live from london. this is bbc news. a new video emerges of tory activists partying during the uk's lockdown — prompting outrage from the families of covid victims. it was almost like one rule for them and another, you know, for the rest of the country. and it's upsetting. a day of national mourning declared in pakistan — for those who died on a boat off the coast of greece. "i'm certain i've done nothing wrong" — scotland's former first minister, nicola sturgeon, responds after being arrested and released without charge over the snp finances inevestigation. voters in switzerland approved a new law to make the country carbon

neutral by 2050. this is bbc news. a rare meeting between two superpowers. china and the us secretary of state antony blinken has held talks with his chinese counterpart. it is the highest profile visit to the us by a us —— visit to china by a us representative. mr blinken said the talks were "candid, substantive and constructive" — and stressed the importance of maintaining open channels of communication. china's foreign minister said replations between both nations were currently at their lowest point since 1979 — and agreed to visit washington to continue talks. our correspondent stephen mcdonnell is in beijing and says mr blinken�*s visit is symbolic. antony blinken touched down

with little indictation this would result in a breakthrough. relations have been so toxic that even having the visit has been a step forward. the first meeting was with the secretary of state's chinese counterpart. the potential to drift into war is a concern shared all round. safeguards are needed to prevent an accidental armed conflict. from trade tensions to climate change, much repair work is needed. the world superpowers are nowhere near rapprochement. analysts have become pragmatic about where us china relations mainland. —— china relations may land. i don't think we can go back to the good old days. on the other hand we are entering a new normal, a new status, where both countries recognise that i can't change you, you can't change me, and we can't change each other. let's try to exist peacefully.

if this trip can establish lines of communication, can clear a path for visits, then both governments will consider it having been a success. it is a measure of the pessimistic mood around this relationship that, if these meetings can simply slow an increase in tensions, that will be taken as a win. in february the alleged spy balloon over north america delayed this trip. now that antony blinken is actually here, the mood is polite and official, but not very warm. alistair dawber is joining us now, he's the washington correspodnent for the sunday times and the times newspapers. firstly, a significant milestone in the thawing of relationships between these two countries. what do you think the chinese need to do to signify to the americans that they are serious? i signify to the americans that they are serious?— are serious? i think the fact this meetin: are serious? i think the fact this meeting has _ are serious? i think the fact this meeting has taken _ are serious? i think the fact this meeting has taken place -

are serious? i think the fact this meeting has taken place at - are serious? i think the fact this meeting has taken place at all. are serious? i think the fact this | meeting has taken place at all is quite a big breakthrough. you mentioned in your report that antony blinken is meant to be —— was meant to be going early but the trip was cancelled because of the spy balloon over the us and the fact it was shut down. the us defence secretary meeting was turned down. i think the fact the chinese have allowed this to go ahead, and the fact there has been no obvious public row in china between the two sides, i think that represents progress. also the foreign minister has accepted a request to visit washington, as well. i think that will be seen as baby steps in making some sort of progress in the form of relation just a... i think that will be seen as a win for both sides. just a. .. i think that will be seen as a win for both sides.- just a... i think that will be seen as a win for both sides. ukraine are said to be featured _ as a win for both sides. ukraine are said to be featured quite _ as a win for both sides. ukraine are said to be featured quite highly - as a win for both sides. ukraine are said to be featured quite highly on | said to be featured quite highly on the agenda. how far do you think talks will get on that topic, and

what do you think the us are looking for in terms of reassurance? i what do you think the us are looking for in terms of reassurance?- for in terms of reassurance? i think the us are — for in terms of reassurance? i think the us are concerned _ for in terms of reassurance? i think the us are concerned about - for in terms of reassurance? i think the us are concerned about one - for in terms of reassurance? i think. the us are concerned about one thing when it comes to china and ukraine, and that is the chinese supplying weapons to the russians. lloyd austin, antony blinken, president biden often asked whether this is going to happen. they say no. i think the fact antony blinken is in china supports that idea that the chinese haven't supplied the russians with weapons yet. that's the concern. one of the things near the concern. one of the things near the top of antony blinken�*s agenda will be to put pressure on the chinese to persuade them not to supply any weapons, to make sure that doesn't happen. in supply any weapons, to make sure that doesn't happen.— that doesn't happen. in terms of meetin: that doesn't happen. in terms of meeting the _ that doesn't happen. in terms of meeting the president, - that doesn't happen. in terms of meeting the president, there . that doesn't happen. in terms of meeting the president, there is | that doesn't happen. in terms of. meeting the president, there is talk antony blinken might meet him. that would be quite an important moment for somebody of that level to greet this us secretary of state and also perhaps signify the sign of better relations because, you know, things

