hello, i'm nancy kacungira. this is the context on bbc news. this war must be settled, and there should be peace through negotiations and diplomatic means. translation: this is an individual who wants to wipe the nation - of ukraine completely. from here, i have many questions as to what kind of discussions or dialogue we can have with this person. translation: we'll have to look | at how and where we will targetl the weapons that will be used against us in the battlefield. i there is a very serious threat that nato will be involved _ in this military conflict.

thanks forjoining us, welcome to the programme. russia strikes kyiv again, just as a delegation of african leaders visit the ukrainian capital to discuss peace solutions. joining me to discuss that, and a range of stories over the next hour, is former labour cabinet minister caroline flint, and ron christie, former adviser to george w bush. also on the programme tonight: a two—year investigation into the minneapolis police department in the wake of the killing of george floyd has found that officers routinely used excessive force and discriminated against black people for years. we'll have an update from kalamata, in greece, where officials have denied a series of reports that suggest the migrant boat capsized 50 miles off the south coast because a rope was attached to it by coastguards. and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence technology has lead to a lot of fear and concern, but also a lot of new and exciting solutions.

we'll look at how ai is being used to predict pollution in water ways before it happens. but first — let's focus in on ukraine, where the capital, kyiv, has come under missile attack at the same time that a delegation of african leaders arrived in the country to discuss ways to end the war with russia. they travelled to kyiv this morning by train from warsaw. led by south african president cyril ramaphosa, the delegation also includes leaders from senegal, zambia, the comoros, and egypt. this morning, they went to the site of the mass grave in the town of bucha, which lies just outside of kyiv. a58 people are buried there who were killed at the start of the war. after the talks, president zelensky held a news conference with the african leaders. take a listen. translation: russia is the only i source of war, and the only reason

why the consequences of this war are causing damage to the whole world. nobody can feel that their borders are protected, and the safety of their people are ensured while russia is attempting to make the aggression and abduction of our people as something that is normal. we are here to listen. to listen both to president zelensky and, tomorrow, we'll be listening to president putin. and we do so with deep respect for the people of ukraine, which we have expressed to president zelensky, and we argue that there must be de—escalation on both sides so that peace can find a way to resolve the problem.

you heard president grimm opposed to mention this in his speech after his meeting with president zelensky, and his delegation will head to moscow to meet vladimir putin. president vladimir putin, who today delivered a speech at russia's showcase st petersburg international economic forum. as well as claiming the russian economy is thriving despite sanctions, he talked down ukraine's counteroffensive and warned nato to be careful about the weapons it supplies to ukraine. translation: leopard tanks are burning. - f—16s will burn in the same way. i have no doubts. _ applause but if they're used outside of ukraine's borders - to be used in combat, - we will have to look at how and where we will target the weapons

that will be used against us _ in the battlefield. there is a very serious threat that nato will be involved _ in this military conflict. so what should we make of this? here's our russia editor steve rosenberg. an interesting event. this is this was formerly russia's showcase economic event, economic forum, the saint petersburg international economic forum. and president putin did begin by making a speech about the economy, he spoke for more than an hour about the economy, and was very upbeat — he came across as someone who was supremely confident about the state of the economy, about the future of the russian economy. made no mention of the war in that speech about the economy — the war was the elephant in the room for more than an hour. and then, there was a sort of a q&a session afterwards, and he was asked about the so—called "pecial military operation". and, once again, he came across as this very confident figure, despite all the problems that russia has been experiencing

since mr putin ordered the the full—scale invasion of ukraine last year. he said that ukraine was running out of its own military equipment and was fully reliant on arms from abroad, and said — he claimed that you couldn't go on fighting like that for very long. we've heard what he said about the f—i6s. so, you know, despite all the reports we've been hearing, all the problems russia's been facing — you remember this operation was only supposed to last a few days when he launched it last year, it's gone on nearly 16 months — despite all of that, the public image he is putting across is keep calm, carry on, and russia is going to win this. that was steve rosenberg, let's bring in our panel, caroline flynt and ron christie. caroline, just

