welcome to viewers on pbs in america. a massive search and rescue mission is under way, after a submersible taking tourists to view the titanic wreck goes missing. uk mps overwhelmingly approve a report that concluded former prime minister borisjohnson repeatedly lied to parliament. and we bring you a special bbc report, as our correspondent joins ukraine's combat forces on their counteroffensive in the south—east of the country. i'm sumi somaskanda. welcome to our show. at this hour, the search is on for a submersible that's gone missing in the atlantic ocean. the underwater vessel had taken people to see the wreck of the titanic. a ship carrying the sub left newfoundland, canada, and arrived at the shipwreck site on sunday. officials lost contact

with the sub an hour and 45 minutes after it started itsjourney to the sea bed. the sub itself is about seven metres or 23 feet long, and can carry about five people — typically, crew and passengers. it's believed that the vessel has enough oxygen for four days. there's a major search and rescue operation under way to find the vessel pictured here before oxygen runs out. the titanic sank in 1912 and lies some 3,800 metres — or 12,500 feet — beneath the surface. five people were on board the mini sub. one of those is believed to be british businessman and explorer hamish harding, who wrote on facebook recently that he was due to join the latest expedition. live now to our correspondent jess parker in boston, where the search is being organised. good evening, can you give an update on that search and rescue mission?— update on that search and rescue mission? good evening. it is all being — rescue mission? good evening. it is all being coordinated - it is all being coordinated from here in boston. they are leading what has become an

international search involving officials from the us and canada as well. because it is of course from newfoundland that the ship that transported this sub to the wreckage site of the titanic left from and then the dive began, we understand, on sunday morning. and about an hour and 45 minutes into that dive, that is when contact was lost. in terms of the search going on, it is happening about 900 miles away from the north east coast of the us at the moment, in an extremely remote area which does bring enormous challenges, as the coastguard was saying. what do we know about the people on board and this expedition itself?- people on board and this expedition itself? yes, so we haven't had _ expedition itself? yes, so we haven't had official _ expedition itself? yes, so we haven't had official names . expedition itself? yes, so we haven't had official names of| haven't had official names of people on board by the coastguard or by authorities. they have confirmed five people were on board, including one pilot. you mentioned before we believe, or it's believed that hamish harding, a british businessman and an explorer,

58—year—old, was one of those or is one of those on board this sub, but we don't have details of other people at the moment. typically these types of expeditions, what seems to happen is there will be crew on board and paying passengers who pay a lot of money, nearly £200,000, in order to get this extraordinary experience of being able to go and see the titanic wreckage site right up close, which is deep far down on the ocean sea bed. find close, which is deep far down on the ocean sea bed. and 'ust tell us more i on the ocean sea bed. and 'ust tell us more about i on the ocean sea bed. and 'ust tell us more about some h on the ocean sea bed. and just tell us more about some of- on the ocean sea bed. and justi tell us more about some of the factors that make it so hard to locate where the submersible vessel is. ~ ., locate where the submersible vessel is— locate where the submersible vessel is. ~ ., , ., vessel is. well, of course, one ofthe vessel is. well, of course, one of the issues _ vessel is. well, of course, one of the issues here _ vessel is. well, of course, one of the issues here is, - vessel is. well, of course, one of the issues here is, how - vessel is. well, of course, one| of the issues here is, how deep did it actually go? listening to the coastguard briefing earlier, they were saying they were conducting two types of searches, one on the surface of the water using aircraft, looking to see if maybe somehow, this vessel actually came back to the surface and is waiting to be found and rescued. but they are also trained to conduct a sonar