have deteriorated up until this point. tell us a bit about that. if it does happen that will be a major breakthrough. president biden is often asked when he might speak to the chinese president. while there is ambitions for that to happen, were antony blinken to meet the chinese president on this trip that would be a big breakthrough. it isn't expected. there isn't anything in the agenda said —— in the agenda to suggest that might happen. if it does happen it would be a surprise. it is hard to understand the entire range of dispute the chinese and the americans have. trade, taiwan, ukraine, intellectual property rights, spying, there are so many points of difference. i think a meeting of that level would indicate

a really big breakthrough but i'm not sure it is expected.— a really big breakthrough but i'm not sure it is expected. thanks very much forjoining _ not sure it is expected. thanks very much forjoining us. _ not sure it is expected. thanks very much forjoining us. the _ not sure it is expected. thanks very much forjoining us. the latest - not sure it is expected. thanks very much forjoining us. the latest on l much forjoining us. the latest on the antony blinken visit to beijing. in the uk michael gove has apologised on behalf of the government for the �*partygate' video which has emerged. it shows conservative party staff enjoying drinks and dancing at a christmas gathering at their headquarters in december 2020 — a time when social distancing restrictions were in place. london s metropolitan police service has said it is aware of and considering the footage. mr gove said the event was �*indefensible' and apologised �*unreservedly�* as helen catt reports. 2020 was the year we saw this, and this, as people accepted strict curbs on their daily lives that the government said were necessary to keep them safe. but in december, in a basement in conservative party headquarters, this... a christmas party — note the festive jumper, dancing and booze.

socialising indoors with anyone except your own household or support bubble was banned. some at the party seemed worried at their event being caught on camera. instagram live! the levelling up secretary said he was sorry it had happened. as we all know, there have been police investigations into what happened in downing street, but putting that to one side, on a personal level, i would like to apologise to people for this behaviour. it's unacceptable and indefensible. in december 2020, andrew naughton was shielding with his daughter, who has cerebral palsy. this video that has come out today is a kick in the teeth for those of us that have been fighting for our children and our people we are caring for that don't have a voice and then to hear that these people in the party have been elevated now to a position in the house of lords, where they make decisions,

shows that they are actually even further away from us. the party was organised by the campaign team for then london mayoral candidate shaun bailey. he'sjust been made a peer in borisjohnson's resignation honours. when a photo of it appeared two years ago, he apologised. he is not in the video, but his campaign manager ben mallet is. he also received an honour, and there are calls for both of them to lose them. there also seems to be a mocking of the rules that is going on in the video, where people up and down the country were making sacrifices to follow the rules that were imposed, and yet again, you get this one rule, it seems, for those who are in government and another for everybody else. the metropolitian police previously investigated this event and decided not to take any further action. the conservatives say disciplinary action was taken against four people. the government wants to move on from partygate, this video shows how difficult that

may still be. lots of reaction to this story today. a little earlier i spoke to charlotte hodge whose husband died with covid in 2021. it was me and my husband and our two children who were aged two and ii at the time. and my husband was classed as extremely vulnerable. he had a condition, a genetic disorder called alpha one antitrypsin deficiency. so he had emphysema and chronic bronchiectasis. and we did everything by the book. even my mum, we had to leave my mum on her own. she wouldn't let anyone near her. she spent about 16 weeks just completely in the house on her own. we did everything that the government told us to do, that they didn't do. and did that impact your contact with your husband during that time and when he fell ill? no, because we were really,

really strict over what we did. so we basically didn't see anyone. we had no contact with anyone. we were just confined to the house and the garden and just the four of us. and this video that's now emerged of these tory activists sort of partying, it would seem, by these videos, how does that make you feel? disgusted. these were their rules. they brought these rules in and blatantly disregarded them. it was... they made a mockery of them. it was almost like one rule for them and another for the rest of the country. and it's upsetting, and it makes me angry. it's ok for them to say sorry. it's just words. it's a word.