listening to that press conference, i was struck by a there seemed to be a slight difference in what the leaders were saying. president zelensky said that the need for african countries to step away from neutrality in this conflict, the african leaders are wanting to emphasise peace and talking to both sides. i’m emphasise peace and talking to both sides. �* ., , ., . sides. i'm not sure how much influence _ sides. i'm not sure how much influence they'll _ sides. i'm not sure how much influence they'll have - sides. i'm not sure how much influence they'll have on - sides. i'm not sure how much influence they'll have on that| influence they'll have on that particular resolution. a number of these countries are hugely reliant on ukrainian grain and russian fertiliser, so they are being impacted by this crisis, but i think it's telling that sadly, so many of the african leaders have not acknowledged the invasion of ukraine, and maybe some of this has got to do with long—standing relationships with russia before that, like the soviet union, but into the places like south africa and zimbabwe, there is a legacy of

maybe our colonial past and our refusal to tackle apartheid sooner than we actually did. so in that vacuum, the soviet union and russia have cultivated these relationships for many years and it will be very interesting to hear what the african politicians and leaders will say to president putin tomorrow. it president putin tomorrow. it certainly is, and ron, just what do you see as the leverage that the african leaders have here? caroline has hinted at this that their policy, many of them, south africa especially, as been the west's enemy, not necessarily them. good evenin: to enemy, not necessarily them. good evening to yom _ enemy, not necessarily them. good evening to yon i — enemy, not necessarily them. good evening to you. i want _ enemy, not necessarily them. good evening to you. i want to _ enemy, not necessarily them. good evening to you. i want to echo - enemy, not necessarily them. good evening to you. i want to echo what carolyn _ evening to you. i want to echo what carolyn said — evening to you. i want to echo what carolyn said because it's important, when _ carolyn said because it's important, when you _ carolyn said because it's important, when you look at the geopolitical interests, — when you look at the geopolitical interests, the former soviet union ~~ _ interests, the former soviet union... of how they were cultivated and how— union... of how they were cultivated and how much money they've poured

into the _ and how much money they've poured into the african continent by the russian — into the african continent by the russian federation. what struck me from the _ russian federation. what struck me from the sound bite that we heard was that _ from the sound bite that we heard was that the leaders of the african nations— was that the leaders of the african nations had respect for ukraine and ukrainian _ nations had respect for ukraine and ukrainian people, but they didn't say much — ukrainian people, but they didn't say much about the leverage that they would bring to bear to vladimir putin— they would bring to bear to vladimir putin and _ they would bring to bear to vladimir putin and the russian federation for their meeting in the upcoming days. so i their meeting in the upcoming days. so i don't _ their meeting in the upcoming days. so i don't know what leverage they'tt — so i don't know what leverage they'll bring to the table, obviously it's a humanitarian mission _ obviously it's a humanitarian mission that they've embarked upon, but leverage, strength in this endeavour — i don't see much. so endeavour — i don't see much. symbolically, endeavour — i don't see much. sr symbolically, what's the significance of this moment? are i'lljust ask you i'll just ask you that, i'lljust ask you that, ron. i think it's very symbolically _ i'lljust ask you that, ron. i think it's very symbolically important, | it's very symbolically important, it's very symbolically important, it's important for sovereign leaders from around the world to condemn the

invasion— from around the world to condemn the invasion of— from around the world to condemn the invasion of ukraine, for them to try to find _ invasion of ukraine, for them to try to find a _ invasion of ukraine, for them to try to find a diplomatic and humanitarian solution to this crisis. — humanitarian solution to this crisis, which was brought about by the russian federation — but that being _ the russian federation — but that being said. — the russian federation — but that being said, nancy, once again i look at this— being said, nancy, once again i look at this in_ being said, nancy, once again i look at this in the — being said, nancy, once again i look at this in the leverage they have to beai’, _ at this in the leverage they have to bear. and — at this in the leverage they have to bear. and i— at this in the leverage they have to bear, and ijust don't think they have _ bear, and ijust don't think they have a — bear, and ijust don't think they have a lot — bear, and ijust don't think they have a lot of strength behind the stone they are trying to push up a mountain— stone they are trying to push up a mountain to end this conflict. so we will see what _ mountain to end this conflict. so we will see what happens _ mountain to end this conflict. so we will see what happens when - mountain to end this conflict. so we will see what happens when they i will see what happens when they visit moscow as well, we will keep an eye on that. on to our next story. the usjustice department has published a damning report on policing in minneapolis which was prompted by the killing of george floyd three years ago. the attorney general, merrick garland, said the city's police routinely used excessive force and discriminated against black people and native americans. he said they deployed firearms when they weren't needed and violated people's right to freedom of speech. take a listen. the patterns and practices we observed made what happened to george floyd possible.

