live from washington, this is bbc news. ukraine's president rejects russia's claim that it controls the embattled city of bakhmut. translation: bakhmut | is not occupied by russian federation, as of today. there are no two or three interpretations of those words. with the clock ticking to avoid default, president biden and house speaker mccarthy say they'll resume debt negotiations on monday. and learning lesssons from covid. at its annual meeting, the world health organization looks for ways to better prepare forfuture pandemics. hello, i'm carl nasman,

thanks forjoining us. it's been an eventful weekend at the g7 summit injapan. ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky returns home after securing a pledge of �*unwavering support�*, as well as more military equipment from his allies. at the summit, dominated by talks of russia's invasion, us presidentjoe biden confirmed that the us and its allies will help train ukrainian pilots to fly western fighterjets like the f—16, which zelensky had long asked for. biden also promised to support ukraine with more ammunition and armored vehicles, partly as a demonstration of western resolve. we will not waver. putin will not break our resolve as he thought he could two years ago, almost three years ago. we are going to continue to provide economic and humanitarian and security assistance to ukraine so it can stand strong as long as it needs to. meanwhile, president zelensky thanked world leaders for their enduring support

at the end of the summit — and said that russia's defeat would result in lasting world peace. he also insisted that russia does not occupy the embattled city of bakhmut, after conflicting claims over who is now in control. yesterday, russian president vladimir putin congratulated the wagner mercenary group for capturing the eastern city — something ukraine swiftly rejected. our diplomatic correspondent james landale has more. today injapan, president zelensky honoured the dead

bakhmut is not occupied by the russian federation as of today. there are not two or three ways of interpreting those words. what is clear is tens of thousands of russians have died here, many more have been diverted from other areas and ultimately that maybe more important than who holds the ruins. for more, i spoke to michael bociurkiw, a nonresident seniorfellow at the atlantic council's eurasia center. we are hearing the conflicting news reports coming out of the city of bakhmut regarding which sergeant rick colt —— controls that city. what is your sense? do we know who controls it? it is difficult to tell, it is almost like a pr war as well.

at the end of the day, this is a city completely destroyed by the russians, many are making the russians, many are making the comparison of bakhmut to aleppo, scorched earth russian tacticts what used to be arguably one of the most beautiful cities in that part of ukraine. so, in the past more than a year, the russians have been bombing museums, libraries, churches, and they have now... libraries, churches, and they have now. . ._ have now... why was russia willin: have now... why was russia willing to — have now... why was russia willing to lose _ have now... why was russia willing to lose so _ have now... why was russia willing to lose so much, - have now... why was russia l willing to lose so much, terms supplies and human lives in this battle? is it that strategic or is it about messaging?— strategic or is it about messaging? strategic or is it about messauuin? . ., , messaging? there are a couple of reasons. _ messaging? there are a couple of reasons, one _ messaging? there are a couple of reasons, one is _ messaging? there are a couple of reasons, one is russia - messaging? there are a couple of reasons, one is russia from | of reasons, one is russia from the start has been deploying physically a meat grinder approach to this war, sending wave upon wave of human beings to fight, many of them and prepared, many of them unequipped. and secondly, mr putin needed some kind of when

to show to the russian public. they have been in the past weeks harshly criticised by military bloggers so they really needed something to show. on the other hand, ukrainians, when they see things are not going that way, they do have compassion, they put their forces away. unlike the russian meat grinder approach to fighting. is the russian meat grinder approach to fighting. is there strate . ic approach to fighting. is there strategic value _ approach to fighting. is there strategic value to _ approach to fighting. is there strategic value to the - approach to fighting. is there strategic value to the city? . strategic value to the city? they have been fighting for so long but we are also anticipating that ukraine might launch a counter offence, maybe not where near bakhmut? i launch a counter offence, maybe not where near bakhmut? i don't think it is that _ not where near bakhmut? i don't think it is that important. - not where near bakhmut? i don't think it is that important. it - think it is that important. it isn't a port city where the russians could leave the city as it is and perhaps use the port and do things like illegally ship grain. but i think the ukrainians are getting ready for a counteroffensive, it could actually be into summer. it isn't something that is going to be shocked and all, listening to the defence minister speak, listening to the defence ministerspeak, i listening to the defence minister speak, i think it is going to be in bits and pieces.

