i'm sumi somaskanda. welcome to the programme. we start tonight in moscow — the russian capital has been targeted by multiple drones, in what's been described as the most dangerous attack on russia's capital since the second world war. officials said eight drones had reached the city and caused some damage, but most had been shot down. ukraine has denied any involvement. russia's president vladimir putin said the drones were aimed at "civilian targets" and that russia "reserves the right to take the harshest possible measures" against kyiv. he also promised to improve air defences around the city following the attacks. translation: the kyiv regime chose a different _ translation: the kyiv regime chose a different path - translation: the kyiv regime chose a different path of- chose a different path of frightening brasher, frightening brasher, frightening the citizens of russia and hitting residential buildings. of course, this is a clear sign of terrorist activity. clear sign of terrorist activity-— clear sign of terrorist activi . activity. -- frightening

russia- _ white house press secretary karinejean pierre raised concerns about the strikes. we do not support the use of us made equipment being used for attacks inside russia, we've been very clear about that, and we continue to do that. we have been clear notjust publicly but privately with the ukrainians. meanwhile, ukraine says four people have been killed in the past day from russian drone strikes. these are the latest pictures coming in to us from kyiv. officials said air defence systems destroyed many of the drones, but debris hit a residential building in kyiv overnight. 3a people were injured, including two children. our diplomatic correspondent james landale is in the ukrainian capital. ukraine has denied responsibility for the attacks in moscow, but i wouldn't describe their denials as full throated. one adviser said very specifically, we have nothing directly to do without. now, thatis directly to do without. now, that is a phrase that leaves open a wealth of other

possibilities. but what has been striking has been the willingness people here in kyiv to express grim satisfaction at what's been happening in moscow. one adviser said he was watching with pleasure. a spokesman for the air force said on social media, red, rejoice. that's because there were no complaints in kyiv that people in moscow are getting a taste of what people in the capital of ukraine are experiencing on an almost nightly basis. now, there are clearly risks for ukraine here. if western allies think incidents like this are in any way escalate ore, could make the war worse, could in any way because western allies to restrict military aid, that could potentially have an impact. but the british foreign secretary james cleverly was asked about this, he is on a trip in estonia, and he didn't seem unduly concerned. he said

ukraine had every right to project force outside of its border. i think that is something people here would agree with. they would view the attacks on moscow as a relatively modest, relatively small, compared to the bloody onslaught that they have endured for weeks now. earlier i spoke to lt gen doug lute, former us ambassador to nato, about escalating airstrikes on both moscow and kyiv. great to have you on our show. drone attacks have hit moscow, as we've heard. we have also seen cross—border attacks on russian territory, and previously a drone attack on the kremlin itself. ukraine has denied direct involvement in these strikes. is that possible or would ukraine have to know and somehow be involved in these strikes? i and somehow be involved in these strikes?— these strikes? i don't think there's any _ these strikes? i don't think there's any certainty - these strikes? i don't think there's any certainty here i there's any certainty here about to whom to attribute these strikes. the possibility is ukraine but they've denied

it. a possibility there could be elements inside russia itself behind these. and it's even possible the putin regime might try what is referred to as a false flag operation. that is a spoof operation to rally the russian people around their cause. so it's very unclear. this kind of uncertainty is typical in warfare and combat. there is an old saying in the us army that the first report is always wrong. and i think that might be playing out here as well. ~ . . as well. we have at the same time seen — as well. we have at the same time seen russia _ as well. we have at the same time seen russia attack- as well. we have at the same time seen russia attack kyiv| as well. we have at the same l time seen russia attack kyiv 17 time seen russia attack kyiv17 times with drones or missiles, mostly at night, but we did also see a daytime rate. both sides striking each other�*s capitals, are we seeing a new phase in this conflict? —— a daytime raid. phase in this conflict? -- a daytime raid.— phase in this conflict? -- a daytime raid. russia has been strikin: daytime raid. russia has been striking civilian _ striking civilian infrastructure including kyiv four months, almost from the

