live from washington, this is bbc news. us secretary of state antony blinken touches down moments ago in beijing for a high—stakes weekend of talks with his chinese counterparts. dozens of students have been killed at a school in western uganda by rebels linked to an islamic state group. and the stand—up comic from kyiv who's bringing wartime humour to the comedy circuit in new york. i circuit in new york. am afraid that the rocket well i am afraid that the rocket well hit my building, the wild will come down and everyone will come down and everyone will see how i live. —— the wall. hello, i'm helena humphrey, great to have you with us. we begin in beijing, where us secretary of state, antony blinken, hasjust touched down, at the beginning

of the highest—profile visit to china by a us official since president biden took office. it's been five years since a secretary of state has met with chinese counterparts, and us officials say expectations for the meeting are low. tensions have been steadily growing between the countries. joining me now to discuss the trip is jacob stokes, senior fellow for the indo—pacific security program at the centerfor a new american security and former acting special advisorfor asia policy to then—vice presidentjoe biden. thank you so much for being with us on bbc news. how crucial do you think these talks are? i crucial do you think these talks are?— crucial do you think these talks are? i think this is an important _ talks are? i think this is an important trip. _ talks are? i think this is an important trip. as - talks are? i think this is an important trip. as you - talks are? i think this is an | important trip. as you said, the secretary of state from the united states has not been to china in five years and that is really an extensive period of time for the two superpowers to have a person in person visit.

of course, they have been other exchanges, including with the leaders last bowl in person in indonesia since then but given the downturn, the incredible downturn in us— china relations, whether relationship has been the worst it has been in nearly 50 years, it is important to keep up this type of diplomacy and we really hope for the secretary of state to understand and build more ties between the us and china. haw between the us and china. how much though — between the us and china. how much though do _ between the us and china. how much though do you _ between the us and china. how much though do you think things like the china balloon saga and other things hang over these talks? �* , ., , ., talks? there's a number of areas of — talks? there's a number of areas of disagreement - talks? there's a number of areas of disagreement in i talks? there's a number of i areas of disagreement in the security arena, human rights, trade, technology, many, many more areas of disagreement certainly then converging interests between the two powers these days but it is really the view from the joe

biden administration that this intense strategic competition or geopolitical competition as they call it requires intense diplomacy to make shell a given incident or areas of disagreement do not spiral or veer into conflict not only the with china but the rest of the world. ,, ~ , world. do you think there is any area — world. do you think there is any area where _ world. do you think there is any area where both - world. do you think there is any area where both sides l world. do you think there is i any area where both sides may make tangible progress? i think it is really about _ make tangible progress? i think it is really about finding - it is really about finding areas where they passively ordinate, for example vis—a—vis the war on ukraine where the us has more insight into what ukraine is thinking, european allies, and china will have more insight into its strategic partner, russia and certainly it is likely run�*s nuclear plant are areas. things like that that they could be tacit cooperation. —— iran. there

will not be any real agreement on any issue. will not be any real agreement on any issue-— on any issue. taiwan will be watching — on any issue. taiwan will be watching this _ on any issue. taiwan will be watching this visit _ on any issue. taiwan will be watching this visit very - watching this visit very closely. what do you think places like that will be wanting to see come out of this visit? ~ ~' ., visit? well, i think the region is really responding _ visit? well, i think the region is really responding to - visit? well, i think the region is really responding to the . is really responding to the more aggressive foreign policy that china has undertaken under the last ten years under leader xijinping and so many ways that china has kind of driven the rest of the region into the us arms, settling countries like japan, australia, the philippines and even taiwan are facing additional pressure and looking for the united states to help counterbalance that type of pressure from china. at the same time, they do not want to be caught up in some sort of conflict between the us and china and be forced to choose explicitly so there is really a balance washington is trying to