searches as well. they are saying they have dropped sonar buoys onto the ocean and they can detect activity potentially underneath many thousands of feet down into the ocean. so that seems to be the main planks of the search operation at the moment. the big question is, if they were to find the vessel under water, is, if they were to find the vessel underwater, how is, if they were to find the vessel under water, how would they then try and conduct a search and rescue mission? as you were saying, it is understood there is going to be limited oxygen supply and so there is a limited time in which to do this.- there is a limited time in which to do this. just pack up followin: which to do this. just pack up following up _ which to do this. just pack up following up the _ which to do this. just pack up following up the latest - following up the latest developments in boston. thank you for that update —— jess parker. the us and china have pledged to continue working on improving ties that was the outcome of a visit by us secretary of state antony blinken. he met with china's president xi jinping and both agreed on the need to stabilize

their relationship, especially amid extreme tensions between the two countries. 0ur correspondent stephen mcdonell reports from beijing. good afternoon. first a handshake, then a meeting which carried great hopes. that collapsing superpower relations could be restored or at least stabilised. at the great hall of the people, china's leader told the us secretary of state they owed it to the world to try and get along. translation: state-to-state interactions should _ always be based on mutual respect and sincerity. i hope that through this visit, mr secretary, you will make more positive contributions to stabilising china—us relations. because china—us relations have been so toxic, even modest progress is being celebrated. i would expect additional visits by senior us officials to china over the coming weeks. and we welcome further visits by chinese officials to the united states. their previous cooperation on trade, climate change and cross—border crime has all disappeared because of geopolitical rivalry. most crucially, many

military—to—military communication channels have stopped operating. there have been some near—misses, as the aircraft of china and the us challenge one another in contested waters of the south china sea. analysts say the possibility of war is no longer remote. translation: china is actually becoming more powerful. - under such circumstances, it's an increasingly dangerous situtation in which china and the us could have conflicts, and it is possible that war could happen. if it did, nothing good would come of it for both countries and for the region. leaders often say they've had frank discussions, but officials associated with these talks say that antony blinken and his chinese counterparts really spoke their minds, in meetings which went hours longer than expected. there's much at stake for the whole world if relations between beijing and washington continue to collapse, and these governments know it. yet, while the us and china

are talking up the best, they're also both preparing for the worst. stephen mcdonell, bbc news, beijing. for more on blinken�*s visit, i spoke with brigadier general david stilwell, former assistant secretary of state for the bureau of east asian and pacific affairs. general, it is great have you on the show. president biden said today he thinks us and china relations are on the right trail after secretary of state blinken met with president xi of china. [30 state blinken met with president xi of china. do you a . ree? president xi of china. do you agree? i _ president xi of china. do you agree? i don't, _ president xi of china. do you agree? i don't, i— president xi of china. do you agree? i don't, ithink- president xi of china. do you agree? i don't, ithink is- president xi of china. do you | agree? i don't, ithink is hard agree? i don't, i think is hard to alibi what happened in beijing. and it is primarily the visual. the words, it is the visual. the words, it is the same anodyne statements that came out of both sides, looking to balance the relationship, but it is the visuals of him coming off the plane and being met by a guy layers below him. that is a strong message. meant to embarrass. and where xi jinping

is at the head off the table and you have chinese side on one side and us on the other, basically almost like subordinates, where xi jinping is in a meeting with his people dictating how things are going to go. i can't imagine how they thought that would be a good idea. ., ,., ., thought that would be a good idea. ., ., ., idea. how important are those visuals if progress _ idea. how important are those visuals if progress was - idea. how important are those visuals if progress was indeed | visuals if progress was indeed made in repairing this relationship?- made in repairing this relationshi? ., ., relationship? look, iwant to su ort relationship? look, iwant to swim this _ relationship? look, iwant to support this administration, | relationship? look, iwant to| support this administration, i want them to succeed because if they succeed, we will succeed. but the visuals, and josh rogan said this today elsewhere from the washington post that the message notjust to the american people, it is to the people in the region. what it says is, we are in supplicant mud, we need something. to me, that telegraphs fear and weakness. as you know, weakness breeds aggression. what we should be sending is a strong message, a strong message would have been getting up and walking out of that setting. no and has ever seen a diplomatic arrangement like that. it is completely nonstandard. ——