but having said all that, there is some sort of political pressure on the zelensky administration to prove that all this expensive military kit, billions of dollars are made, is going to good use. i have no doubt whatsoever, in terms of the resolve of the ukrainian government to finish this off, to push the russians back, to pre—crimea, pre—2011t and the donetsk alliance. we had more _ and the donetsk alliance. we had more commitments coming out of the g7 summit this weekend. does ukraine now have what it needs to begin this counteroffensive? it needs to begin this counteroffensive? ., , counteroffensive? it has the promises. — counteroffensive? it has the promises, the _ counteroffensive? it has the promises, the pledges, - counteroffensive? it has the promises, the pledges, but| counteroffensive? it has the l promises, the pledges, but it doesn't have all the equipment it needs. there are two critical things there, what is a more robust edifice system. just in the past hours, missiles and drones have been targeting odesa, kharkiv and her son. targeting odesa, kharkiv and herson. so, targeting odesa, kharkiv and her son. so, the ukraine's ever spending a lot of reckonwe to shoot those things down and there is a limit to how much.

on the other thing here is that with the f—i6s, of course, ukraine will have a more robust capability to shut down russian aircraft, perhaps even to strike legitimate military targets within russia, although thatis targets within russia, although that is something that causes a bit of nervousness in washington. but it is basically those two things. again, i have to point out that it will take time for these f—i6s to be delivered, we don't even know which countries will give them. and then the training, different countries have different countries have different platforms on f—i6s, different platforms on f—i6s, different software, so the best scenario would be for example the netherlands deliver 12 in one batch and then it would only require one set of training. only require one set of training-— only require one set of trainina. , , training. president zelensky was at the _ training. president zelensky was at the g7, _ training. president zelensky was at the g7, he _ training. president zelensky was at the g7, he met - training. president zelensky was at the g7, he met with | training. president zelensky l was at the g7, he met with g7 leaders and also met with the leaders and also met with the leaders of countries like india and brazil that have remained more neutral. if this conflict drags on, well those countries eventually have to pick a site?

well, i think they should have picked the right side by now and dropped their neutrality. india, vietnam, indonesia, also we would have expected south africa there, these are countries that have been sitting on the fence but i think it is very important that they make the right choice. at they make the right choice. at the end of the day, russia is weaponised including this war. none of these countries are immune from that. in fact, when ijust left odesa the other day, i saw no ships whatsoever in the porter on the horizon, russia is restricting the flow of ukrainian grain and that will reverberate across the world, including in these countries that are sitting on the fence. so, they should drop their neutrality, help ukraine to win this war, and then they won't be this food crisis that is being manufactured by russia. ., ., , ., ., russia. you mention you have been back _ russia. you mention you have been back and _ russia. you mention you have been back and forth _ russia. you mention you have been back and forth to - russia. you mention you havei been back and forth to odesa, and this beefed up air defence system that is in place not

only that but in kyiv, how much of a game changer has that been said daily life in cities across ukraine? well, it has been huge- _ across ukraine? well, it has been huge. a _ across ukraine? well, it has been huge. a few _ across ukraine? well, it has been huge. a few days - across ukraine? well, it has been huge. a few days ago, i across ukraine? well, it hasl been huge. a few days ago, i was there in the middle of the night in odesa when rockets were raining down and the defence systems were very robust and shut all of the missiles down. but i think what is happening as well from the russian side is the psychological warfare, the the blood that night when people are vulnerable, a lot of us are not getting proper sleep, especially those in kyiv. the anxiety is very high. it boggles the mind, the capability, that russia can still have that many missiles and drones. ijust spoke to ukraine's ambassador to the un and asked him about israel, for example, playing a more robust role, targeting targets in iran where these drains are being manufactured. i think israel can do more, should do more in

