapse of ukrainian exports. we'll have more on the cost of living crisis in business, that's in about 25 minutes. president volodymyr zelensky says russia has suffered heavy losses in what he called a very fierce and difficult battle for the city of severodonetsk. in his nightly address, mr zelensky said in many respects the fate of the donbas region of eastern ukraine was being decided there. the regional governor says ukrainian fighters now only held the outskirts of severodonetsk and that the route connecting the city to ukrainian—held territory to the southwest was coming under heavy fire. kateryna malofieieva is a ukrainian journalist. she joins us now from kyiv. first of all, tell us what the situation is like they're in the capital now?- situation is like they're in the capital now? thank you for havin: the capital now? thank you for having me _ the capital now? thank you for having me on _ the capital now? thank you for having me on the _ the capital now? thank you for having me on the programme. | the capital now? thank you for i having me on the programme. it looks like things were back to normal, people returning to the capital of ukraine, a lot of trafficjams, but not far is on this week and today, the capital again was hit by

missiles, and it was not far from my home, i woke up in the morning. so even if on the surface things look normal, that slowly and gradually, life is coming back, in the reality, it's too early to talk about a returning to the normal life, it's also connected to the economy of the country, the economy of the country, the economy and fighting in many regions inside of the country. let's talk about the situation in the east. you are heading to the don best region in a few days, and we were hearing about that at all for the city of severodonetsk. what are you hearing from the region, have you spoken to people there? the

connection _ you spoken to people there? the connection in _ you spoken to people there? the connection in many you spoken to people there? tta: connection in many towns you spoken to people there? tt2 connection in many towns across the donbas region is now limited or cut off because of the heavy fighting, so it's extremely difficult for me to understand that for example i have no information about whereabouts people who i interviewed for the past eight years living on the frontline regions, so information is unclear for regions, so information is unclearfor me. but i am in touch with the military who informs me about the situation from the areas, and severodonetsk, in the south, when i see pictures of the towns with damage and the destruction, it's very difficult to see that, life was more or less normal, everyone was tired and had fatigue of

the war, but it is nasty comparing what has happened now and how life is extremely affected, it's interesting to say that, on the other side of the frontline, which is now much longer than it was in february, before the war started in february this year, the line was for 20 kilometres, now it is 1,500 kilometres long. and it's also, we forget about people, we always talk about people, we always talk aboutjournalists about people, we always talk about journalists about the position ukrainians have, there are ukrainian citizens who live on the other side which a separatist control, the russian controlled area, and luhansk, the towns and cities that are also being shelled recently. this is a war that affects

massive amount of people. president biden has told the summit of the americas in los angeles, that democracy is under assault around the world but is the essential ingredient to the future of the americas. access to food and enable the climate crisis to be tackled head on. but the summit has been overshadowed by a row over the guest list. mexico, bolivia and several other countries refused to send their leaders to the summit in protest at washington's exclusion of cuba, venezuela and nicaragua, which the white house said were led by dictators. in a speech opening the summit, president biden warned democracy was under threat around the world. in a moment, when democracy is under assault around the world, let us unite again and renew our conviction that democracy is not only the defining

feature of american histories but the essential ingredient to america's futures. 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. the city of severodonetsk under bombardment. president zelensky says this battle could decide the fate of the whole donbas region. the house committee investigating the attack on capitol hill last year is preparing to go public with its findings.

members have interviewed more than 1,000 people and gathered more than 100,000 documents, piecing together a detailed account of the day a mob of donald trump's supporters stormed congress. they say they have a gripping story to tell in a series of six hearings over the next few weeks. barbara plett usher reports. it was an astonishing attack on the capital stormed by supporters of a defeated president trying to the election results. the investigation into ohio and why it election results. the investigation into ohio and why it happened election results. the investigation into ohio and why it happened is election results. the investigation into ohio and why it happened is the election results. the investigation into ohio and why it happened is the most sweeping of the conduct by congress. but much is already known because these graphic scenes played out on television than screens in real—time. taste than screens in real-time. we fi . ht like than screens in real-time. we fight like hell _ than screens in real—time. 2 fight like hell and if you don't fight like hell you are not going to have a country anymore. not going to have a country anymore-— not going to have a country an more. ~ , ,�* , anymore. and president trump's fi . htin . anymore. and president trump's fighting words — anymore. and president trump's fighting words that _ anymore. and president trump's fighting words that they - anymore. and president trump's fighting words that they echoed l fighting words that they echoed around the world. what happened here was shocking. it was dramatic and it was a year and a half ago. americans have a

