live from washington, this is bbc news. us secretary of state antony blinken touches down in beijing for a high—stakes weekend of talks with his chinese counterparts. quick thinking to survive missile attacks and communities coming together to help each other. the latest out of ukraine as the counteroffensive continues. and, king charles takes part in his first trooping the colour as monarch. hello, i'm helena humphrey. thanks forjoining us. we begin in beijing, where us secretary of state antony blinken arrived a short time ago 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. live now to the bbc's china correspondent, stephen mcdonnell, in beijing. we just saw antony blinken touching down a little earlier. what will be on his agenda? the first thing he _ what will be on his agenda? tue: first thing he will what will be on his agenda? tte: first thing he will be doing, the first serious thing is meeting his chinese counterpart, chinese foreign minister qin gang. tomorrow he will meet huang yi and he is actually above qin gang, the communist party is official and he may even meet president xi jinping and if he met the leader, that would be very symbolic and sent a message out in china for sure that beijing is taking it seriously and the idea of reaching out to washington and washington is

also taking it seriously to reach to china. nobody is expecting any huge breakthrough though. just having these meetings is the goal, really. later on, to establish some sort of mechanisms to keep communication going, to set up more meetings between senior officials of both governments because apart from all of these other areas of contention, whether it be trade, whether it be arguing about cyber attack, they are actually speaking seriously about needing to avoid war. that seems incredible on this day and age that that would be something that that would be something that the world superpowers would need to discuss, and yet, for sure, that is something on the agenda. for sure, that is something on the agenda-— the agenda. and how about china, the agenda. and how about china. how _ the agenda. and how about china, how is _ the agenda. and how about china, how is it _ the agenda. and how about china, how is it viewing - the agenda. and how aboutj china, how is it viewing this visit? , ., visit? they did what the meeting _ visit? they did what the meeting to _ visit? they did what the meeting to go - visit? they did what the meeting to go ahead . visit? they did what the l meeting to go ahead last visit? they did what the - meeting to go ahead last time. remember, it was cancelled because of these spy balloon

allegations. that was very embarrassing for beijing and they were cranky that washington pulled the pin on that particular visit. now the biden administration would say they had no choice really, how can you go ahead with such meetings with a balloon flying over missile silos, potentially taking photos of them? at this time of heightened tensions, if the meeting canjust go time of heightened tensions, if the meeting can just go ahead in china, if, as i say they can establish these processes to continue the talk, then i think beijing will be happy enough that, that they can say we are stopping the relationship from deteriorating even further, which she could do quite easily. if the means of communication are re—established, there is no going back to the ten years ago when things were all much more

happy between the superpowers but at least this is a start to, as i say, prevent a further deterioration.— to, as i say, prevent a further deterioration. what about the re . ion? deterioration. what about the region? how _ deterioration. what about the region? how much _ deterioration. what about the region? how much do - deterioration. what about the i region? how much do countries in the neighbourhood wanted the tensions between the sides de—escalate? tensions between the sides de-escalate?_ de-escalate? absolutely! everybody _ de-escalate? absolutely! everybody in _ de-escalate? absolutely! everybody in the - de-escalate? absolutely! everybody in the world i de-escalate? absolutely! . everybody in the world rarely do you really, whether it be easing tensions in the south china seat — — everybody in the world, really — — even if it means easing tensions in the south china sea and trade has been bumped because of the other ports of contention. if these superpowers are not facilitating global trade, it affects everybody, especially the countries in this part of the countries in this part of the world, or climate change for that matter. the world needs beijing in washington to be cooperating on climate

change. again, that has been pushed so far down the agenda, it shows how serious the other points of conflict are, that they are strategic competition, as it is being referred to, which could potentially at some point, collapse into some sort of conflict. when i speak about the south china sea, one of the things we're talking about for example, i'm sure people have seen these moments, the footage capturing ships of the two country's navies passing each other closely, or fighterjets for that matter, and imagine the possibility that could lead to some sort of conflict. they need clear lines of communication to stop that from happening. communication to stop that from ha eninu. ., ~' ,, earlier, i spoke to jacob stokes, senior fellow for the indo—pacific security program at the center for a new american security. how crucial do you think