that regard. can do more, should do more in that regard-— can do more, should do more in that regard-_ that regard. thank you for “oininu that regard. thank you for joining us- _ a look now at some other stories making headlines. president biden will speak with republican house speaker kevin mccarthy on monday after a phone conversation signalled progress on debt limit negotiations. mccarthy said the call has been productive but that the two sides were still apart. republicans want spending cuts to pass legislation on lifting the debt ceiling in congress. the us treasury has warned of a catastrophic default if there's no deal by the end of the month. in the uk — prime minister rishi sunak is to consult his ethics adviser on monday to discuss suella braverman's handling of a speeding offence. the bbc has been told — the home secretary sought advice about arranging a private speed awareness course via officials and an aide. a government source denied she broke the ministerial code. the greek prime minister's centre—right party has claimed victory in the country's

elections. the new democracy party of kyriakos mitsotakis has over 40% of the vote, with more than two—thirds of ballots counted. but it appears to be five seats short of an outright majority. it was a disappointing day for the centre—left opposition syriza party which got only 20% of the vote. under a complicated greek electoral system, mitso—takis will need to face another vote in july to achieve an absolute majority. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. mix puppy and her squeezy toy. she can hear it but can't see it. her owner discovered she had lost her sight at the start of the pandemic.— had lost her sight at the start of the pandemic. when we got our diagnosis, _ of the pandemic. when we got our diagnosis, i _ of the pandemic. when we got our diagnosis, i was _ of the pandemic. when we got

our diagnosis, i was worried i our diagnosis, i was worried about her general quality of life, and all the things we have done so far lie, ijust thought we will never be able to do that stuff again.- to do that stuff again. faced with an uncertain _ to do that stuff again. faced with an uncertain future, - to do that stuff again. faced i with an uncertain future, even founded training to help bind dogs. she is now helping other visually impaired canines and their owners.— visually impaired canines and their owners. you need to work on confidence _ their owners. you need to work on confidence with _ their owners. you need to work on confidence with different - on confidence with different textures and sounds. how do we go about giving them a safe approach to training, without bombarding into the coffee table? i really want to help to show people that actually because a dog has lost its site, they can still have an absolutely incredible life. you're live with bbc news. "we cannot simply carry on as we did before." those are the words of the head of world health organization, dr tedros, at the start of the world health assembly in geneva. global health leaders are gathering in switzerland for the annual meeting. it comes just weeks

after the who declared that covid is no longer a global health emergency. the un's health agency has launched a new worldwide network aimed at quickly detecting the spread of infectious diseases — in an effort to be better prepared for future pandemics. for more on how that network might work, and other global health challenges, i spoke to d tom frieden — the former head of the us public health authority - the cdc. thank you so much for taking the time to speak to us today. i want to ask you about this announcement from the world health organization that it will be launching an international pathogen surveillance network. can you begin by helping us begin to understand what that might mean? ~ . , understand what that might mean? ~ ., , mean? we are seeing some encouraging — mean? we are seeing some encouraging developments. j encouraging developments. really, a commitment to collaborate globally, to share information, to share

resources, and even more importantly to build capacity in countries around the world. because even the strongest network in the world will only be as strong as its weakest link. that is why it is so crucial that we build capacity in countries. this particular network looks at things such as genomic networks, tracking the genome of different microbes, looking at waste water surveillance, looking at surveillance, looking at surveillance for pathogens that could cause death and devastation, and it can be prevented if we find them earlier and act earlier. in earlier and act earlier. in terms of _ earlier and act earlier. in terms of working together in this kind of global cooperation, china was criticised by many for perceived delays in warning the world about covid—i9 when it was first detected. how concerned are you that this new surveillance network could face similar challenges?— similar challenges? there are certainly some _ similar challenges? there are certainly some complex - similar challenges? there are l certainly some complex issues, including the sharing of

