german prosecutors investigating the disappearance of madeleine mccann say it's too early to link items found during a search of a reservoir last week to her case. hello, welcome to bbc news. three hours of fast—moving news and reaction. we start in moldova — the country which neighbours ukraine to the west — and has become increasingly strategically important following the russian invasion. a former soviet republic, it retained a high degree of economic dependence on moscow — and in the region. other european nations have moved to support moldova's government, and in the coming hours, a major summit bringing together dozens of european leaders will be held there, to discuss a joint response to the war in ukraine.

uk prime minister rishi sunak arrived a short while ago. he was greeted by moldovan president maia sandu. and once all of the more than a0 leaders of countries and various organisations had all made it to the venue, mimi castle, they posed for what's known as the family photo. but as you'd expect, with plenty to talk about, they didn't stand still for long. you may have seen ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky there — standing out through his choice of military fatigues over a suit. he was among the first to arrive earlier this morning — and he was also given the first opportunity to address the gathering, warning that russia is an aggressor and needs to be stopped. he said that apart from peace there are only two options for countries which are not in the eu and nato — war or russian occupation. every european country that borders russia and that does not want russia to tell them apart should be a

former member of the eu and nato. there are only two alternatives to these, either an open war or creeping russian occupation. we see what is happening in bother us, we see what is happening in georgia, we see what is happening in georgia, we see how these nations are being drugged in different ways into the same state of lawlessness. president zelens of same state of lawlessness. president zelensky of ukraine. _ same state of lawlessness. president zelensky of ukraine. our— same state of lawlessness. president zelensky of ukraine. our european i zelensky of ukraine. our european correspondent is in the moldovan capital and i asked what she made of the message to his fellow leaders. strong words, yes, and i suppose his point is reinforced by last night's bombardment once again of kyiv. he's come here, as he has gone to various capitals, hoping for more ongoing support. he's had more promises of weapons, more money from various european capitals, but what he wants

is those longer term security guarantees. he wants ukraine folded into the eu and part of nato. those are, if you like, sentiments which are, if you like, sentiments which are echoed by the moldovan leadership. it is no accident this summit is happening here. of all of ukraine's neighbours who were unnerved by putin's invasion, it is moldova which had the greatest reason to feel fear. it is a former soviet state, it is small, wedged between the eu and russia and has a breakaway region, which is controlled by pro—russian separatists. there are russian troops on the ground, a hangover from the way the way the soviet union fell apart and the way it did so in this part of the world. the leadership of moldova is plain, it leans heavily towards the west, it

wants to join the eu. and they are very adamant on that point. on the eve of this summit, the moldovan president said she once eu negotiations to begin by the end of this year. both moldova and ukraine have been given status, as has georgia, but most eu leaders are not at the stage at which they think it is right to begin admitting these countries, particularly like moldova, which has russian troops on its soil, or a country like ukraine which has an ongoing conflict. all of these issues are dominating this. it is only the second meeting of this particular group, an idea of president macron of france. he wanted to bring together not only the block of the eu, but its neighbours, countries like britain, moldova, which want to join, to

bring them into the conversation so they can speak bilaterally or in one giant group about the many and very different issues that they face. find different issues that they face. and as we've highlighted, the conflict in ukraine is top of the agenda, but a close second is migration. i’m in ukraine is top of the agenda, but a close second is migration. i'm not sure i would — a close second is migration. i'm not sure i would say _ a close second is migration. i'm not sure i would say it _ a close second is migration. i'm not sure i would say it is _ a close second is migration. i'm not sure i would say it is a _ a close second is migration. i'm not sure i would say it is a close - sure i would say it is a close second. rishi sunak is coming here, he wants to urge his other european peers to put the issue of migration at the very top of the agenda. if you look at all the different countries here, they've all got their own agendas. migration is something that concerns a good number of countries, but a lot of the talk year is around two other real flashpoints causing concern. that is the dispute between azerbaijan and armenia over the disputed territory, and there is