outset. you are right in the last couple of weeks there has been an uptick in intensity and frequency of these attacks. i was in kyiv forfour days frequency of these attacks. i was in kyiv for four days last week and two nights out of the four we were called to take shelter, underground shelters, and so forth. this is something, this is a pattern that the citizens of ukraine, particularly in the big cities, kyiv and others, are getting used to. nonetheless it emphasises that russia continues to strike with abandon, and without any discrimination, civilian infrastructure targets. when do ou think infrastructure targets. when do you think we — infrastructure targets. when do you think we are _ infrastructure targets. when do you think we are going - infrastructure targets. when do you think we are going to - infrastructure targets. when do you think we are going to see l you think we are going to see this ukrainian counteroffensive? , , counteroffensive? this is another _ counteroffensive? this is another good _ counteroffensive? this is another good saying - counteroffensive? this is. another good saying about conflict, and that is that the party that holds the initiative, that is, that has their hands on the controls, in this case the military commanders of ukraine, can dictate when, where and how they attack. they have the

initiative. so i don't have a prediction. i think it will happen probably within weeks, if not the next couple of months. but they will choose a time and place that puts their forces at the best advantage. and i am confident, based on their performance over the last year, that they will do so wisely. year, that they will do so wisel . year, that they will do so wisel. . year, that they will do so wisel . . . year, that they will do so wisel. ., , wisely. do you have a sense that ukrainian _ wisely. do you have a sense that ukrainian forces - wisely. do you have a sense that ukrainian forces are - wisely. do you have a sense i that ukrainian forces are ready for this counteroffensive with the forces and weapons they have at their disposal? if the forces and weapons they have at their disposal? if you look at the — have at their disposal? if you look at the last _ have at their disposal? if you look at the last four - have at their disposal? if you look at the last four to - have at their disposal? if you look at the last four to six . look at the last four to six months, based on the support from the 15 nation coalition, supporting them with military assistance, ukraine has been able to assemble about nine new combat brigades. a brigade is about 5000 troops. these troops have been organised, trained and equipped with largely western equipment. and they have not yet seen action. so i think the ukrainians have amassed the capacity to launch amassed the capacity to launch a very significant counteroffensive, and that's what we should be anticipating in the coming weeks. i

what we should be anticipating in the coming weeks.— in the coming weeks. i want to ask ou in the coming weeks. i want to ask you about _ in the coming weeks. i want to ask you about what _ in the coming weeks. i want to ask you about what we - in the coming weeks. i want to ask you about what we might l ask you about what we might anticipate as a response from russia. the russian ambassador to the uk spoke to the bbc at the weekend and said russia has huge resources it hasn't started using it and that it will scale up the war if the west keeps supplying more weapons to ukraine. it also said, this escalation will get a new dimension which we do not need and do not want. what do you make of that?— you make of that? again, it fits the pattern _ you make of that? again, it fits the pattern of _ you make of that? again, it fits the pattern of russian | fits the pattern of russian threat going back to the early days of the war, which is now 15 or 16 months old. this very much fits the pattern. on the ground, the russian army has largely been stymied. it not defeated, in ukraine. so i don't think there is much capacity on the ground for the russians to escalate. they have a largely intact air force, but on the other hand, the ukrainian air defence forces are world—class and doing a remarkablejob against

are world—class and doing a remarkable job against the russian aircraft. so i'm not confident the russians have much in terms of escalating options. much in terms of escalating o tions. �* .,, much in terms of escalating otions. �* , ., options. and last question, what is your _ options. and last question, what is your sense - options. and last question, what is your sense about i options. and last question, i what is your sense about what ukraine might need to be able to sustain this counteroffensive? ~ counteroffensive? well, i mentioned _ counteroffensive? well, i mentioned they - counteroffensive? well, i mentioned they have - counteroffensive? well, i| mentioned they have now counteroffensive? well, i- mentioned they have now fielded nine new brigades, with fresh western equipment and so forth. but the sustainment of those brigades will be just as important as their initial fielding. i mean the maintenance of the equipment, the supply of ammunition, fuel, repair parts and so forth. so i think what's really important in the coming months, certainly perhaps for the rest of this calendar year, perhaps for the rest of this calendaryear, is perhaps for the rest of this calendar year, is the sustainment of the systems they have. , ., ., ., sustainment of the systems they have. ., ., ., ., sustainment of the systems they have. ., ., . ., ., have. great to have you on our show, have. great to have you on our show. thank — have. great to have you on our show, thank you. _ have. great to have you on our show, thank you. good - have. great to have you on our show, thank you. good to - have. great to have you on our show, thank you. good to be l show, thank you. good to be with you- _ and in the next hour, we'll get the diplomatic perspective on the strikes in moscow and kyiv with john tefft, former united states ambassador to russia. we want to bring you a story we're