these talks are? i think this is an important trip. as you said, the secretary of state from the united states hasn't been to china in five years and that is really an extensive period of time for the world's two top superpowers to not have an in—person visit. of course, there have been a number of other exchanges, including with the leaders last fall in person in bali, in indonesia, since then, but given the downturn, the incredible downturn in us—china relations, where the relationship is really the worst it has been in nearly 50 years, it is incredibly important to keep up this type of diplomacy and it will really help for the secretary of state to understand and build more ties between the us and china. how much though do you think that things like the spy balloon saga, for example, also the alleged cuba surveillance operation will actually hang

over these talks? there's a number of areas of disagreement, in the security arena, human rights, trade, technology, many, many more areas of disagreement certainly than converging interests between the two powers these days but it is really the view from the biden administration that this intense strategic competition or geopolitical competition, as they call it, requires intense diplomacy to make sure that a given incident or areas of disagreement do not spiral or veer into conflict which would effect not only the us and china but the rest of the world. as you just said, many areas of disagreement between both sides. do you think there is any area where both sides might make real tangible progress? i think it is really about finding areas where they might tacitly co—ordinate, for example vis—a—vis the war on ukraine where certainly

the us has more insights into what ukraine is thinking, european allies, and china will have more insights into its strategic partner, russia. and certainly issues like iran's nuclear program or potential areas, the global macro economy, things like that there could be sort of tacit cooperation. but there is not going to be explicit partnership between the us and china on nearly any issue. and i'm interested in other countries in the region. taiwan, for example, we know will be watching this visit very closely. what do you think places like that will be wanting to see coming out of this visit? well, i think the region has really responded to the more aggressive foreign policy that china has undertaken under the last ten years under leader xi jinping and so in many ways china has kind of driven the rest of the region into the us arms, certainly countries like japan, australia, the philippines and even taiwan are facing

additional pressure and looking for the united states to help to 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 strike here in its strategy and that is part of the reason why engagement with beijing is on the table. one thing i do wonder is the fact that this trip, of course, as we know, was delayed for months, and now we're seeing the secretary of state antony blinken be the one to make it. do you think there is the potential here that actually, at the end of the day, it is washington that is more eager to smooth over relations than beijing? that is possible but i think at the same time the us has built a very strong strategy towards china that is not predicated on 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 in this area of security, technology and trade. and then, on top of those three pillars which can stand alone, there is this kind of push for engagementjust to keep the relationship on an even keel. what we have heard from administration officials is they are really looking to, as they say, manage the downside risks, that is avoid the possibility of something spiralling into conflict, so that is really the goal here, it's not to try to create some new partnership with china. and briefly, if you don't mind, talking about what is going on at home, the us is entering a presidential election cycle, beijing will be aware of that and they'll also know that trump had been hawkish on china previously. do you think that political dynamic might affect prospects of repairing the relationship,

with trump having an eye on 202a? i think the view in beijing was that trump was very hawkish but he was not always effective at improving us strengths, specifically the strength of us democracy and marshalling a global coalition to counterbalance china. the biden administration has been much more effective at that so there's kind of up in the air about which leader china would prefer, but my sense is they would probably prefer trump, but certainly they are trying to watch what the trajectory of american policies is and china, as you said, will play a pretty big part in the foreign policy discussions. a really interesting analysis there from jacob stokes, a senior fellow for at the centerfor a new american security. he also has a focus on china and us foreign policy. thank you so much, jacob. 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, ia 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 the 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 they have been targeted by russian missiles. the housejust behind me, an 80—year—old woman lived

there, she has 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 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 the underground bunker, and that really what saved him. translation: i understood that there was a missile - because i heard the sound, like when they get is flying, and aircraft, you know the specific sound, you recognise it, and i understood i need to hide somewhere so i went to the shelter. and after that, that was it, basically. and what were you thinking