as one city leader told us, "these systemic issues didn'tjust occur on 25 may, 2020. there were instances like that that were being reported by the community long before that." we found that mpd and the city of minneapolis engages in a pattern or practice of using excessive force, unlawfully discriminating against black and native american people in enforcement activities, violating the rights of people engaged in protected speech, and discriminating against people with behavioural disabilities in responding to them — when responding to them in crisis. the attorney general talking about that report. caroline, what do you see as the significance of this report and what it's confirming? because obviously we saw protests notjust in the us, but here in the

uk as well, all over the world really rallying around what had happened to george floyd and when it said about police and police behaviour. it said about police and police behaviour.— said about police and police behaviour. ., ., , behaviour. it validates those many concerns that _ behaviour. it validates those many concerns that people _ behaviour. it validates those many concerns that people in _ behaviour. it validates those manyl concerns that people in minneapolis and across the us, and also in this country about the violence, and that violence being associated with racism, and used in a way to suppress the voices of black people and native americans, as has been pointed out by the announcement of this investigation today. and of course, it's really worrying that here in the uk, we are or sexism in our police forces, we've had a number of very serious cases around thoseissues number of very serious cases around those issues in recent times, and in the last few years and before. i mean clearly here we come back to

again, it's the use of force in america, the use of guns and tasers has been amplified by this, and the word used was "indiscriminately" against different sections of the community. and i think the question is, what happens next, what will change? what will the elected politicians do about it, as well, to make sure a different culture striven for in the future to make sure, as much as possible, this doesn't happen again?- sure, as much as possible, this doesn't happen again? what happens next is definitely _ doesn't happen again? what happens next is definitely a _ doesn't happen again? what happens next is definitely a question - doesn't happen again? what happens next is definitely a question that - next is definitely a question that will be on many minds. but ron, i want to ask what's happened since? this report has taken two years to produce, we saw those protests and that civil action happening way before this. what's changed since then? i before this. what's changed since then? ~ �* , , before this. what's changed since then? ~' �* , , ., before this. what's changed since then? ~' �*, , ., _, .,

then? i think there's been a cooling ofthe then? i think there's been a cooling of the racial — then? i think there's been a cooling of the racial tension _ then? i think there's been a cooling of the racial tension we've - then? i think there's been a cooling of the racial tension we've seen - of the racial tension we've seen here _ of the racial tension we've seen here in— of the racial tension we've seen here in the _ of the racial tension we've seen here in the united states over the last several years since the unfortunate death of george fluid. i would _ unfortunate death of george fluid. i would caution, as an officer of the court _ would caution, as an officer of the court and — would caution, as an officer of the court and a — would caution, as an officer of the court and a lawyer, that i haven't read _ court and a lawyer, that i haven't read the — court and a lawyer, that i haven't read the report. i've seen excerpts of it. i_ read the report. i've seen excerpts of it, i haven't read it in its full detail — of it, i haven't read it in its full detail if— of it, i haven't read it in its full detail. if the allegations contained therein— detail. if the allegations contained therein that there is a systemic pattern— therein that there is a systemic pattern of— therein that there is a systemic pattern of freed schism that people are being _ pattern of freed schism that people are being discriminated against based — are being discriminated against based on — are being discriminated against based on their skin colour or ethnicity. _ based on their skin colour or ethnicity, i think that we need to address those issues immediately. what _ address those issues immediately. what i _ address those issues immediately. what i do — address those issues immediately. what i do worry about is people commenting on a report that they haven't— commenting on a report that they haven't read in their entirety and coming _ haven't read in their entirety and coming to— haven't read in their entirety and coming to conclusions without having all the _ coming to conclusions without having all the facts — as a lawyer, we are trained to— all the facts — as a lawyer, we are trained to deal with evidence, and i want _ trained to deal with evidence, and i want to— trained to deal with evidence, and i want to read this from top to bottom, _ want to read this from top to bottom, from cover to cover before commenting in any greater detail about— commenting in any greater detail about what i think should, that. but