following from north asia. north korea has launched another rocket in recent hours — prompting neighbours south korea and japan to briefly issue then rescind alerts to millions of residents. we now know this launch was a failure and the rocket exploded in midair and crashed into the sea. , , ., , sea. this will be a big disappointment - sea. this will be a big disappointment for i sea. this will be a big l disappointment for the sea. this will be a big - disappointment for the north korean leader kim john un who has been working to develop north korea's first ever spy satellite for a very long time. —— kimjong—un un. he even announced he was planning this

launch. this spy satellite would allow north korea to monitor enemies from the sky, south korea and the united states. it would enable it to spot incoming attacks as well as plot its own attacks. the north has said this morning it is going to attempt to launch again in the nearfuture. so this false alarm in seoul this morning has serious implications. over the years, people have become desensitised to the threat posed by north korea here. the danger is now that when a real emergency happens, they will be less likely or less quick to respond. a key first vote on the us debt ceiling has passed and will now be considered by the entire house of representatives. the deal, struck by president biden and speaker kevin mccarthy over the weekend, suspends the debt ceiling until the beginning of 2025 and avoids a potential global economic crisis. the house is expected to vote on the bill wednesday before sending it to the senate

for a vote before the president could sign it into law. treasury secretary janet yellen says the us will not be able to pay its bills if this doesn't pass beforejune 5th. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. great spoke to me just moments before serving her customers for the last time. she had to shut another venue last year. and now it's time for her to close this one.— close this one. it's a really emotional _ close this one. it's a really emotional day, _ close this one. it's a really emotional day, the - close this one. it's a really i emotional day, the restaurant has been open for four and a half years but i have been running our spice box is a street food business before that, so it's street food business before that, so its seven years of hard work and it's sad. this that, so it's seven years of hard work and it's sad. as food and utility _ hard work and it's sad. as food and utility prices _ hard work and it's sad. as food and utility prices rose - hard work and it's sad. as food and utility prices rose and - and utility prices rose and custom numbers fell, it became too difficult to stay open. people ask for everything and there's less money to go around. and eating out is a luxury. around. and eating out is a luxu . , ., , . ,

around. and eating out is a luxu. ., luxury. her story reflects many others in the _ luxury. her story reflects many others in the capital, _ others in the capital, particularly in central london, where more than 500 venues have closed in the last three years. backin closed in the last three years. back in walthamstow, grace will now sell her suitor shops. one way to keep a brand alive at a time when it wasn't possible to keep her restaurants open. —— will now sell her food to shops. you're live with bbc news. a former chinese government scientist has told bbc news that the possibility that the covid—i9 virus leaked from a chinese laboratory shouldn't be ruled out. china has always denied the theory, and an investigation by the world health organisation two years ago concluded the virus most likely passed naturally from animals to humans. john sudworth, our correspondent in china until he was forced to leave in 2021, sent this report. ever since the world got its first glimpse of the deadly disease circulating in wuhan, china has dismissed the theory that covid might have leaked

from a lab, known to have been experimenting with coronaviruses, as a lie. but now, one of china's most senior scientists seems far less forthright when i ask him about that possibility. you know, i haven't seen anything. you know, a lot of people have some suspicions, but i haven't seen anything. but nor can you rule it out? for science, you have to be open—minded. that means everything is possible. don't rule out anything. don't rule out anything, he says. but the lab leak theory was ruled out. perhaps its association with this man helped cast it as a conspiracy theory. have you seen anything at this point that gives you a high degree of confidence that the wuhan institute of virology was the origin of this virus? yes, i have. as did the claims from some western scientists of overwhelming evidence