no—one. the less active state there was pompeo and it was soft where you have xi jinping and pompeo with their chairs down —— and with their staff down —— and with their staff down the side, having just the chinese representative at the head off the table sends the wrong message.— head off the table sends the wrong message. let's discuss what they _ wrong message. let's discuss what they talked _ wrong message. let's discuss what they talked about. - wrong message. let's discuss l what they talked about. blinken said he wanted to establish a line of contact from military to military, that did not happen as we know. he did speak to cbs news about what he thought the contact should look like, this is what he said. quote, is less of a hotline and more regular engagement, regular communication so that they understand what we are doing are not doing. why do you think they haven't been able to establish that communication? because the chinese don't want it. we have yet to put them in a position where they want to talk to us. when i was in government in this position, the approach was that when we have put in a pressure on, they will talk to us. we are yet to put enough pressure on the pla to make them cover to drive

them to the table to engage in a serious fashion. and we have just given them an excuse to continue to not do that. we should not ask them for meetings, definitely we shouldn't as publicly. but they have at least five channels for contacting us. it is not like they can't get hold of us. the fact is, they don't want to talk to us. it is a negotiating strategy, they want to see us squirm and they want to see how much we will put up with. lintiii much we will put up with. until we finally _ much we will put up with. until we finally say. _ much we will put up with. until we finally say, enough. - much we will put up with. until we finally say, enough. if - much we will put up with. until we finally say, enough. if i - we finally say, enough. if i canjump in, what exactly we finally say, enough. if i can jump in, what exactly would that type of pressure look like? , ., ., like? 0k, it will give you two examples- — like? 0k, it will give you two examples. in _ like? 0k, it will give you two examples. in august - like? 0k, it will give you two examples. in august 2019, l like? 0k, it will give you two examples. in august 2019, a representative came with new york city to meet with secretary pompeo to talk about hong kong. in 2019, there were extended riots in hong kong protesting the prc�*s removal of their autonomy. and the us was using the hong kong policy act under the legislation to pressure china to stop what they were doing in hong kong.

at -- they were doing in hong kong. at —— and we waited. they quietly called us and as for a meeting but we called a meeting. the same thing happened injune 2020 and this time, the conversation was about pressuring them on covid. we did not chase them, they came to us when they were ready, that is how it has to work with these guys. they don't value the conversation as much as we do.— don't value the conversation as much as we do. what about the close calls _ much as we do. what about the close calls we _ much as we do. what about the close calls we have _ much as we do. what about the close calls we have seen - close calls we have seen between planes and ships in the south china sea and the taiwan strait and we know of the spy balloon incident that took place this year where there was no communication in that very difficult time, are you concerned these close calls, if there is no dialogue specifically from military to military, could lead to an unintentional conflict? you sense those _ unintentional conflict? you sense those close - unintentional conflict? you sense those close calls - unintentional conflict? you sense those close calls are unintentional conflict? ym. sense those close calls are a product of the fact we're not talking to each other. they are entirely a product of the prc telling their pilots to fly too close to us and telling their ships to cut us off in international waters. so the prc knows the right thing to

do, they generally do the right thing, but this is sending a message to say, we don't want you flying close to our coast and we don't want you sailing in the taiwan strait. in both cases, what we are doing is completely legal, is entirely authorised by the convention. what is not authorised as putting a surveillance balloon over the top of the country. and spying on us. when this happened in 1960, the russians shut down the object. happened in1960, the russians shut down the object.— shut down the ob'ect. when do see shut down the object. when do see opportunities _ shut down the object. when do see opportunities for _ shut down the object. when do see opportunities for the - shut down the object. when do see opportunities for the us i see opportunities for the us and china to engage?- see opportunities for the us and china to engage? until the prc is ready — and china to engage? until the prc is ready to _ and china to engage? until the prc is ready to talk _ and china to engage? until the prc is ready to talk to - and china to engage? until the prc is ready to talk to us - and china to engage? until the prc is ready to talk to us and l prc is ready to talk to us and to engage seriously and not just in these visual effects events, i don't see it. xi jinping has made a decision they are going down this path and they will continue going down this path until i am convinced otherwise. how do we get them to the table? when they feel is sufficient pressure notjust they feel is sufficient pressure not just from they feel is sufficient pressure notjust from us, but the allies and partners in the region, from india who is doing a greatjob, when that happens, they will talk to us. they know how to get hold of us and then