you know, it's not going to bring anyone back. and the whole thing was just handled so badly from day one. and, you know, hundreds of thousands of people now, if you go to london, you look at all the names on the covid memorial wall. my husband, his name is on there with over 200,000 other people. and that should never, ever have happened. barrister adam wagner explained to us how the legal process will play out in the coming weeks. i mean, it's difficult to know, because it depends what they've done already. if they've already taken statements, it is possible... i was wondering whether everybody who was there give a sort of no comment statement, in which case they would have been left with only the photograph, which might not be enough to give a fixed penalty notice. alternatively, they gave sort of misleading statements, i don't know. so, a lot will depend on what has happened already, but if they would start this

investigation afresh, i would have thought they would send questionnaires, because that's how they dealt with the downing street parties, and then they will decide whether to give a fixed penalty notice, which would be you know, in the region of, i don't know... £200 or something like that. i very much doubt there would be prosecutions, unless people don't pay their fixed penalty notices, because that's just not how the met have been dealing with these cases. pakistan's prime minister, shehbaz sharif, has called for immediate action against people traffickers after the boat disaster on wednesday off southern greece. nearly eighty bodies have been found so far and hundreds of migrants, including pakistanis, remain missing; syrians and egyptians are also among those unaccounted for. pakistani officials say they have arrested several people — including an alleged smuggler — from pakistani—administered kashmir. with more on this,

anbarasan ethirajan, our south asia regional editor. really disturbing scenes. how are pakistan dealing with the aftermath of this? they want to clamp down on the smugglers but also declaring this day of mourning.— this day of mourning. many pakistanis _ this day of mourning. many pakistanis are _ this day of mourning. many pakistanis are trying - this day of mourning. many pakistanis are trying to - this day of mourning. many i pakistanis are trying to come this day of mourning. many - pakistanis are trying to come to terms with their loved ones who were hoping for a better future. terms with their loved ones who were hoping for a betterfuture. one person was telling our colleagues early about how they were duped by a travel agent who were charging nearly $8,000 promising a good job on a european country but they ended up on a european country but they ended up on this crowded trawler which sunk off the coast of greece. pakistani local media reports are saying that in kashmir alone, in one part, 20 people went from one village and now the whole village is in mourning. it isn't clear how many people from pakistan were on board

this ill—fated trawler but the fact the governmentjust declared a day of mourning and then also the national flag would fly half mast shows the severity of the problem. it is claimed hundreds were on board and many are still missing. it is it is claimed hundreds were on board and many are still missing.— and many are still missing. it is a comlex and many are still missing. it is a complex network _ and many are still missing. it is a complex network to _ and many are still missing. it is a complex network to tackle, - and many are still missing. it is a complex network to tackle, isn'tl and many are still missing. it is a l complex network to tackle, isn't it, the whole situation and the kind of black market of people smuggling. how were they going to do this effectively, do you think? pakistan alone cannot _ effectively, do you think? pakistan alone cannot handle _ effectively, do you think? pakistan alone cannot handle this _ effectively, do you think? pakistan alone cannot handle this problem. alone cannot handle this problem because these are operating across the board is in many countries. pakistani officials say they have arrested nearly ten people who they described as... they will talk to various people and gather money. the masterminds might be sitting in countries like libya where they coordinate all of these activities. it has become a big thing, hundreds of millions of dollars industry and

many people involved and so much money is there and they are operating in stealth and that is why it is difficult for a country like pakistan alone which is already facing an economic crisis. people say they cannot find any jobs facing an economic crisis. people say they cannot find anyjobs within the country. that is forcing them to leave or take the risk of travelling in these crowded boats and that is why many countries need to come together to address this problem otherwise one country alone cannot handle this human trafficking issue. thank you very much for that update. the ugandan army is continuing its hunt for the militants who attacked a school on friday night, killing at least forty people, many of them children. the pope, has today condemned the attack, describing it as brutal, and saying that he was praying for the victims. the rebels responsible for the atrocity are from an islamist extremist group known as the adf. they also kidnapped six students before escaping back across the border into the democratic republic of the congo. our correspondent dorcas wangira in nairobi

and following developments. there has been very little information trickling from the army, however from the last update from an official, that was major general dick olum, who is the major general in charge of the mountain division and also the operation shujaa, he said that after 2a hours the army would have the results since saturday. we have been waiting and they have not been able yet to rescue the six abducted students or capture the rebels. however he has been giving different accounts, like for example he was saying there had been intelligence reports that adf insurgents were present in kasese for two days and there had been a lapse in security. it is quite unfortunate, authorities are still trying to understand what went wrong but residents are saying this is coming in too little too late.