achieve here and that is why engagement with beijing is under the table. engagement with bei'ing is under the tablet engagement with bei'ing is under the tableh engagement with bei'ing is under the table. one thing i do wonder is _ under the table. one thing i do wonder is the _ under the table. one thing i do wonder is the fact _ under the table. one thing i do wonder is the fact that - under the table. one thing i do wonder is the fact that this - wonder is the fact that this trip, as we know, was delayed for months, and now we're seeing the secretary of state antony blinken the one to make it, do you think there is a potential here that it is washington who is more eager to smooth over relations than beijing? smooth over relations than bei'ina ? ., , smooth over relations than bei'inu? . smooth over relations than bei'in? . ,, , bei'ing? that is possible but at beijing? that is possible but at the same _ beijing? that is possible but at the same time _ beijing? that is possible but at the same time the - beijing? that is possible but at the same time the us - beijing? that is possible butj at the same time the us has built a very strong strategy towards china that is not predicated upon effective engagement. it is really predicated on investments at home to improve us core strengths, the marshalling of coalition of allies and partners, and the going out in the world to compete with china, to be able to offer the world alternatives insecurity, technology and trade. on top of those three pillars which can

stand alone, there is this kind of push engagementjust to keep the relationship on an even keel the relationship on an even keel. what we have had from administration officials is they are really looking to, as they are really looking to, as they say, manage the downside risks, that is avoid the possibility of something spiralling into conflict, so thatis spiralling into conflict, so that is really the goal here, not trying to create some new partnership with china. find partnership with china. and briefl , partnership with china. and briefly, talking _ partnership with china. and briefly, talking about what is going on at home, the us is entering a presidential election cycle and beijing will be aware of that and know that trump had been hawkish on china previously, do you think that political dynamic may affect prospects of repairing the relationship with trump having an eye on 202a? i relationship with trump having an eye on 2024?— an eye on 2024? i think the view in beijing _ an eye on 2024? i think the view in beijing was - an eye on 2024? i think the view in beijing was that - an eye on 2024? i think the i view in beijing was that trump was very hawkish but he was not always effective in improving us strengths, specifically the strength of us developed ——

diplomacy. which reader china would prefer is my sense is they would probably prefer trump but they are trying to watch what the trajectory of american policies in china will play a pretty big part in the foreign policy discussions. than foreign policy discussions. an very interesting analysis. thank you so much, jacob. now to uganda, where dozens of students were killed by militants linked islamic state. the massacre happened at a secondary school in the town of mpondwe, just five hundred meters from the border with the democratic republic of the congo, or drc. it is believed the attackers came from over the border — the east of the drc has been the site of nearly continuous conflict for two decades. our correspondent barbara plett usher sent this report from nairobi and a warning it does contain distressing details.

he survived, but has to live with the horror. the community stunned by this brutal attack against children. targetted in their dormitories, the militants set fire to the boys' residence. the girls were hacked or shot to death as they fled, some abducted. translation: then | they started shooting at the windows and the door. we went to hide under our beds on the floor. as they continued to shoot out the windows, one of us was hit by a bullet and started shouting, "help! come and help me!" those who escaped, still in shock. schools are an easy target but this was the worst attack in years. there are angry questions. if they are telling us the borders are secured, security is tight, i want security to tell us where they were when these killers came to kill our people.

the military drove the rebels across the border decades ago into the eastern congo, but it didn't defeat them. they are now linked to the islamic state group. translation: security is a collaborative work. | why do you people keep quiet when you see strangers? right now we have deployed planes in various places to hunt them down. it's an alarming escalation and an unbearable tragedy. barbara plett—usher, bbc news, nairobi. to southern ukraine, where authorities are reporting at least 16 people are dead and 31 are missing after devastating floods were triggered by the destruction of a russian—held dam, which kyiv and moscow blame each other over. out of the 16 killed, 14 were in the kherson region and two in the mykolaiv region. and closer to ukraine's capital, kyiv, falling debris from russian missiles destroyed a community and has left several injured. the bbc�*s yalda hakim has more. on the outskirts of the capital, the community here is

busily working away, trying to clean up following that missile attack by the russians. we saw earlier the military had arrived here. they had brought in some roof panels. and you can see the clean—up operation is continuing. the neighbours are getting stuck in, trying to help each other as much as possible. this is a community that has been impacted for the second time this past year/ they've said that they have been targeted by russian missiles. the housejust behind me, an 80—year—old woman lived there. she's been taken to hospital. her house looks completely destroyed. earlier, we saw plumes of smoke. and, really, you get a sense ofjust how bad things have gotten for the people here, just on the outskirts of the capital, kyiv. we can also see parts of shrapnel and parts of the missiles just scattered here on the ground. a little earlier, i spoke to a 12—year—old boy who was home alone at the time,