that the virus, which started in bats, passed naturally to humans, perhaps via other animals in a market, a route by which deadly pandemics are known to have emerged in the past. it was that past precedent that influenced the world health organization mission to wuhan when it too effectively ruled out a lab leak. following a review ordered by president biden, two out of eight us intelligence agencies are now said to favour a lab leak with low to moderate confidence. and there is a renewed focus on the wider issue of the risks of lab work with dangerous pathogens, although the political partisanship still looms large. you've no right to tell me not to ask questions. i have all the rights. under what grounds? the signs of china's heavy handed political control have been there from the start. and the mystery of what happened in wuhan has become one of the most controversial questions of our time.

but it's also one of the most important. where did covid come from? john sudworth, bbc news, new york. live now to our correspondent john sudworth in new york. john, what is beijing saying about the fact that one of its top former scientists spoke to you and essentially said the lab leak theory cannot be ruled out? ., . . ., lab leak theory cannot be ruled out? ., ., ., ., ., out? no reaction at all from bei'ina out? no reaction at all from beijing so — out? no reaction at all from beijing so far. _ out? no reaction at all from beijing so far. and - out? no reaction at all from beijing so far. and as - out? no reaction at all from beijing so far. and as you i beijing so far. and as you heard in that report there, those comments from george gao are clearly against the party line. beijing has pushed back very strongly against any suggestion that the virus might have leaked from a ladder in wuhan. but on the other hand, when you think that in recent years we have also seen from the authorities in china this narrative being pushed that the virus didn't come from china at

all. —— from a lab in wuhan. that somehow it came from beyond the chinese borders and it was brought into wuhan, a theory without any foundation, but that's what the chinese propaganda channels have been saying. in that sense, george gao's comments are not as risky as they might appear at first reckoning. really, all he is saying is there is no evidence for a lab, no evidence for a natural origin in a market, we simply don't know, this virus may not have come from china. what would the consequences be if it were to be found out that it was indeed leaked from a lab? , ~' �* lab? pretty huge, ithink. and not 'ust lab? pretty huge, ithink. and notjustfor— lab? pretty huge, ithink. and notjust for china, _ lab? pretty huge, ithink. and not just for china, of - lab? pretty huge, ithink. and notjust for china, of course. i notjust for china, of course. when you think about the science going on at laboratories like the wuhan institute of virology, it was collaborative science, international science, it involved some us tax dollars being sent there for the collection of samples from

bats, so the scientists could study the risk of pandemic disease. when we talk about a lab leak, this is what we mean. it isn't some sort of unrelated possibility, a sort of bizarre inexplicable, sort of frankenstein science —type scenario. this is scientists studying pandemic disease, arguably for very good reasons. and of course if it was ever shown the virus got out in this way, it would have significant consequences, notjust for this kind of science in china, but everywhere. kind of science in china, but everywhere-— kind of science in china, but everywhere. this is the start of a great — everywhere. this is the start of a great podcast _ everywhere. this is the start of a great podcast series - everywhere. this is the start i of a great podcast series about the origins of covid. what else will we learn about in future episodes?— will we learn about in future eisodes? , ., , episodes? oh, loads of things. we examine — episodes? oh, loads of things. we examine the _ episodes? oh, loads of things. we examine the science, - we examine the science, hopefully listeners will get a close—up sense of what we do know and what we don't know. they will get a deeper understanding of the debate itself. and some of those bigger questions. what happens in labs? we go inside a high

security laboratory. we really take people into the heart of what is, after all, one of the most important questions of our time. , ., most important questions of our time. , . ,. . , . time. sounds fascinating. great to talk to you. _ and you can listen to more about this story onjohn's new podcast. it's called fever: the hunt for covid's origins and starts today, with new episodes weekly on bbc radio 4 and bbc sounds. top experts and ceos in artificial intelligence issued a dire warning about the risks of ai. a one—sentence statement released earlier tuesday said: this week, the g7 group of leading ecomomies and the eu are meeting to work out how to tackle ai risks. our technology correspondent zoe kleinman has more. the word you're going to keep on hearing is regulation. governments around the world, including the uk, are racing to try to get the right rules