clearly— about what i think should, that. but clearly we _ about what i think should, that. but clearly we have a long way to go with these — clearly we have a long way to go with these issues of racism in the united _ with these issues of racism in the united states and around the world. and ron, _ united states and around the world. and ron, on that point, it's possible but i'm not sure many americans will read this back to front — and still this has become a pretty divisive issue in america, hasn't it, from movements like defund the police with people being on different sides of that divide? unfortunately you're absolutely right, _ unfortunately you're absolutely right, it — unfortunately you're absolutely right, it has, nancy, and it's something we need to do better as a country. _ something we need to do better as a country. are — something we need to do better as a country, are motto here is... and we need _ country, are motto here is... and we need to— country, are motto here is... and we need to find — country, are motto here is... and we need to find a — country, are motto here is... and we need to find a way to come together as a country— need to find a way to come together as a country and a people. and you're — as a country and a people. and you're right, most americans won't read this— you're right, most americans won't read this cover to cover, but we need _ read this cover to cover, but we need to— read this cover to cover, but we need to recognise our diversity is our strength, and our strength is our strength, and our strength is our diversity, and the best way for us to— our diversity, and the best way for us to move — our diversity, and the best way for us to move past and move forward

from _ us to move past and move forward from these — us to move past and move forward from these adverse circumstances is to cherish _ from these adverse circumstances is to cherish our american citizenship and heritage, and come together and heal. and heritage, and come together and heal . and heritage, and come together and heal. ., ., ., , heal. ron, caroline, stay with me, we've not heal. ron, caroline, stay with me, we've got quite — heal. ron, caroline, stay with me, we've got quite a _ heal. ron, caroline, stay with me, we've got quite a few _ heal. ron, caroline, stay with me, we've got quite a few more - heal. ron, caroline, stay with me, we've got quite a few more storiesj we've got quite a few more stories to work through. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's take a look at some other stories making news in the uk. a man has been charged with the murders of three people who were fatally stabbed in nottingham. barnaby webber, grace o'malley—kumar, and ian coates were killed in the early hours of tuesday. the 31—year—old man, named as valdo calocane, has also been charged with three counts of attempted murder. he's due in court tomorrow. the former head of the uk's police watchdog has been charged with rape and other sexual offences, against a girl under the age of 16. michael lockwood is the former director general of the independent office for police conduct. he stepped down from the role in december after it emerged he was the subject of a police probe.

a hosepipe and sprinkler ban is being imposed in kent and sussex from 26 june. south east water says it has no choice after demand for water had reached "record levels". anyone caught flouting the ban will face a £1,000 fine. the boss of tesco says there are "early signs" that price rises are starting to slow. up up to 4000 customers have been without water or experiencing low pressures since monday. you're live with bbc news. up to 500 people are still missing from the packed migrant boat that sank of the southern greece coast. at least 79 people are confirmed to have died, with up to 100 children travelling in the hold. nine suspected people—smugglers have been arrested in greece, and accounts from at least two survivors claim the boat overturned after the greek coastguard tried to tow it — the government denies this. some survivors of the shipwreck have

been brought there for treatment. for one family, there was good news. this was the moment a syrian man, mohammad, found his brother, fedi, among the survivors at the port. it was an emotional reunion for the pair. fedi is just 18 years old and, according to mohamad, had been in libya for almost two years. nick beek is in kalamaata. in the middle of such overwhelming loss, a reunion between brothers. mohammad, on the right, tracked down his little brother fadi, who had survived against all odds. just over 100 people were rescued from the shipwreck and have been looked after here in the port of kalamata, but hundreds are feared dead, among them dozens of women and children. translation: there are no women here. | all the women died, drowned, with their children in their arms. it is a tragedy, it is unbelievable. and questions continue about the response to the disaster.