and he said he rushed to the underground bunker and that's really what saved him. translation: i understood that this the missile - because i heard the sound like, you know, when the jet is flying, like, the aircraft, when it's flying, you can the specific sound. i recognise it and i had to hide somewhere. so i went to the shelter. and after that, yeah, that was it, basically. and what were you thinking when you realised there was an attack? translation: i understood that i can die. and what we all have here will be gone. will be destroyed. that's what i understood. is this something you've been feeling for the past year? translation:

i neverfelt so scared as today. i mean, it was for some time already, but today it was something exceptional. and honestly speaking, i didn't understood what happened. and when did you phone your mum? how did you get in touch with your mum? translation: so i called my mum when i went out| of the bunker because there was no connection in there. and i called my mum, but she also had no connection, so then i wrote her a message and i also sent her a video and that's how she understood what happened and came here. you must have been petrified? translation: i was extremely scared because _ i was not at home with him. he was home alone. and you know what is funny that we quite often hear missiles, we have drones

flying above our village. and normally, because it's happening for so, such a long time, recently, we started going to the cellar that we use as a shelter and we have like a room, a deep room in the house that has this two wall rules. so we follow the two wall rules. and i am so grateful to my son because even though he's 12 years old, he managed to make a decision. and if i would be home, we would probably stay in the house. you really get a sense of how much this is impacting the local community here. we heard there from that mother, who expressed pride because her son was able to think quite quickly. even though he was home alone, he rushed to the bunker and she said that's what saved him. and children here across this country have had to really think about these things over the past year — what to do when there is a missile attack, how to react. it's a reality that the people here, notjust in the capital but right across the country, have to think about. strange as it may seem, new yorkers have had

the opportunity to laugh about wartime life in ukraine this week. a stand—up comic from kiev has been performing at two new york city comedy clubs and believes humour is a good way to talk about the conflict. tom brook reports. the orica—greenedge village comedy club gave a warm welcome to anna who had come all the way to new york from kyiv. the stash orica—greenedge village. i'm afraid the rocket will hit my building, the wallet will come down and everyone will see how i live. laughter. and my mum would be, i told you to clean up. mum would be, i told you to clean un— clean up. anna told me she believes — clean up. anna told me she believes laughter _ clean up. anna told me she believes laughter by - clean up. anna told me she believes laughter by way i clean up. anna told me she believes laughter by way of| believes laughter by way of stand—up comedy is vital in times of war. i stand-up comedy is vital in times of war.— times of war. i think it is most appropriate. - times of war. i think it is most appropriate. first i times of war. i think it is | most appropriate. first of times of war. i think it is - most appropriate. first of all it is rebellious, it is against everything russia wants is to be, like depressed, hopeless

and tired. and secondly, i think it is normal in the times of darkness to find something light and joke about it and evenif light and joke about it and even if it is a darkjoke, if you can laugh about it it is not so scary and it is makes it better because a lot of ukrainian humour now is very dark. hello, are there any russians here?— dark. hello, are there any russians here? she has been doin: russians here? she has been doing stand-up _ russians here? she has been doing stand-up comedy - russians here? she has been doing stand-up comedy in . russians here? she has been| doing stand-up comedy in two doing stand—up comedy in two different venues in new york city and her us connecting with american audiences getting them to relate with the war in ukraine in a way that is quite different from davey news journalism. it different from davey news journalism.— different from davey news journalism. it was called to brin: journalism. it was called to bring some _ journalism. it was called to bring some lighthearted i journalism. it was called to i bring some lighthearted letters to it. that bring some lighthearted letters to it. �* , bring some lighthearted letters to it. , ~ to it. at first it was like i don't know _ to it. at first it was like i don't know if _ to it. at first it was like i don't know if i _ to it. at first it was like i don't know if i should i to it. at first it was like i don't know if i should be laughing about it but she laughing about it but she opened up about her experience opened up and made — opened up about her experience and made us feel comfortable to -et and made us feel comfortable to get in _ and made us feel comfortable to get in on — and made us feel comfortable to get in on the track. it humanised it and made it more feet _ humanised it and made it more real. ,, .., humanised it and made it more real. ,, ., , ., real. she can also be seen in a documentary _