lot of other things on their minds right now so the committee is hoping to grab the attention with a blockbuster event with video and testimony and new details arguing that the threat to democracy still remains. the committee is determined to shape the narrative of that tumultuous days. it's focused on what the president did and when he did it. ~ ., , ., it. we were getting ready to win this election. _ it. we were getting ready to win this election. frankly, i it. we were getting ready to l win this election. frankly, we did when the selection.- did when the selection. from the point _ did when the selection. from the point when _ did when the selection. from the point when he _ did when the selection. from the point when he refused i did when the selection. from the point when he refused to| the point when he refused to accept thatjoe biden had won the election and took steps to "stop the steal". what was his goal? did he want his supporters to go this far and whether militias who marched to the capitol part of a conspiracy directive from the top? more than 800 of the rioters have charged. a big question is whether the president will also be prosecuted stopping the committee only has the power to recommend legal action. t committee only has the power to recommend legal action.- recommend legal action. i think the committee _ recommend legal action. i think

the committee believes - recommend legal action. i think the committee believes he - recommend legal action. i think the committee believes he hasl the committee believes he has committed crimes. a federal judge has actually ruled he likely committed felony conspiracy to do what he did, but whetherjustice department takes that view i think that is going to be a much longer story. going to be a much longer sto . , ., , , going to be a much longer sto. story. the story is also about the role played _ story. the story is also about the role played by _ story. the story is also about the role played by trump's i story. the story is also about i the role played by trump's aids and loyalist republican lawmakers. their private communications have been examined stopping the rejected subpoenas to testify and after initial criticism the party has rallied around trump. john was inside the capitol building the day of the riot. see inside the capitol building the day of the riot.— inside the capitol building the day of the riot. see a crowd of americans _ day of the riot. see a crowd of americans openly _ day of the riot. see a crowd of americans openly attacking i day of the riot. see a crowd of| americans openly attacking us capitol police is just stunning. capitol police is 'ust stunningi capitol police is 'ust stunninu. .,, ,., ., stunning. he has reported on the investigation _ stunning. he has reported on the investigation since - stunning. he has reported on the investigation since but i stunning. he has reported on the investigation since but in | the investigation since but in this toxic partition atmosphere, what can be achieved?— atmosphere, what can be achieved? ~ ., ., achieved? whether or not it chan . es achieved? whether or not it changes anything, - achieved? whether or not it changes anything, congress achieved? whether or not it - changes anything, congress has to put down a marker, there can't be an attack on the capitol and congress doesn't respond. capitol and congress doesn't resond. , ., , capitol and congress doesn't resond. , ., respond. democrats could lose their congressional _

respond. democrats could lose their congressional majority i their congressional majority and mid—term elections. they will be trying to persuade voters to hold republicans accountable for the capitol attack. 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. the bbc�*s tim allman reports. at a ceremony in kinshasa, a symbol, perhaps, of a new beginning. this giant mask, known as kakungu, being returned to its rightful home, just one of more than 80,000 artefacts taken during colonial rule that will now be given back. newsreel: with unrest | brewing elsewhere among colonial possessions overseas... belgium was in charge here from 1885 until 1960. it was, at times, a particularly brutal occupation. during the earliest period,

as many as 10 million people are thought to have died. translation: the colonial regime was based on i 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, i wish to reaffirm my deepest regrets for these past wounds. and yet, despite this dark history, the people of kinshasa seemed to offer the warm welcome to the descendant of their former rulers. "during his speech he said he'd not forgotten "everything that had happened" said this woman. "he remembers perfectly our past, which was so tragic." "saying a few words in lingala is something "that has touched me a lot," said this man. "we didn't expect the king to acknowledge "some of the wrongdoings we have had to endure." earlier in the day, ling philippe gave a medal to corporal albert kunyu ku,