they will be ready to have a real conversation and not this showmanship stunt, visual effects think we saw in beijing just now. effects think we saw in bei'ing 'ust now. ., ., effects think we saw in bei'ing 'ust now. ., ~' , ., effects think we saw in bei'ing 'ust now. ., ~ , ., ., , ., just now. thank you for sharing our just now. thank you for sharing your insight _ just now. thank you for sharing your insight with _ just now. thank you for sharing your insight with us _ just now. thank you for sharing your insight with us tonight. i your insight with us tonight. thanks. in the uk, mps have voted to approve a report that found former prime minister boris johnson deliberately misled parliament about parties at downing street during the covid—19 lockdown. mps debated the report for more than five hours. it recommended a 90—day suspension for mrjohnson if he was still an mp. he resigned earlier this month. the report also found that the former prime minister repeatedly lied to lawmakers about what he knew about the lockdown gatherings. this was the moment when the result of the vote was announced in the house of commons. the ayes to the right, 354. the noes to the left, seven. who are you? the ayes to the right, 354. the noes to the left, seven.

the ayes have it, the ayes have it. unlock! around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. what if a medical condition means you should only eat certain foods? mr; means you should only eat certain foods?— certain foods? my name is david, i — certain foods? my name is david, i have _ certain foods? my name is david, i have coeliac - certain foods? my name is i david, i have coeliac disease, which is a lifelong autoimmune condition. and the only treatment is to follow a strict gluten—free diet for life. david is or was prepared, bringing a pack —— back up to work every day, but even that is getting more expensive. the cheap gluten—free bed cost seven times more than the cheaper standard loaf, with a weekly gluten—free food shop up to 20% more expensive than a standard one. according to a study by coeliac uk. reasons for the higher prices include

increased production costs and demand is. i increased production costs and demand is— demand is. i think something needs to be _ demand is. i think something needs to be done _ demand is. i think something needs to be done to - demand is. i think something needs to be done to make i demand is. i think something needs to be done to make it| needs to be done to make it easier and cheaper and more affordable for people with coeliac disease to get those gluten—free products they really need. gluten-free products they really need.— gluten-free products they reall need. ., ., , really need. for more stories from across _ really need. for more stories from across the _ really need. for more stories from across the uk, - really need. for more stories from across the uk, head i really need. for more stories from across the uk, head to| really need. for more stories i from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. you are watching bbc news. to ukraine now, where a bbc team has been embedded with a ukrainian army brigade pushing to reclaim territory. ukranian forces say progress is steady modest but steady, as they reclaim villages and overcome trenches dug by russian forces. our correspondent mayeni jones in kyiv told us more about what the bbc team has been learning on the ground. the ukrainian authorities say they are making slow and steady progress in their counteroffensive to regain territory from russia in the east and south of the country. they claim to have recovered eight settlement since the fighting started two weeks ago,

including a small village in the zaporizhzhia region. russian forces have formed the bulk of the fighting has been happening in zaporizhzhia, but they deny they have ceded any territory, despite the fact that senior russian officials initially did admit losing territory before this was denied by russian forces. all this at a time when president zelensky has been making diplomatic overtures to his nato allies and other countries. he won support for the counteroffensive in the form of ammunition, tanks and weapons. —— he won support. he had a conversation monday with british prime minister rishi sunak about bolstering ukraine �*s defensive capabilities and perhaps providing the country with long—range missiles. both countries analysts believe they are still in the early days of the counteroffensive, holding some troops and ammunition back and hoping maybe to push forward when they have depleted the first line of defence. one thing everybody agrees on is that this counteroffensive will take several weeks, if not