to nottingham here in the uk now — and church services have been held across the city this morning for the three people who were killed in knife attacks there last tuesday. our reporter, victoria hicks was at one of those services and sent this report. prayers have been said across the city for those affected by the tragic events on tuesday. from friday prayers at one of the city's mosques to today's service here at st peter's in the heart of the city centre. places of worship have opened their doors to provide a space for people to reflect and to pay tribute to the three lives lost, the two university students, 19—year—old barnaby webber and grace o'malley—kumar and 65—year—old ian coates, who was a caretaker. now, this church opened its doors on tuesday for a vigil. hundreds of people came, many of them students, to light a candle and to lay floral tributes. today's sunday service was led by dr richard davey.

he asked the congregation on father's day to think of the two families who had both lost a child and to hold them in their hearts. he also asked the congregation to think of the three sons of ian coates, who had lost a beloved father. and the bishop of nottingham, paul williams described nottingham as a tear—filled city since tuesday. nowjust a stone's throw from here is the old market square in nottingham, where a huge vigil was held on thursday. thousands of people came to that and on the council house steps there are hundreds of floral tributes. people are still coming today to leave tributes and to read messages of support and sympathy. meanwhile, a 31—year—old man has appeared before magistrates in nottingham yesterday. he is charged with three counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder after a van was used to drive through pedestrians.

he's now been remanded into custody and will appear at nottingham crown court on tuesday. voters in switzerland have backed government proposals designed to cut fossil fuel use and reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. 59% approved the measures in a referendum. let's go straight to geneva — and our correspondent imogen foulkes. it isa it is a very convincing result and quite a big moment for switzerland. it is. there are two key things that lead to the really very convincing support for these measures. first, the really devastating effect that global warming is having on the alpine environment. we can see the glaziers shrinking pretty much before our eyes. we had a report

last summer which showed they had got much smaller much faster than even the experts had predicted. —— the glaciers. the other thing, the war in ukraine. switzerland doesn't produce any oil or gas of its own and it needs to export all of that just about every house you see behind me will have oil fired central heating. there will be money for those households now in this new package to switch to heat exchange pumps, to switch to solar panels, i'm told we can even expect a massive solar farm in the field is just down there in the next few years. the goal is net zero by 2050. it won't be cheap. opponents had argued this could really push up energy prices but at this point swiss voters have clearly decided that this is an investment worth making. that this is an investment worth makinu. ~ . that this is an investment worth makin-. ~ ., ., that this is an investment worth makinu. ~ ., ., that this is an investment worth makin-. ~ ., ., ~' that this is an investment worth makin-. ~ ., ., ~ , making. what do you think swung it? there was a — making. what do you think swung it? there was a big _ making. what do you think swung it? there was a big campaign _ making. what do you think swung it? there was a big campaign that - making. what do you think swung it? there was a big campaign that said . there was a big campaign that said it might push up energy prices as

you mentioned there, that the shift will cost in terms of outlay as well. so what was it that convinced voters, do you think? i well. so what was it that convinced voters, do you think?— voters, do you think? i think the war in ukraine _ voters, do you think? i think the war in ukraine was _ voters, do you think? i think the war in ukraine was really - voters, do you think? i think the - war in ukraine was really important. this is a small neutral country which is looking anxiously at the fact there is a very big war in europe right now. switzerland is dependent on every litre of oil it imports from abroad. it doesn't have any of its own so it needs to pay for that. the government argued successfully this time that it wasn't just about climate successfully this time that it wasn'tjust about climate change it wasn'tjust about climate change it was about energy security. that switzerland, for its own economy, needs to have a guaranteed energy source and the best way to do that is to start making it at home and thatis is to start making it at home and that is going to have to be through renewables, solar, heat exchange, through more hydroelectric. thanks

for that update. _ through more hydroelectric. thanks for that update. and _ through more hydroelectric. thanks for that update. and you _ through more hydroelectric. thanks for that update. and you are - through more hydroelectric. thanks for that update. and you are in - for that update. and you are in bern, not geneva.— for that update. and you are in bern, not geneva. yes, i am, 'ust in case an angry — bern, not geneva. yes, i am, 'ust in case an angry viewer points h bern, not geneva. yes, i am, just in case an angry viewer points that - case an angry viewer points that out. �* ., out. beautiful backdrop, as well, well worth _ out. beautiful backdrop, as well, well worth a _ out. beautiful backdrop, as well, well worth a visit. _ well worth a visit. chuckles thanks very much, imogen. scotland's former first minister, nicola sturgeon, says she's certain she's done "nothing wrong", after being questioned by police investigating her party's finances. speaking publicly for the first time since she was arrested and released without charge last weekend, ms sturgeon said she would return to the scottish parliament on monday. here she is speaking outside her house. you know, i can't say very much just now. what i will say is, reiterate the statement i issued last sunday. i am certain that i have done nothing wrong. i intend to be back in parliament in the early part of the week. i will make myself available for questions then, obviously, within the constraints that i am referring to right now.