some hope the two leaders of those countries can be brought together for some talks which might bring that to a peaceful conclusion. it has been bubbling along in a deadly way, for some time. the second is what has happened in northern kosovo, tensions there. the leaders are here, they are not in conservatory form. this is something this group is hoping it can be brought to a resolution in this format. there is a lot to discuss, and that is before you talk about cybersecurity and future energy supplies. about cybersecurity and future energy sunplies-_ about cybersecurity and future energy supplies. jenny hill “oining us. meanwhile, * energy supplies. jenny hill “oining us. meanwhile, in i energy supplies. jenny hilljoining us. meanwhile, in ukraine, - energy supplies. jenny hilljoining us. meanwhile, in ukraine, three| us. meanwhile, in ukraine, three people have been killed after another night of air strikes on key. officials say a child was among the victims and more than a dozen other people were injured. james waterhouse has the latest. no

numbing of the pain, missiles were launched, all shot down, say officials, but it is the fallen debris that causes the damage. on the edge of kyiv, three people were killed, including this month's y. translation: we killed, including this month's y. translation:— killed, including this month's y. translation: ~ , ., translation: we try to get in the bomb shelter. _ translation: we try to get in the bomb shelter, but _ translation: we try to get in the bomb shelter, but no _ translation: we try to get in the bomb shelter, but no one - translation: we try to get in the bomb shelter, but no one could - translation: we try to get in the | bomb shelter, but no one could get in. things fell down, there were children and women.— children and women. police are investigating — children and women. police are investigating his _ children and women. police are investigating his claims - children and women. police are investigating his claims the - children and women. police are . investigating his claims the shelter was locked. the military significance of these air strikes is debatable. what moscow is trying to do is exhaust ukraine in a defences, which have been affected. what is more significant is that we are now seeing similar scenes across the border inside russia. a rare

mirror—image in this region, where russians are evacuated after strikes. moscow say they came from ukrainian forces. translation: the self as actions of the military repelled attacks from ukrainian terrorists. they suffered significant losses, he says. anti—kremlin militants, made up of russians, crossed into ukraine last week. keith denied responsibility then, and hasn't said anything today —— kyiv. zelensky is an moldova meeting president maia sandu and other leaders. his country's security is high on the agenda. it is important, our future security is high on the agenda. it is important, ourfuture in security is high on the agenda. it is important, our future in the security is high on the agenda. it is important, ourfuture in the eu, and ukraine is ready to be in nato. we are ready for them to have us.

ukraine's diplomacy directly feet into its war effort. a major artery for its continued defence and the future liberations it so desperately wants to achieve. the us government has come a step closer to passing its bill which increases the debt ceiling for money account it can borrow. the deal still needs to be approved by the senate before monday. with the details, here is our north american correspondent.— correspondent. looking at the numbers and _ correspondent. looking at the numbers and data, _ correspondent. looking at the numbers and data, we - correspondent. looking at the numbers and data, we have i correspondent. looking at the i numbers and data, we have seen there's been a slowdown with some of there's been a slowdown with some of the global markets going into this

vote which happened overnight. we are seeing some of the ramifications this morning. the markets aren't open yet, the asian markets were looking positive. on the bigger scale, but hasn't been a situation where the us defaulted on its debts. there was a feeling among a lot of people, including members of congress, this would be worked out in some form. questions are still there, if this clears the senate, because this has a couple of days for them to work on and sign this thing into law so present biden can get it on his desk.— get it on his desk. joining us from dc earlier- — get it on his desk. joining us from dc earlier. dorset _ get it on his desk. joining us from dc earlier. dorset police - get it on his desk. joining us from dc earlier. dorset police have - get it on his desk. joining us from | dc earlier. dorset police have said an early investigation into an incident which killed a 12—year—old girl and 17—year—old boy in your bournemouth beach on wednesday suggested it was not caused by any physical contact between a bustle and swimmers. the teenagers were

pulled from the water with fatal injuries and eight others were found with mild injuries. the cause of the deficit remains unknown, but a man in his 40s has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. we heard from the assistant chief constable, take a listen. from the assistant chief constable, take a listen-— take a listen. following our initial inauiries, take a listen. following our initial inquiries. a _ take a listen. following our initial inquiries, a man _ take a listen. following our initial inquiries, a man aged _ take a listen. following our initial inquiries, a man aged in - take a listen. following our initial inquiries, a man aged in his- take a listen. following our initial inquiries, a man aged in his 40s. take a listen. following our initial. inquiries, a man aged in his 40s who was on the water at the time has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. as we have a person in custody, you'll know there's only limited information i can give about the investigation. however, to avoid further speculation, the investigation. however, to avoid furtherspeculation, i the investigation. however, to avoid further speculation, i am able to tell you that it is clear that yesterday i number of people already in the water got into difficulty and we are investigating the circumstances or events that caused that to happen. early investigation