here, one survivor tells the opposition leader, alexis tsipras, that the vessel sank after the greek coastguard tried to tow it. another man rescued gave a similar story. so what do we now know about what really happened? at 11am on tuesday the greek authorities first made contact with the fishing vessel and say those on board didn't want their help. but a few hours later, according to this e—mail we've obtained, the coastguard are warned by an unofficial hotline for migrants in trouble that 750 people including women and children are on board and that they are urgently asking for help. originally the coastguard said that tuesday evening it did travel towards the migrant boat, remained at a distance and discreetly observed there was no problem in its navigation. but fast forward to today and a government spokesperson confirms that coastguards had in fact tried to get on the boat. they used a rope to get closer and

see if the people wanted any help. the spokesman denied any attempt had been made to tow the ship and that the coastguard didn't cause the boat to sink. all this is significant because for the past two days the greek authorities have been fighting accusations they didn't do enough to save those on board. they've been arguing that the migrants didn't want their help and that their boat was not in peril. but this new information we've gathered suggests they were given a stark warning about the danger faced and by their own admission the coastguard now says it went and had a close look at what was happening and yet didn't launch a rescue effort. but that has prompted anger. demonstrations in the street in a number of greek cities. but the government's tougher position on migrant crossings in the past few years, often condemned abroad, seems to have been popular at home. this disaster, though, has shaken many deeply.

so as three days of national mourning come to an end, soul—searching is only beginning about how greece and europe should react to the thousands who will risk everything to try to reach their shores. let's come back to our panel and discuss this story, caroline and ron. some really horrific details they are, women dying with children in theirarms, 100 they are, women dying with children in their arms, 100 children in the hold of this boat at the time of this tragedy. really horrific details. ~ , this tragedy. really horrific details. , ., , ., details. absolutely, and 'ust an examle details. absolutely, and 'ust an example «fl details. absolutely, and 'ust an example of the immoralh details. absolutely, and just an example of the immoral trade i details. absolutely, and just an | example of the immoral trade in people, which is what it is, that the traffickers are prepared to offer people a so—called safe passage, and that's clearly not the case. i think what was interesting in the report about the greek coastguard and what's been happening, it's a confusing picture and i'm sure we will learn more in

the next few days, but clearly greece has taken a position to prevent as much as possible getting involved in situations where people are arriving on these boats, and they've had their own problems in terms of landings on the greek islands. and from the news we've heard, it would almost imply potentially that where boats will not be landing on greek islands, and in this case making passage to the greek coastguard will step back and intervening in a situation even when there's a risk, they'll go to italy and i'm sure in the next few days, more information will come out about that for us to form an opinion. quite right, we'll probably be learning more about what exactly went on. but ron, in a situation like this, obviously we've heard that some of the people who are suspected of trafficking these migrants have been arrested — just

how much progress though is there at stopping this at that point? because the heart of this is people profiting from other people's misery. profiting from other people's mise . �* , , profiting from other people's mise . h , ., . profiting from other people's mise . h , ., �*, profiting from other people's mise . �*, , ., misery. it's truly tragic and it's a humanitarian _ misery. it's truly tragic and it's a humanitarian crisis _ misery. it's truly tragic and it's a humanitarian crisis not - misery. it's truly tragic and it's a humanitarian crisis notjust - misery. it's truly tragic and it's a humanitarian crisis notjust in i humanitarian crisis notjust in greece, — humanitarian crisis notjust in greece, notjust in italy in the uk, but around — greece, notjust in italy in the uk, but around the world. we see this year in _ but around the world. we see this year in the — but around the world. we see this year in the united states — just today— year in the united states — just today in— year in the united states — just today in the new york post, they are reporting _ today in the new york post, they are reporting that these smugglers were gleefully advertising on tick—tock that they could bring people into the united states for $10,000 — and yet still. _ the united states for $10,000 — and yet still, many women and children are raped, — yet still, many women and children are raped, many people die on this journey, _ are raped, many people die on this journey, and many people suffer as a result— journey, and many people suffer as a result of— journey, and many people suffer as a result of these folks who are simply in it for— result of these folks who are simply in it for the — result of these folks who are simply in it for the money. and i think as an international community, we need to stand up _ an international community, we need to stand up and stomach this illegal trafficking _ to stand up and stomach this illegal trafficking of people who are