genomic information of different microbes, and who benefits from any discoveries made in vaccines and medicines used. but time limits other single most important thing to focus on that is why there is a suggested target called 717. every single outbreak would be identified within seven days of emergence, reported to public health authorities within one day, and all essential control measures in place within seven days. measures in place within seven da s. ., ., ., ~ measures in place within seven da 5. ., ., ., ~ , days. now, another who is workin: days. now, another who is working towards _ days. now, another who is working towards any - days. now, another who is i working towards any pandemic court, and one to mention something dr tetra said today, we cannot simply carry on as before. what more do we need to before. what more do we need to be going to better prepare for a potential pandemic in the future? ., ., , ., future? there are lots of thins future? there are lots of things that _ future? there are lots of things that the _ future? there are lots of things that the world - future? there are lots of i things that the world needs future? there are lots of - things that the world needs to do better. the fact is that there were successes in covid, we prevented millions of deaths around the world, but millions of people died who didn't have

to die if the public health response had been better, if time limits are finding outbreaks had been faster, faxing equity had been better. there are a whole range of things from finding outbreaks faster to having the ability to respond more effectively and more quickly to preventing wherever possible including through the use of vaccination. the covid vaccines have been remarkably effective and have saved literally millions of lives around the world but we may have been so lucky next time. and this time, we didn't do well with fairness. we allocated vaccine based on who could pay for them, rather than whose lives were at risk. the who recently _ whose lives were at risk. the who recently declared an end to the global i9 —— covid—i9 global health emergency. mas the globa119 -- covid-19 global health emergency. was at the riaht global health emergency. was at the right move? _ global health emergency. was at the right move? the _ global health emergency. was at the right move? the fact - global health emergency. was at the right move? the fact is - the right move? the fact is that covid is here to stay for the foreseeable future, it is a new health threat on the horizon, and part of our landscape. it is anything we have to deal with, we have to

hone our vaccines and hone our way of dealing with it. we've got influenza and antimicrobial resistance, and all around the world we had outbreaks of cholera, measles, and other diseases that can be controlled every work better. it is not as if we should sit around hoping the next pandemic doesn't come. we know it will come. what we can do is use the ad breaks the world is facing today to become better prepared today for tomorrow's threats. i better prepared today for tomorrow's threats. i have to ask ou tomorrow's threats. i have to ask you because _ tomorrow's threats. i have to ask you because you - tomorrow's threats. i have to ask you because you were - tomorrow's threats. i have to | ask you because you were the director of the centre for disease control back in 2016. at the time, you took action against an epidemic of prescription opioids, how would you compare that epidemic do what we are seeing now with fentanyl in the united states? we are seeing a huge problem with fentanyl and synthetic with fenta nyl and synthetic opiates with fentanyl and synthetic opiates more generally. and this is one reason we need to do better caring for people with pain so we can avoid use of opiates, which for chronic

pain have very little rail and even for acute pain have a limited role, except for acute pain that is severe. and we have to deal with addiction. we have to deal with addiction. we have many people addicted to opiates and other substances, we need support, they need support, it is a medical disease, they need support so they could have been in recovery had at the maximum positive surviving. these remind us that public health can save lives and can save money but governments need to invest and public health needs a renaissance relying on more and stronger primary health care systems and more resilient populations are more able to deal with the next health threat that comes. d0 deal with the next health threat that comes. do you think the biden administration - threat that comes. do you think the biden administration is - the biden administration is given the correct amount of attention to what is going on right now with a fentanyl crisis? . . crisis? the challenge with fentan l crisis? the challenge with fentanyl is _ crisis? the challenge with fentanyl is a _ crisis? the challenge with fentanyl is a challenge - crisis? the challenge with fentanyl is a challenge of| fentanyl is a challenge of supply are very low cost drugs in many different places, they