indicates that the was no physical contact between a bustle and any of the swimmers at the time of the incident. i can also confirm there's no suggestion of people jumping from the peer or being involved. further information will be released as the information, investigation progresses. our correspondent is in bournemouth. no more details about the person arrested, other than he was in his 40s and was on the water. we don't know what it means. no charges so far. in terms of what the police are saying, it is more what didn't happen than did that we are being briefed on. as you heard, there was speculation it might have involved a jet skis, she said it wasn't the case. other speculation so perhaps these peoplejumped off the peer behind me. again, she ruled

that out. we got a few more details about the people involved. the 17—year—old boy who died came from southampton, and the tribunal girl who died came from buckinghamshire. they are not related —— 12—year—old girl. the people polled from the water were various families and there is ages. we don't understand they have any serious injuries. they were treated on the beach, and they are not involved in serious injuries. the police are saying they are appealing for witnesses as part of the investigation that will also be set alongside that of the marine accident branch, which is likely to ta ke to take sometime. around the world and across the _ to take sometime. around the world and across the uk, _ to take sometime. around the world and across the uk, this _ to take sometime. around the world and across the uk, this is _ to take sometime. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc - to take sometime. around the world | and across the uk, this is bbc news. to some other stories. building society nationwide says house prices fell at their fastest annual pace in nearly ia

years in may. it says prices fell by 3.4%, the biggest drop sincejuly 2009. it also warns more rises in mortgage interest rates could hit the housing market. most adults in northern ireland are now considered potential organ donors as a daythi's law has come into effect, named after a local six—year—old boy who needs a heart transplant. northern ireland was the only part of the uk where an opt—out organ donation system was not in place. a new alert system will warn the public when high temperatures could damage their health this summer in england. it'll be run by the uk health security agency and the met office, aiming to reduce illness and deaths among the most vulnerable. the heat health alert system will operate year—round, but the core alerting season will run from june to september. you're live with bbc news.

australia's most decorated soldier has lost a defamation case against newspapers which accused him of committing war crimes. ben roberts smith accused the papers of the alleged he was involved in a murder, but the church found three out of the six allegations, all of which he denies, were substantially true. he was a war criminal honoured by the man at the top. the iron cross on his chest. australia's highest honour was given to him for overpowering taliban machine guns. but a court has ruled newspaper reports of four claims of murder during his time in afghanistan were

substantially true.— substantially true. today is a day of 'ustice, substantially true. today is a day ofjustice, justice _ substantially true. today is a day ofjustice, justice for _ substantially true. today is a day ofjustice, justice for those - substantially true. today is a day ofjustice, justice for those brave men of the sas who stood up and told the truth about who ben roberts smith is, a war criminal, a body and liar. ., smith is, a war criminal, a body and liar. . ., , ., , ., , liar. the trial was a first of its kind in australia. _ liar. the trial was a first of its kind in australia. an - liar. the trial was a first of its kind in australia. an elite - liar. the trial was a first of its | kind in australia. an elite sas soldier, robert smith sued three newspapers that had accused him of war crimes. the trial centred on events during 2009 and 2012, as australia's military continue its role in the allied effort to defeat baton above. it heard claims he had pushed a hunk cut former off a cliff. details of a captured taliban fighter he was shot in the back ten times, and that he had ordered killings as an initiation for recruits. this was a civil trial, not criminal. the burden of proof is

lower, but the man seen as the embodiment of heroism is a much tarnished reputation. the newspapers that exposed him, vindicated. the uk government has until 4pm local time, under two hours, to hand over the former prime minister's whatsapp messages to an inquiry related to the pandemic. he could face possible prosecution. borisjohnson is seems to added pressure to ministers it, stating he had given all relevant material. our political correspondent told me more about the public inquiry, which is about to begin its first hearing into the uk government's handling of the pandemic. it government's handling of the pandemic— pandemic. it is important to remember _ pandemic. it is important to remember what _ pandemic. it is important to remember what the - pandemic. it is important to remember what the covid . pandemic. it is important to - remember what the covid inquiry is trying to do, trying to learn the lessons and investigate the government's handling of the