in place to make sure ai companies continue to behave responsibly and make their products accordingly. not everybody thinks that humanity is automatically doomed, by the way. we are already seeing some positive benefits of ai. last week, we had an ai tool discover a new antibiotic. we also had it used to build a microchip which has helped a paralysed man to walk again just by thinking about it. one of the ai leaders has told me that he thinks his product should be considered as a tool, not a creature. and i think the regulators around the world are hoping, if they can keep things like that, if they can keep it as something helpful, without being malicious, then it could resolve lots of problems and find some answers to issues that we currently have in society. the problem, of course, with regulators, as we know, they are not renowned for being nimble. they can move pretty slowly. and this evolution is happening so quickly at the moment, there is a question about whether any regulator, whether it's territorial or a global body, will be able

to keep up with the pace of development. let's bring in mit's max tegmark, who runs the future of life institute, which focuses on al and is funded in part by elon musk. so this was an extremely short and very strong statement. how could ai cause extinction of humans?— could ai cause extinction of humans? ., ., ., ., humans? most of all, we are not sa in: humans? most of all, we are not saying that _ humans? most of all, we are not saying that doom _ humans? most of all, we are not saying that doom is _ humans? most of all, we are not saying that doom is guaranteed. | saying that doom is guaranteed. we are just saying this is a really serious possibility. i think, in fact, really serious possibility. i think, infact, you really serious possibility. i think, in fact, you and i are most likely to die from some ai catastrophe rather than any other cause of death. so we should take it seriously. how good it happen? that's pretty obvious. we humans have already caused the extinction of about half of all other species on earth. —— how could it happen? they couldn't stop us because they were less intelligent than

us. if we build entities much more intelligent than us and decide to use the planet for other purposes, then we are not going to be able to stop that either. a , ., going to be able to stop that either. a, , ., going to be able to stop that either. i. i. ., either. max, you said you and i could die _ either. max, you said you and i could die from _ either. max, you said you and i could die from some _ either. max, you said you and i could die from some sort - either. max, you said you and i could die from some sort of. either. max, you said you and i could die from some sort of al | could die from some sort of ai catastrophe. how far away are these risks from becoming reality? these risks from becoming reali ? ., �* , these risks from becoming reali ? ., v , these risks from becoming reali ? , , reality? that's why this conversation _ reality? that's why this conversation is - reality? that's why this i conversation is happening today. many of us have warned about this for a very long time. and usuallyjust been laughed at. but it turned out that this wasn't 50 years away, like people thought even quite recently. microsoft had a paper out recently saying that artificial general intelligence, you know, the godlike kind we are worried about, they are already seeing sparks of it today. many people talk seriously about this being something that could happen next year, this decade. really, really soon. which is why, now,

this is such huge news. for the first time, extinction from al is actually going mainstream. what do you want to see scientists and governments do to mitigate the risks? i scientists and governments do to mitigate the risks?- to mitigate the risks? i want us to treat — to mitigate the risks? i want us to treat ten _ to mitigate the risks? i want us to treat ten want - to mitigate the risks? i want us to treat ten want now -- | to mitigate the risks? i want| us to treat ten want now -- i us to treat ten want now —— i want us to treat ai the way we treat other industries, where there is an obligation to prove stuff is safe before they unleash it. a biotech company cannotjust unleash it. a biotech company cannot just start selling a new drug in supermarkets and tell everyone it cures cancer if you haven't first convinced a bunch of experts that the benefits outweigh the risks. we have fda in the us, every country has something like this. you can't just build a nuclear power plant in downtown manhattan without convincing regulators it is safe. those of us like myself doing research in al, we have to play by the same rules and we have to realise we are having an impact on the world.