i will make myself available for questions then, obviously, within the constraints that i am referring to right now. for now, ito intend to go home, catch up with some family. i know i am a public figure. i accept what comes with that, but i am also a human being that is entitled to a bit of privacy. and my neighbours are also entitled to a bit of peace and quiet as well. thank you very much. have you considered stepping back from the snp? i have done nothing wrong and that is the only thing i am going to assert today. have there been conditions placed on your arrest? - after you arrest? no, and i am not going to get into anything other than that. would nicola sturgeon have suspended nicola sturgeon? i have done nothing wrong. it is for others to comment as they see fit. that is my position and i am entitled to take it. i am going into my house, now. thank you. we got reaction from our correspondence in glasgow. nicola stura eon correspondence in glasgow. nicola sturgeon is — correspondence in glasgow. nicola sturgeon is well _ correspondence in glasgow. nicola sturgeon is well aware _ correspondence in glasgow. nicola sturgeon is well aware of - correspondence in glasgow. nicola sturgeon is well aware of how - sturgeon is well aware of how restricted she is in what she can say at this point in a live police investigation. however, she is certainly defiant insofar as she is absolutely adamant that she has come

in her view, done absolutely nothing wrong, that she is innocent. what she said this afternoon outside her house didn't really go much further than what she had said in a statement last sunday after she was arrested and questioned but still she would have been aware herself of just how powerful it would be for people to actually hear her state those words for herself. that was our correspondent _ those words for herself. that was our correspondent in _ those words for herself. that was our correspondent in glasgow - those words for herself. that was our correspondent in glasgow on | those words for herself. that was - our correspondent in glasgow on that statement from the former first minister of scotland, nicola sturgeon. before we go — let's leave you with these pictures. a giant bronze head emerging from the water isn't what you expect to see on a trip to the british seaside. the striking sculpture is the centre piece of an arts festival this weekend. the i.8m piece of work is on show — right on the sand — in suffolk. stay with us here on bbc news.

a lot of energy pent up in the atmosphere, thunderstorms forming, and while many of us will appreciate the rain we don't necessarily want an awful lot of rain in a short space of time because that leads to flash flooding. let's have a look at the picture through the course of today at risk of thunderstorms. many areas of england, wales and northern ireland. initially these potent storms will be forming in distinct areas, distinct thunderclouds, and these will produce a lot of rainfall. there will be a lot of run off. many parts of the country are still dry and that's going to lead to flash flooding. we could see 30 millimetres of rain in an hour, may be as much as 80 millimetres of rain spread over a few hours on top of that hail and some very strong gusty

winds and frequent lightning as well. away from that, plenty of sunshine, not everybody will get the storms today. fine weather across parts of northern and eastern scotland for the end of the day with sunshine. the storms later in the afternoon will then merge into a more coherent and a longer spell of rain and that will travel northwards across northern england and into part of scotland as well. here they could be —— there could be a lot of rain through this evening and into tomorrow. this is what it looks like early in the morning tomorrow. the rest will have gone through england and wales. at this stage much of the rain is across parts of scotland. tomorrow, in the wake of this weather front, tomorrow, in the wake of this weatherfront, we tomorrow, in the wake of this weather front, we will see sunny spells and again one or two showers developing again, possibly one or two thunderstorms, but on the whole starts to turn warm up once again. ——1thunderstorms, but on whole it is going to be a much calmer day for most of us tomorrow compared to

sunday. as we head into next week, so monday into tuesday, we will see these showers again returning to parts of southern and central britain. again, some of these could bring thunderstorms. it stays on the warm side but perhaps not as warm as it has been of late. temperatures typically in the low 20s but there is an indication that as we head towards the end of the week it starts to turn warm up once again. —— turn warmer.

the visit to beijing by antony blinken is the first by a us secretary of state in nearly five years. a new video emerges of tory activists partying during the uk's lockdown — the metropolitan police says it's