pandemic. it is trying to have access to official records from the time, so this is now a stand—up between the government and the public inquiry, trying to look at what the previous government did about the covid pandemic, over what records it can have access to. the government says the covid inquiry should have access to all material because it couldn't take in stuff which isn't relevant to its work. the inquiry said they should see everything and then they decide what is and isn't relevant. borisjohnson is and isn't relevant. borisjohnson is and isn't relevant. borisjohnson is an extra character in this story because he was obviously central to the government's handling of the pandemic. that is why the inquiry once to see all his whatsapp is and diaries and notebooks from the time. he is out of government and is making clear he has no problem with the inquiry seeing all his notes and

material from the the inquiry seeing all his notes and materialfrom the time. the inquiry seeing all his notes and material from the time. he the inquiry seeing all his notes and materialfrom the time. he is the inquiry seeing all his notes and material from the time. he is trying to put pressure on the cabinet office to give unredacted versions of everything from the time to the inquiry. an interesting thing is that the messages they want to look at include correspondence with the current prime minister rishi sunak and a number of other ministers who are still in government. there is a lot of politics going on around this inquiry, but ultimately, it is about the inquiry trying to learn lessons from the government's handling of the pandemic. it is worth noting it hasn't even begun its public hearings yet, because of work happening behind—the—scenes and preparations. it will have many years to run before it publishes anything like a conclusion, but we already in a big dispute between the government and inquiry, and there arejust hours to government and inquiry, and there are just hours to go between the government has to comply with this

request to hand over this material or face legal action.— or face legal action. there is another developing - or face legal action. there is another developing politicall or face legal action. there is - another developing political story, this time from the labour party. the mp has been suspended after claims he is accused of subjecting younger colleagues to unwanted sexual attention. he told the publication he didn't recognise the allegations. the labour party said these are incredibly serious allegations. among the many thousands of political prisoners currently held in iran are seven comments environmentalists since 2018. they are serving lengthy sentences, although no evidence has been produced they have done anything wrong. the former council arts curator spent two and half years in the samejail alongside curator spent two and half years in the same jail alongside them. she returned to the uk last year but is

now speaking out for the first time to draw attention to the environmentalist flight. she should now be able to look forward in her life. she is free, back in the uk and pregnant with herfirst life. she is free, back in the uk and pregnant with her first child. but every day her mind goes back to the prison where she was held for three years and to the friends she made there. it three years and to the friends she made there-— three years and to the friends she made there. . . , ., , . made there. it can be an experience that breaks — made there. it can be an experience that breaks many _ made there. it can be an experience that breaks many people. _ made there. it can be an experience that breaks many people. it - made there. it can be an experience that breaks many people. it has - made there. it can be an experience| that breaks many people. it has long lasting effects. she that breaks many people. it has long lasting effects-— lasting effects. she was held in the much feared _ lasting effects. she was held in the much feared jail. _ lasting effects. she was held in the much feared jail. she _ lasting effects. she was held in the much feared jail. she spent - lasting effects. she was held in the much feared jail. she spent time i lasting effects. she was held in the much feared jail. she spent time in solitary confinement and was interrogated, blindfolded and threatened. she still has nightmares about her time there. lack threatened. she still has nightmares about her time there.— about her time there. lack of freedom is — about her time there. lack of freedom is the _ about her time there. lack of freedom is the hardest - about her time there. lack ofj freedom is the hardest thing. about her time there. lack of - freedom is the hardest thing. the unfairness- _ freedom is the hardest thing. the unfairness. otherwomen freedom is the hardest thing. the unfairness. other women became freedom is the hardest thing. the unfairness. otherwomen became her unfairness. other women became her best friends injail. this unfairness. other women became her best friends in jail. this woman,