real. she can also be seen in a documentary shown _ real. she can also be seen in a documentary shown at - real. she can also be seen in a documentary shown at the i documentary shown at the tribeca festival in new york, it follows her and other comics in ukraine. the producer says all the stand—up comics have too varied degrees been inspired by ukrainian president zelensky he was a background as an actor and comedian. absolutely, they all have reverence for zelensky and were inspired by him. maybe perhaps not to do stand—up but i feel they have a connection with him. ., . . . they have a connection with him. ., . ., ., him. zero chance today of russian — him. zero chance today of russian rockets _ him. zero chance today of russian rockets in i him. zero chance today of russian rockets in new i him. zero chance today of. russian rockets in new york. she _ russian rockets in new york. she may— russian rockets in new york. she may be making american lover to her this is no funny business. she is trying to show new yorkers that ukrainians are resilient and she hopes that by saying that maybe americas will support ukrainians more. joining us now live is hanna kochehura, the ukrainian comedian you saw in the piece. she's also featured

in a new documentary, "comedy of war: laughter in ukraine," which is premiering at the tribeca film festival. thank you so much for being with us. your routine is very, very funny — but i think some people when they first watch it, if they feel moved by the war in ukraine, they might feel like — is it appropriate to laugh? were you nervous as to the response you would get the first time you did it? hello. thanks for having me. yeah, i was very nervous about it because i didn't know whether the jokes would land and i understand that the context we're living in is completely different from what us audience is living in, but i also hope that it will resonate because it's just my experience

from living in war. yeah, i think that the audience was a bit unsure at first, but they reacted greatly. they laughed and we all had great time. some ofthe and we all had great time. some of the things _ and we all had great time. some of the things you _ and we all had great time. some of the things you were _ and we all had great time. some of the things you were say i and we all had great time. some of the things you were say in i of the things you were say in your republic, they really remind me of things that me and my friends say to each other, laughing about the state of our apartments, for example, the mess and so on and in doing so you are showing ukrainians in a very relatable multi—facetted way, you are humanising them. is that something that you set out to do on purpose?- out to do on purpose? yeah, this is one — out to do on purpose? yeah, this is one of _ out to do on purpose? yeah, this is one of my _ out to do on purpose? yeah, this is one of my goals i out to do on purpose? yeah, this is one of my goals and l this is one of my goals and this is one of my goals and this is one of my goals and this is one of the goals of the documentary we have done and that premiered in tribecca is just to show that ukrainians are just just to show that ukrainians arejust regular just to show that ukrainians are just regular people, like, we have the same problems, the same issues daily, routines we do, and itjust makes it more humanising all our experiences

and more relatable to people here. so the point is to show stories of people going through this — going through war and how we cope and how we deal. and, yeah, this is something i want to do in my stand—up because i do a lot of observational comedy and i just — the surreal nature of it to have daily and normal problems like my apartment is a mess and also dealing with, you know, war. so that's — there is relating. war. so that's - there is reiating-_ war. so that's - there is relatinu. ., , relating. zelenskyy, of course, himself famously _ relating. zelenskyy, of course, himself famously has - relating. zelenskyy, of course, himself famously has gone i relating. zelenskyy, of course, l himself famously has gone from comedian to president. do you think that has shaped his handling of the conflict? i think it definitely made him great speaker. i think all this experience with performing to

different audiences made him amazing at what he does, amazing at what he does, amazing to speaking to people's hearts, and it also it makes him — like, we don't feel like he's somewhere on the top of the hill. we all feel like he's one of us and he is without superior in this wartime. haifa superior in this wartime. how would you — superior in this wartime. how would you describe _ superior in this wartime. how would you describe ukrainian sense of humour? your show is a little bit dark. i mean, do you think the ukrainian sense of humour is a bit dark?- think the ukrainian sense of humour is a bit dark? um, yeah, well, i wouldn't _ humour is a bit dark? um, yeah, well, i wouldn't - _ humour is a bit dark? um, yeah, well, i wouldn't - i— humour is a bit dark? um, yeah, well, i wouldn't - i didn't i well, i wouldn't — i didn't think it was too dark before i heard reactions from people from other countries because ukrainians are a bit of — a bit blunt, a bit straightforward, so we don't, like, beat around the bush. yeah, it is dark sometimes because we are living in wartime. so i don't see how