need to change our framework for how we deal with pain and how we deal with addiction. we have come a long way. many of things were advocating for back in 2011 even after finally being enacted, such as easy access to effective treatments. but clearly, 100,000 americans die from overdose is a terrible tragedy and we need to do much better than we are doing. in better than we are doing. in geneva, there are health leaders from all ever the world gathered from this assembly, what i hearing from then? what do they say could be the next potential health threat that we are not paying enough attention to? i are not paying enough attention to? ~' ., ., to? i think the fundamental need is for _ to? i think the fundamental need is for us _ to? i think the fundamental need is for us to _ to? i think the fundamentalj need is for us to strengthen the capacity of public health, to find whatever that next to it is quickly, to communicate effectively, to decision—makers in the public, to respond effectively, and then to implement control and prevention measures. and that means we need to not be ready

for disease eight or disease be, we need to be ready for whatever comes next, and that means strengthening our public health infrastructure, especially in countries, and collaborating among countries and with international institutions such as the world health organization.- health organization. former director of — health organization. former director of the _ health organization. former director of the cdc _ health organization. former director of the cdc under - director of the cdc under president obama, thank you so much for taking the time to speak to us. there's been another giant leap in space history, today. five, four, three, two, one. engines, full power. and lift—off. falcon 9, go active. copy one alpha. these are images from the kennedy space center in florida where the first saudi woman has voyaged into space. rayyanah barnawi, a breast cancer researcher, blasted off along with fellow saudi fighter pilot ali al-qarni on what's being called a private chartered flight. they are due to spend around 8 days on the the

international space station. the falcon 9 rocket, with a dragon spacecraft on top, together stand at 215ft, which is 30ft taller than leaning tower of pisa. now, in this week's episode of the bbc podcast americast — the team discuss the growing concern over crime in many american cities. none more so than new orleans. our north america editor sarah smithjoined me to explain more. sarah, thanks for stopping by, it's great to see you. the latest episode of americast is out now. i know you spoke with the mayor of new orleans for this particular episode. what did she tell you? we had a specific focus on crime. that was why we invited her on. and new orleans has a specific problem with crime, which, as you know, is an issue across the united states. but the murder rate is particularly high in new orleans as well, which means that citizens are particularly concerned about it. and so we had her on to talk about where that problem comes from and what she is trying to do about it.

and she's found herself in some slightly controversial circumstances there. there was actually an attempt to recall her as mayor because people were so unhappy about the crime rate there. and so she's this is quite sensitive for her. and she she laid out a case that it's to do with poverty, it's to do with inequality that hurt people, hurt people, as she said, and that you need to get to the root causes of crime before you can tackle it. it'd be very interesting to listen to her. she talks much more about that than she does about actually coming down hard on criminals. i believe we have a little bit of that conversation. let's take a listen. looking at how we can address root causes — homelessness, addiction, mental health issues. hurt people hurt people. wanting to focus on youth engagement, employment opportunities. nothing stops a bullet like a job. so millions of dollars that have been pumped in to meeting our people where they are jobs for young people that have crossed the line but have not been forgotten about.

helping them pivot into a better quality of life. the mayor of new orleans there speaking on the latest episode of americas. now, of course, you mentioned this crime is a bigger issue in the united states. it's acute in new orleans. but there are cities that are struggling with this, including murder rates all across the country. there are and there's a perception amongst people that crime is rising, particularly violent crime. now, that is not true everywhere, but it's what people think. and that's what's made it a really political issue. and of course, you get these standout moments where you saw banco brown, a homeless man in san francisco shot dead by walgreens security guard just a few days ago in the middle of a shoplifting epidemic that's going on around san francisco. and, of course, jordan nealy killed on the new york subway, held in a chokehold when he was disrupting the subway train — something that people complain is happening far too often as well. and then it gets tremendously politicized as we've seen

around both of these incidents as well. so it has become something of an important national conversation and something that democrats like mayor cantrell have often found themselves in quite a difficult position over. what about on the national level? because we hear discussions about crime taking place on capitol hill, in the white house. how has has crime become politicized on a on a broader scale? it's become a real political problem for the democrats. now that's partly because they they leapt into one of the most foolhardy political phrases i've ever heard, which was defund the police a few years ago, which wasn't even what they meant by that. but it sounded as though they were not on the side of law abiding citizens who were frightened of crime, that they weren't on the side of law and justice. that came from the death of george floyd. yeah, right. and there were arguments