the onus should be on us to prove this stuff is safe, if it's really powerful. so prove this stuff is safe, if it's really powerful. so one of the godfathers _ it's really powerful. so one of the godfathers of— it's really powerful. so one of the godfathers of ai, - it's really powerful. so one of| the godfathers of ai, geoffrey hinton, spoke to us and told us that if the us stopped developing ai, china would take a big lead. so is there any ability to monitor an entity when it is developing ai and might use it for nefarious reasons? i might use it for nefarious reasons?— reasons? i think there is reason _ reasons? i think there is reason to _ reasons? i think there is reason to be _ reasons? i think there is reason to be optimistic, | reason to be optimistic, actually. it got mainstream only recently. the great power that comes with artificial general intelligence, that's possible and that made the geopolitical competition worse, of course, as well as competition between companies, because everyone wanted to get that power first. what's happening today, this realisation that the most likely outcome if we race full steam ahead without safety concern is we are all going to go extinct, really gives for the first time america, china, the first time america, china, the uk and everyone else the

same incentives, to put safeguards in place so we don't lose control over this tech. because, you know, it doesn't matter if you are chinese, american, british, if you are extinct. ., , american, british, if you are extinct. . , extinct. max, what is the most imminent _ extinct. max, what is the most imminent threat _ extinct. max, what is the most imminent threat you _ extinct. max, what is the most imminent threat you are - extinct. max, what is the most i imminent threat you are worried about with this technology? control. loss of control. for humanity. we are already seeing little hints of it, here and there, when we outsource more and more important decisions to machines, we outsource who should get killed by a drone swarm, a lot of decisions about who should get a job, who should get parole, and so on. if we get to the point where we outsource too much control to machines that ultimately can outsmart us, you know, then evenif outsmart us, you know, then even if we do survive, the future isn't going to be our future isn't going to be our future any more. it's more going to beat their future. future any more. it's more going to beat theirfuture. i think we should aim higher than that. al has the potentialfor

enormous good. if we can just chill out and set the safety standards in place and get this and used ai standards in place and get this and used al to cure all the diseases we are stumped by, lift everybody out of poverty... solve our climate and so much more. we could be flourishing like never before. we have to leave it there. thank you so much for speaking to us on bbc news. hello there. 25.1 celsius was the high in porthmadog in north—west wales on tuesday, making it the warmest day of the year so far across the country. and for the rest of the week, it does stay mainly dry thanks to high pressure, always the warmest and the sunniest of the weather towards western parts of the uk, always a bit cooler and cloudier further east. now this is the blocking area of high pressure which will continue to bring this mainly dry weather. but if you cast your eyes down towards southern europe, it's a different story.

here, we've got daytime showers and thunderstorms breaking out for the rest of the week. so rainfall totals will continue to mount here. could even see some localised flooding in places but further north, thanks that area of high pressure, it's going to stay almost bone dry, but we could see some drizzle at times across eastern england under the thickest of the cloud as we start early wednesday, and under that cloud blanket, which will spread across much of england and wales, temperatures won't fall much below seven to ten degrees, but chilly under the clear skies in the northwest and a little bit of mist and fog, but it's here where you'll see the sunshine from the word go for wednesday morning. the clouds tending to thin and break and burn back to the coast, could linger across parts of the midlands, eastern england once again. and it'll be chilly along north sea coasts and the northern isles down to the southeast, mid—teens there, but up to the mid—20s, central belt of scotland, low 20s for northern ireland and parts of wales. wednesday night the low cloud rolls back into eastern scotland, much of central, southern eastern england and also parts of wales. and again, those temperatures ranging from around six to nine

degrees, but a few chillier spots under the clear skies in the northwest. we do it all again for thursday. best of the sunshine again across northern and western areas, eastern scotland, eastern england will see that cloud burn back to the coast. but again, with the onshore breeze, which will be quite fresh across the east, and the south east, it'll feel cooler here, as opposed to western areas which will see temperatures again into the low 20s celsius. similar picture on friday, most of the cloud across northern and eastern areas. again, more of a breeze in across the southeast. that'll temper the temperatures somewhat. i think temperatures are a little lower across the board. we're in the low 20s out west in the sunshine, as opposed to the mid—20s. but into the weekend it stays largely fine, dry, plenty of sunshine again. best of the sunshine out west, always a bit cloudier and cooler along north sea coasts.

a committee of the us house of a committee of the us house of representatives votes in favour representatives votes in favour of president biden and kevin of president mccarthy's debt ceiling deal. next up the full house. the chips are up — as nvidia briefly enters the trillion dollar club. hello and welcome to asia business report. i'm monica miller.