it could be any different, but we have not — not only dark humour. ukrainian stand—up comedy is young but it's developing and we have a lot of talented comedians of all sorts doing different things. absolutely. we have certainly seen many talents orters and speakers rising to prominence through this conflict. but ultimately, would you say this is comedy about bringing people together, or is it also about comedy as a weapon of war as defiance, almost?— comedy as a weapon of war as defiance, almost? well, ithink it's both. comedy _ defiance, almost? well, ithink it's both. comedy brings i defiance, almost? well, ithink| it's both. comedy brings people together and it helps us to — it's also extremely important stand—up comedy works only with the audience, it's always better when it's offline. so we can share our experience and understand that we are not alone in this so we stand united in this humour and laughter, but at the same time,

it is also a part of informational war, it is also a part of informationalwar, i it is also a part of informational war, i would say, because, first of all, it — it's an extension, it gives people more energy, it helps them get through the day sometimes. we all need that. and also it is a rebellion against all this evil russian empire because i think they want us to be — to be — not to be laughing, not to — because laughter, it's free, you know. when you laugh at something, it doesn't control you. absolutely. hanna kochehura there, a ukrainian comedienne, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, your experiences with us. really great to talk to you. with us. really great to talk to ou. ., ~ . in other news. teachers in england will go on strike for two more days injuly, in their long running dispute with the government over pay. the national education union

says teachers will take action on wednesdayjuly 5th and fridayjuly 7th. the uk government says the strikes will cause damage to learning and disruption to parents. now to the world of entertainment, the recording academy announced three new categories including — best african music performance. the category will highlight "regional melodic, harmonic and rhythmic musical traditions" and will include genres like afrobeat, high life and south african hip hop. meanwhile, one talented star the academy knows well is 32 year old grammy award winner performer beyonce, who is currently on a world tour. but despite a huge fanbase in africa, there'll be no visits to the continent. so how likely are we to see international superstars like beyonce staging multi—city tours in africa? our digitaljournalist irenitemi somuyiwa reports. beyonce wants to visit africa if she really wanted to.- if she really wanted to. let's talk about — if she really wanted to. let's talk about the _ if she really wanted to. let's talk about the fan _ if she really wanted to. let's talk about the fan base. i if she really wanted to. let's talk about the fan base. we | talk about the fan base. we have — talk about the fan base. we have the _ talk about the fan base. we have the facilities.- have the facilities. like you have the facilities. like you have so many _ have the facilities. like you have so many fans - have the facilities. like you have so many fans here. i have the facilities. like you i have so many fans here. please, we want — have so many fans here. please, we want to — have so many fans here. please, we want to reach _ have so many fans here. please, we want to reach out. _ have so many fans here. please, we want to reach out. come i have so many fans here. please,

we want to reach out. come on. i we want to reach out. come on. as far— we want to reach out. come on. as far as _ we want to reach out. come on. as far as we — we want to reach out. come on. as far as we know, _ we want to reach out. come on. as far as we know, beyonce i we want to reach out. come on. as far as we know, beyonce is l as far as we know, beyonce is not coming to africa, but what would it take beyonce and other global a list artists to stage world—class tours in multiple african cities? as you probably know, beyonce is back with her first solo tour in seven years. fans in cities like miami, atlanta, barcelona, london and paris are getting to see their queen bee on stage but not her african fans. judging by beyonce's references to the beauty of tradition and black excellence in the gift album in 2019 which featured several african artists, this exclusion seems at odds with the influences drawn from the continent in her work. so what factors may be stopping certain artists from performing on the continent?— artists from performing on the continent? the ability in terms of location _ continent? the ability in terms of location to _ continent? the ability in terms of location to actually - of location to actually execute, the artist travels schedule and the long road, all