when you realised there was an attack? i understood that i could die. and what we all have here will be gone. it will be destroyed. that's what i understood. is there something you've been feeling for the past year? i neverfelt so scared as today. i mean, it was for some time already but today, it was something exceptional. i did not understand what happened. and when did you phone your mum? how did you get in contact with your mum? so, i called my mum when i went out to the bunker because there was no connection in there, and i called my mum but she also had no connection, so 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�*ve been petrified. i was extremely scared, he was home alone. and often we hear missiles, drones_ and often we hear missiles, drones flying in our village. normally, because it is happening for such a long time, recently— happening for such a long time, recently we started to go to the seller which we use as a shelter _ the seller which we use as a shelter. we have, like, rooms in the — shelter. we have, like, rooms in the house that have these two well— in the house that have these two wall rules and we follow those — two wall rules and we follow those two wall rules and i'm grateful— those two wall rules and i'm grateful to my son because even though— grateful to my son because even though he — grateful to my son because even though he is 12, he managed to make _ though he is 12, he managed to make a — though he is 12, he managed to make a decision —— cellar. if i was _ make a decision —— cellar. if i was home, _ make a decision —— cellar. if i was home, i_ make a decision —— cellar. if i was home, i probably would have stayed _ was home, i probably would have stayed in — was home, i probably would have stayed in the house. you was home, i probably would have stayed in the house.— stayed in the house. you really aet a stayed in the house. you really get a sense _ stayed in the house. you really get a sense of— stayed in the house. you really get a sense of how _ stayed in the house. you really get a sense of how much - stayed in the house. you really get a sense of how much this l stayed 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 he said that's what saved him and children here across this country 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. yalda hakim reporting. and to st petersburg, where russian president vladimir putin has been holding talks with a delegation from seven african nations who've called for peace talks to end to the war in ukraine. mr putin told the south african president cyril ramaphosa and his colleagues that improving ties with african countries was a priority. he praised what he called their balanced position on the war. many african countries have been hit by the cut in exports of grain and fertiliser as a result of russia's invasion of ukraine. in his opening remarks, mr ramaphosa said he hoped the talks could lead to the end of the conflict: we do firmly believe that this

war must be settled and it must be settled through negotiations and through diplomatic means. the war cannot go on forever. all wars have to be settled and come to an end at some stage, and we are here to communicate a very clear message that we would like this war to be ended. we say so because this war is having a negative impact on the african continent and indeed on many other countries around the world. our africa reporter shingai nyoka is in the zimbabwe capital harare and has more on the visit. those leaders of those seven countries, or representatives from seven countries, met with president putin

and essentially expressed concern about the stability of the region. and they called on him to ensure that there's stability in the region. they also expressed concern about food security. president ramaphosa from south africa, who's leading that delegation, presented a ten—point plan, if you like, of all the key elements. he said they were there to listen, they were there also to support previous peace proposals, that they wanted to ensure that the blockages that have stopped grain and fertiliser from moving from ukraine in the black sea, to africa, that they be allowed free passage. and as you heard there, he essentially wants russia to respect sovereignty. he also raised the issue of prisoners of war that are in russia, as well as children who have been abducted — allegedly, as ukraine says — into russia.

president putin interrupted the presentations by the african delegation very briefly to defend his position, essentially saying that the reason for the instability was the coup d'etat from 2014 — it was his own version of history — and he also said that he was open to the children being returned to their parents and that they had been evacuated for their safety. so clearly a very defensive position from vladimir putin, but that meeting is still ongoing. video footage has emerged showing people dancing at conservative party headquarters in the uk, despite covid lockdown restrictions in 2020. the footage has been obtained by the mirror newspaper. at the time, there were tier 2 restrictions in london which meant people should not socialise indoors, unless they were in the same household. police did investigate this event but did not issue any fines.