seeking _ trafficking of people who are seeking better economic and social conditions — seeking better economic and social conditions from where they came, but they shouldn't die and perish, and suffer— they shouldn't die and perish, and suffer as _ they shouldn't die and perish, and suffer as a — they shouldn't die and perish, and suffer as a result of their desire to be _ suffer as a result of their desire to be free _ suffer as a result of their desire to be free. i�*ll suffer as a result of their desire to be free-— to be free. i'll put you on the sot, to be free. i'll put you on the spot, because _ to be free. i'll put you on the spot, because i _ to be free. i'll put you on the spot, because i think- to be free. i'll put you on the spot, because i think we - to be free. i'll put you on the| spot, because i think we have to be free. i'll put you on the - spot, because i think we have 30 seconds left, butjust in terms — we have more than that, i'm told, which is good for you — butjust in terms of the response to this, nick posed a question in his piece there about what europe is doing about this, has that response gotten any better? i think it's really difficult for the european union as it is for the uk because on the one hand, nobody wants to see situations where a boat is at peril and lives are at risk, and just to stand by, we just cannot have that happen. we've had those discussions regarding the english paint channel and boats coming across to the uk. i think one of the problems in terms of the uk that was

picked up in the piece, there is a hardening of attitude on this across the european union as there has been in the uk, and most people feel terrible about what they are seeing, there's been a hardening of attitude about this being a route to migration into the eu and elsewhere. in the problem within the european union is freedom if the movement. the borders are pretty porous and people think thousands and millions of people around the world think if they can just get to the eu, they can use that to journey elsewhere both within the eu and into the uk. and there is no easy solution to this even if we have safe passage for people to apply for asylum in countries of origin or elsewhere through our embassies and that in the uk, whilst we've got these people traffickers, they'll always find people willing to pay and put their lives at risk. find find people willing to pay and put their lives at risk.— their lives at risk. and that's a very serious —

their lives at risk. and that's a very serious problem, - their lives at risk. and that's a very serious problem, 500 - their lives at risk. and that's a - very serious problem, 500 people still missing from that tragedy. stay with us, you're watching the context on bbc news, don't go away. hello. the weekend is here, and there are some changes afoot on the weather front. those changes started to take place across the west during today, more cloud in the sky there. across parts of cornwall, we've seen some showers. and that's because we are closest in the west to this area of low pressure, this swirl of cloud here. and as this draws closer, the showers will become more widespread. so through tonight, southwest england, wales, parts of northwest england, southwest scotland and especially northern ireland will see some heavy, thundery downpours. the downpours across northern ireland could welljoin together into longer spells of rain. quite humid in the west — 15 for liverpool and cardiff. cooler and, in fact, rather chilly for some eastern parts of england and eastern and northern parts of scotland. tomorrow, showers and thunderstorms, particularly in the west. one or two may get a little bit further east, and certainly there will be more cloud in the mix,

and some low cloud and some very murky conditions developing across the northern isles, maybe getting into some northeastern coasts of scotland. pollen levels tomorrow, high or very high for the majority, so continued issues for hay fever sufferers. and temperatures 20—25 celsius, so down just a touch on where they have been of late. now, we could see a shower at edgbaston through tomorrow. on the whole, it will be dry, but the increasing chance of some heavy downpours into sunday and monday for the ashes cricket. now, through saturday night, we'll see quite a lot of low cloud rolling onto eastern coasts of england and scotland and further showers in the west. and as we get into sunday, this area of low pressure wobbles a little closer to our shores. also, this frontal system pushing up from the south. so this is a combination that will bring more in the way of downpours and thunderstorms. don't take the position on the graphics too literally. they will be showers, they will be hit—and—miss. there'll be places in between that stay dry. but particularly across england and wales, we could see

intense thundery downpours, with the risk of localised flooding. temperatures certainly lower than they have been. 19—23 celsius covers it for most places. during sunday night, it could well be that the showers and storms join together into a more coherent area of heavy, thundery rain, which will then push its way northwards. low pressure still close by for the start of the new week, so there'll be further heavy showers around. an unsettled start to the week, perhaps turning drier in the south later on. temperatures remaining above the average for the time of year.