the last surviving congolese soldier who fought with the belgians in world war ii. if this is a new beginning, an attempt to build a new future, it's important not to forget the past. tim allman, bbc news. ambassador rama yade, is the senior director of the atlantic council's africa center — she told us more about the importance of the visit. this visit was originally scheduled forjune 2020, for the 16th anniversary of congo's independence and it has been postponed three times because of the pandemic and the war in ukraine but it was necessary, also necessary to organise it before the presidential elections to avoid being accused of interfering with the elections. so this visit, like you said in the report, has a very strong memorial dimension since the king has planned to visit the memorial veterans, where the issue of the restitution of art

objects is discussed right now and during his pitch on the esplanade of the parliament today, the king reiterated his regrets about the colonisation and its impact but some are already disappointed because they were awaiting more apologies and reparations. let's catch—up with all the latest sports news. hello there, i'm gavin ramjaun, and this is your update from the bbc sport centre. golf gets set for a new, and controversial series on thursday with the start of the new saudi—backed liv invitational events. the first one, at the centurion club just outside london. many of the game's big names have chosen to compete, putting their allegiance with the pga tour, the premier week to week golf competition, on the line. big prize money and appearance fees are being offered — dustinjohnson and phil mickelson are some of the top names involved in the series, eight events in total, and worth $255 million.

six time major winner mickelson refused to deny he's banned from the pga, but says the decision to play the liv series was in his best interests. people may not agree with my decision to play liv golf, my timing. i understand that. a empathise with that but this is, what i think is the right decision for me, the people care about at this time. some more international football to bring you from the nations league in europe portugal and spain are both in group action on thursday. but belgium responded emphatically to their opening group game defeat. they hammered poland six goals to one on wednesday in brussels after going a goal down. kevin de bruyne on the scoresheet for them, as belgium go second in their group behind the netherlands, who made it two from two, after toppling wales with a late stoppage winner. the delayed trial of sepp blatter and michel platini, is due to get underway

on thursday, after the former fifa president said he was too ill to testify. he and former uefa chief platini, are accused of fraud. swiss prosecutors claim a 2011 payment ofjust over $2 million made by blatter to platini was unlawful. blatter said he was unable to address the court in bellinzona on wednesday due to chest pains. both men deny the charges. and the hills are back, with plenty of short, sharp climbs. for stage five to chaintre of the criterium du dauphine on thursday. wout van aert of belgium is in the overall lead still but he was pipped to the finish on stage four�*s time trial, by the world time trial champion filippo ganna, of ineos grenadiers. but van aert extended his overall lead and will take a 53 second advantage over mattia cattaneo into stage five.

the second test of the three match series between england and new zealand gets underway at trent bridge on friday. england lead 1—0 after a close game at lords in what was ben stokes first match since taking over as captain and brendan mccullum's first as head coach. world test champions new zealand will be without all—rounder colin de grandhomme but fellow bowler kyle jamieson trusts they've got the quality to level the series. he's done such a good job over a long period of time and they are not going to panic after this one game. we certainly know there was moments in the scans we could have probably seized and been a little bit better and. you can get all the latest sports news at our website, that's bbc.com/sport. but from me, gavin ramjaun, and the rest of the team we'll see you next time. sir david attenborough has been officially appointed a knight grand cross of the order of st michael and st george. he was given the honour by the prince of wales at windsor castle for

services to broadcasting and conservation. sir david, 96, was called a "visionary environmentalist" by the duke of cambridge at saturday's platinum jubilee party at the palace. you can reach me on twitter — i'm @samanthatvnews. i will be back very shortly with all the day's top tories. —— top business stories. 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 40—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.

this is bbc news with the latest business headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the sick man of the developed world. prime minister borisjohnson to set out plans to rejuvenate the uk economy as inflation, war and brexit take their toll. behind the curve. after eight years of stimulus measures is it finally time for europe's central bank to raise the cost of borrowing? keeping the deal alive. twitter agrees to share user data with elon musk after he threatens to walk away from his $41; billion takeover. plus: land of the rising prices. how the cost of living squeeze has ended more than two decades of deflation in japan.