about police violence and the democrats were saying that they wanted something to be done about that. but as the perception of rising crime and it rising up voters priority lists, democrats have found themselves in a position where it seems as though they are not supportive enough of law enforcement or they don't want to crack down hard enough on criminals. so that's something the white house are really worried about ahead of next year elections, and they're trying to take action on it. but it's interesting, when you go city by city and you see the new mayor that's just been sworn in in chicago, very progressive as well, not necessarily in sync with what the democrats in the white house think on crime. it's a political issue that i think is going to grow and grow in the next 18 months or so. as we look forward to that 2024 presidential election, plenty there to discuss. and all of that will be in the latest episode of america's called america's murder capital out now wherever you find your podcasts. sara smith, cohost of the bbc�*s americast, thank you so much. thank you. and if you want to hear the rest of that story, be sure to catch the latest episode of americast. just head to the podcasts tab

on the bbc sounds app. stay with us here on bbc news. hello. it's been a weekend of mixed fortunes, weather—wise. where we did see the sunshine come through, it's been pleasantly warm. in fact, sunday was the warmest day of the year so far in the uk at 23.3 degrees in the sunshine at porthmadog. but under the cloud across aberdeenshire, we only got to about 12 celsius. so, where you see the sunshine coming through, where you see the cloud makes all the difference really this time of year. and through the week ahead, things are looking mostly dry. yes, some warm sunshine around, but variable amounts of clouds. so where you do get the cloudier spells of weather, it won't feel particularly warm through this week, but generally dry is the theme. high pressure building from the atlantic through this week, a couple of weather fronts just moving around the top of that high pressure at times so there'll be a bit more cloud coming and going, particularly towards the north. now through monday, most places looking dry from the word go. we've got a bit more cloud drifting across parts of eastern england, northern england, too,

but a brighter day to come for scotland and for northern ireland. most of us, dry, just the chance perhaps of a shower towards the pennines. top temperatures between about 16 to 22 for most of us, but a little bit colder than that across the north of scotland where we've got the breeze coming in from the west here. now, heading through monday evening, overnight into tuesday, a bit of cloud again across parts of eastern england. should be frost free as we start the day on tuesday, but could just be temperatures down to about three or four degrees where we do see some of those clearer spells. so into tuesday, a slightly cooler, fresher day, probably the coolest day of the week, in fact, because just a bit of a change in those winds, just bring the winds in from a bit more of a northerly direction so cool across some eastern areas where you've got a bit of cloud and that breeze from the north sea. but actually most of us, again, having a dry, quiet day, generally light winds, a little bit cloudier in the far northwest. so temperatures varying between about 11 there in lerwick to around about 19 degrees or so further south across england and wales, probably the only day that we won't reach 20 degrees this week. into wednesday, a cold front

just pushing into the north so introducing some colder air again across the far north of scotland, and a bit more cloud. could be the odd light shower here. much of the uk again having a dry fine day. they'll be fairweather cloud bubbling up and you can see that cloud generating across parts of southern and eastern england through the day. top temperatures probably up to about 20, 21 degrees for most of us. we could just squeeze 22 there for the likes of northeast england. towards the end of the week, staying dry and settled. variable amounts of sunshine. stays dry into next weekend too. bye— bye.

the g7 summit wraps up in hiroshima. the group said it would pare back exposure to the world's second biggest economy. plus, if you've ever wanted to own a watch belonging to the last emperor of china, here is your chance. welcome to asia business report. our top story, leaders from some of the worlds richest countries have wrapped up their annual meeting in the japanese city of hiroshima. the g7 also welcomed a surprise guest, ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky. amongst the issues discussed, china and the ongoing war in ukraine. nick marsh has more. the g7 is a political

organisation but this years summit