our political correspondent iain watson has more on what this might mean for the current conservative government. i think it is something that will be very unwelcome for rishi sunak who himself got a fixed penalty notice, a fine for attending a gathering in downing street and he said he turned up early for a meeting but nonetheless he was fine for what was a gathering on boris johnson's party at the time and he really does want to draw a line under this, he wants to leave all of this behind and it just keeps hopping up time and time again and of course there's going to be a lot of attention on the issue on monday because that's when mps were debating a report from across bunkerfor a were debating a report from across bunker for a cross—party committee across parliament which said borisjohnson had effectively lied to parliament on numerous occasions, so that would be an uncomfortable debate for the conservative party to conduct and it will

show differences in potential splits but also the wired but covered it which is supposed to be four years is getting under way as well and certainly i don't think rishi sunak would welcome perhaps some of the comments which are inevitably going to fly once the video is seen from some of the families for whom this will be very, very raw so he's trying to move on and deal with some of the big economic challenges at the moment, not least of course rising rates and mortgage rates. once again, he cannot quite escape the shadow of his predecessor. thousands of people turned out to watch king charles take part in his first trooping the colour since becoming monarch. he became the first monarch to take part in event on horseback in more than 30 years. our royal correspondent nicholas witchell has more. finally, it was a birthday parade for him. guards! royal salute! present arms!

god save the king plays. king charles took the salute in his own right as monarch. the king was on horseback — a ratherfriskier mount than he might have wished. shoulder arms! princes george and louis and princess charlotte were taken to watch from a window overlooking horse guards as the parade got under way. on the dias, queen camilla in an outfit modelled on the uniform of the grenadier guards — of which she is now honorary colonel — and the princess of wales in emerald green — she's colonel of the irish guards. for the first time in more than 30 years, all five of the foot guard regiments were on parade. the colour being trooped was that of the welsh guards. and then, back up the mall to buckingham palace. a carriage ride for the children with george leading the waving.

the king led the principal members of the family onto the palace balcony for the fly—past, which couldn't take place on coronation day because of the weather. but in the clear skies of summer appeared the battle of britain memorial flight and some of the raf�*s latest and loudestjets... jet engine roars. ..including 18 typhoon fighters spelling out the letters cr — charles rex — in tribute to britain's new king. nicholas witchell, bbc news. novelist ben okri, director stephen frears and vogue's anna wintour are among some of those who received the king's birthday honours. our lizo mzimba has more on this year's honourees.

reporter: terry waite is free after five years held _ hostage in beirut. terry waite has devoted much of his life to helping others being held against their will. he's received a knighthood. very difficult to express my feelings about it but i am honoured to be a part — to be recognised by my country, whose traditions i deeply respect and value. in the world of film and tv, celia imrie becomes an cbe. davina mccall says it's a great honour to be made an mbe, while line of duty star vicky mcclure also becomes an mbe for her acting and charity work. in the world of sport, ian wright has been made a cbe for his contribution to football and to charity. campaigner suzanne richards, who's been made an mbe, usually lost three members of her family in the 2015 tunisian beach attacks. she set up a charity for people bereaved through homicide — and issue that's

constantly relevant. the news from nottingham, it's heartbreaking and i totally feel how those families are feeling, especially when they've just lost a 19—year—old, same as myself, a university student. itjust mirrored what happened to me eight years ago. so, and — you know, and as a charity, we'll be there to support them in the future if they need us. she's just one of many being honoured for making a difference in their communities. lizo mzimba, bbc news. it isa it is a good night from us in washington, dc but our colleagues take over from london now so thanks as ever for your company and stay with us here on bbc news if you can. goodbye 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 south—east 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, could 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 south—east 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 degrees — 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, one or two 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's going to 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 dry.

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 degrees on tuesday. and we're going to keep temperatures over the weekend around the mid 20s or so. there will be some further heavy, perhaps thundery showers over the week ahead. maybe turning a little less humid, a little fresher and perhaps some south—eastern parts of the uk later in the week will be a bit drier.