these factors are a number of factors that definitely do affect. where an artist will eventually tour. record labels also consider the artists biggest audience.- also consider the artists biggest audience. the ifpi, which is the _ biggest audience. the ifpi, which is the voice - biggest audience. the ifpi, which is the voice of i biggest audience. the ifpi, which is the voice of the i which is the voice of the recording industry world—wide, says despite africa's influence on the global repertoire, most music industries on the continent haven't had significant markets for the international industry. it's worth mentioning that beyonce and other global artists have staged performed in several african cities in previous years, but this is about multi—city tours. while we ask you what cities you would like beyonce to add to her renaissance world tour and we got hundreds of responses. going have a concert in nigeria, i'll probably lose my mind. i’iiii nigeria, i'll probably lose my mind. �* ., ~ nigeria, i'll probably lose my mind. �* . ~ ., , ., mind. i'll talk about this for the rest of _ mind. i'll talk about this for the rest of my _ mind. i'll talk about this for the rest of my mind. i'll i mind. i'll talk about this for| the rest of my mind. i'll sell my mum's _ the rest of my mind. i'll sell my mum's business. i will do anything _ my mum's business. i will do anything-—

anything. beyonce has a significant _ anything. beyonce has a significant fan _ anything. beyonce has a significant fan base i anything. beyonce has a significant fan base in i anything. beyonce has a i significant fan base in africa and — significant fan base in africa and would _ significant fan base in africa and would be _ significant fan base in africa and would be really - significant fan base in africa and would be really a i significant fan base in africa and would be really a greatl and would be really a great chance _ and would be really a great chance for— and would be really a great chance for her— and would be really a great chance for her fans - and would be really a great chance for her fans to i and would be really a great i chance for her fans to directly connect — chance for her fans to directly connect with— chance for her fans to directly connect with her. _ chance for her fans to directly connect with her. so - chance for her fans to directly connect with her.— connect with her. so it's re connect with her. so it's pretty clear _ connect with her. so it's pretty clear that - connect with her. so it's pretty clear that africa | connect with her. so it's| pretty clear that africa is calling. let's hope that the world's biggest stars can hear. thanks for your company and stay with us here on the bbc news if you can. bye for now. hello there. we saw a lot more cloud around on saturday, and it signals a change in the type of weather. we did manage some sunshine, mind you, in temperatures — 27 celsius in the southeast of england, where it is much better weather for a fly—past this time. but things are really going to kick off on sunday, especially later on in the afternoon, through the evening, a lot of rain developing, aould be some large damaging hail. torrential rain likely to bring some flooding,

and a lot of thunder and lightning, as well. we start the day with some sunshine, but may well be some sharp showers from overnight in southeast of england and east anglia. and as temperatures rise, so the cloud builds up, and we'll see more of those downpours developing, particularly across england and wales, and into northern ireland. probably not so many showers in scotland. more in the way of sunshine here, and temperatures around 22—24 celsius — and again, it'll be quite muggy. now, we may well have some thunderstorms across northern ireland, but the worst of those will be developing across parts of england and wales. and through the latter part of the afternoon, into the evening, really wet weather will push its way northwards up into northern england, away from southern england and the midlands, and wales, and eventually that wetter weather arrives overnight into scotland. some torrential rain likely to bring some flooding, a lot of thunder and lightning in there, as well. that wet weather still across northern scotland on monday — it does tend to ease off. following on from that, there'll be some sunny spells, a scattering of showers, 1—2 of them on the heavy side perhaps. many places may well be dry. still quite warm, temperatures again around about in the mid—20s, more likely, across

the midlands and eastern parts of england. now instead of high pressure that's brought dry weather for some areas of the country for so long, it'll be low pressure that's sitting close by over the week ahead, which will bring the threat of some more heavy and thundery downpours. there'll be some sunshine around, as well, on tuesday, and it should be quite warm. many eastern areas likely to be dr — it's out towards the west that we've got most of those thunderstorms developing, and again, there could be some localised flooding. so temperatures around about 22—23 celslius on tuesday. and we'll keep temperatures over the weekend around the mid—20s or so. there will be some further heavy, perhaps thundery showers over the weekend. maybe turning a little less humid, a little fresher, and perhaps some southeastern parts of the uk later in the week will be a bit drier. but she