serving a ten year sentence, and this woman. serving a ten year sentence, and this woman-— serving a ten year sentence, and this woman. they are so lively and generous- — this woman. they are so lively and generous. there _ this woman. they are so lively and generous. there is _ this woman. they are so lively and generous. there is so _ this woman. they are so lively and generous. there is so much - this woman. they are so lively and generous. there is so much love. | generous. there is so much love. there has been enough pressure, on people who work during their own job of conserving nature and wildlife. also in jail of conserving nature and wildlife. also injail is of conserving nature and wildlife. also in jail is this of conserving nature and wildlife. also injail is this man, here tracking leopard footprints. he took this photo of a critical danger animal. and this cheater cub was being looked after. they were accused of spying, although even members of the government in iran has said there is no government. it is incredibly unfair. everyday they are in prison, and they have already been through so much. ijust want them to go back to their families, their loved ones, nature, and to protect the wildlife again, which is

what they have been doing. the director of _ what they have been doing. the director of the _ what they have been doing. the director of the persian wildlife federation died in suspicious circumstances in 2018 while under interrogation. he co—founded the group and has british and american citizenship and his family hoped he would be released last year. but he is still being held. along with this man. she told me they are not only important scientist but inspiring human beings.— important scientist but inspiring human beings. they really shared with us the _ human beings. they really shared with us the love _ human beings. they really shared with us the love they _ human beings. they really shared with us the love they have - human beings. they really shared with us the love they have fought| with us the love they have fought nature. the fact they are still kept in, that is really heartbreaking and a big loss for iran. she in, that is really heartbreaking and a big loss for iran.— a big loss for iran. she thinks of them and _ a big loss for iran. she thinks of them and says _ a big loss for iran. she thinks of them and says her— a big loss for iran. she thinks of them and says her heartburns i a big loss for iran. she thinks of. them and says her heartburns for them and says her heartburns for them and says her heartburns for them and for all they've endured. we

will bring you some news from pakistan regarding the inflation rate which has reached an all—time high of in excess of 37%. it is nearly 38%. this is for a full behind that inflation rates are vegetables, pulses, wheat, rice, eggs, all food items, which you can imagine make it difficult for people to make ends meet. underpinning this is an agreement with the imf, which is an agreement with the imf, which is releasing funding and demanding the withdrawal of subsidies which would lead to a hike in energy prices. in addition to which, we reported to you the arrest of imran khan, the former president of pakistan, on the 9th of may. now, the president of his party has been

arrested in the eastern city in lahore in pakistan. separately, the inflation rate edging up towards 40%. do inflation rate edging up towards a0%. do stay with us on bbc news. todayis today is the first day of metrological summer, and for some parts of the country it looks and feels like summer. this is west wales earlier today, and it is the western side of the uk seeing the best of the sunshine and highest temperatures, low 20s. further east, more of a struggle with the cloud, and where it remains, 1a degrees will be a typical temperature. even late afternoon, a few patches of cloud, but mainly eastern england which keeps the cloud, and it will

push its way back inland overnight. quite thin cloud, try and clear for northern ireland and scotland. chilly and eastern scotland, temperatures down to 2 degrees. we start quite cloudy, but the air is drier tomorrow, thinner as well, so more likely to break up. by the afternoon, pretty sunny, just about everywhere, some patches of cloud. in the south—east, particularly cantona and essex, a breezy day. winds coming in from the north sea —— kent and sx. the sun will be strong, high uv levels. dry day. in europe, the rain is still here, and the weather pattern isn't changing

into the weekend. more thunderstorms into the weekend. more thunderstorms in the mediterranean, more dry weather over northern europe as high pressure dominates. still breezy through the english channel, but a lot of sunshine around on saturday, until you get up to northern scotland, where we will see more cloud. temperatures will be lower. in the sunshine, creeping up to 21 or 22 celsius. with the high pressure in charge into sunday, sunshine for most places, but cloud just toppling in over northern scotland, through the north sea, perhaps hanging on the north sea coasts. away from here, semi—skies continue, ten metres up to 22 or even 23 celsius —— sunny skies.

the us and taiwan look to forge closer trading ties over tech — but china warns that this new relationship must stop. eurozone inflation falls sharply, but the battle against rising prices continues. welcome to world business report, i'm ben thompson. let's now talk about an important

trade deal between the united states and taiwan, which just hours away from being signed.