months. meanwhile, our correspondent quentin sommerville and camera journalist darren conway joined ukraine's 68th brigade, as its combat forces fanned out eastwards, having recently regained the village of blahodatne in the south—east of the country. there are images in this report that may be distressing to some viewers. the struggle to take back what's theirs has begun in earnest. this was russian—held ground two weeks ago. for 3 storm brigade, the journey to the front takes longer now. here in the east and in the south, there's still a long way to go. ukraine is on the offensive. russia fought hard to keep this ground, but 3 storm fought harder. step—by—step. it was mines, maybe. russian mines. so, let's go. this is all russian equipment and uniforms here? yeah, yeah, yeah.

eat, equipment. rations, everything? explosion the guns are louder now. after months of conserving artillery, it's ukrainian weapons that ring out. gunfire this small arms fire is ukrainian — outgoing. you can hear a lot of artillery here as well. also outgoing — much more than before. a russian shell lands nearby. explosion across these positions, russian corpses lie uncollected. so they retook these trenches fairly recently. looks like a number of russian dead — at least two — still in there. they're taking ground to the south of bakhmut and to the north of bakhmut. the city itself still firmly under russian control. but it's very early days in this counteroffensive. they�* re making small gains. the big challenge for them is when they find a major

breakthrough, and they haven't found that yet. and that could come anywhere along this 1,000—kilometre frontline. it could come here, it could come in the south. and they're attacking in multiple places, just trying to stretch those russian resources, manpower and weaponry to breaking point. and then, they can smash on through. we travelled to another front and another ukrainian breakthrough.- and another ukrainian breakthrough. and another ukrainian breakthrou:h. ., breakthrough. the men fought for da s breakthrough. the men fought for days to _ breakthrough. the men fought for days to take _ breakthrough. the men fought for days to take the _ breakthrough. the men fought for days to take the village i breakthrough. the men fought for days to take the village of. for days to take the village of blahodatne. it looks here like they have been fighting house to house, room to room, very close. yes, this is very — room to room, very close. yes,

this is very difficult. _ room to room, very close. yes, this is very difficult. every i this is very difficult. every few metres _ this is very difficult. every few metres is _ this is very difficult. every few metres is very - this is very difficult. every i few metres is very difficult. i know how many people we lose, but i cannot tell you.— but i cannot tell you. more russian — but i cannot tell you. more russian corpses _ but i cannot tell you. more russian corpses over i but i cannot tell you. more| russian corpses over here. russian corpses over here. russian soldiers. one. two. three. , , ., russian soldiers. one. two. three. ,, ., ., ., three. there is still a lot of fi . htin . three. there is still a lot of fighting here, _ three. there is still a lot of fighting here, you - three. there is still a lot of fighting here, you are i three. there is still a lot of fighting here, you are in i three. there is still a lot of i fighting here, you are in range of the russian guns on the hill. , , ., , ., , hill. russian guns of hills. but the main _ hill. russian guns of hills. but the main problem i hill. russian guns of hills. but the main problem is l hill. russian guns of hills. l but the main problem is the next point of them. this is approximately one kilometre, 500 metres from here. that is the russian — 500 metres from here. that is the russian positions. - 500 metres from here. that is the russian positions. yes, i the russian positions. yes, russian positions. - the russian positions. yes, russian positions. andre i the russian positions. yes, russian positions. andre is| russian positions. andre is already giving _ russian positions. andre is already giving orders i russian positions. andre is already giving orders for i russian positions. andre is| already giving orders for the next attack. it is imminent. translation macro diesel, it is very important. you need to listen to people. listen closely and do everything they

tell you. and smile. why are you so serious? we are winning this war. wejust you so serious? we are winning this war. we just hours to go, they pack up everything and ready for the trenches. —— with just hours to go. the specialised drone unit will play a vital part in the assault. while artillery sounds all around them, they have to move fast to get closer still to russian positions. the cost of this fight is everywhere to see. destroyed western built armour litters the battlefield. but russia, too, has lost dozens of tanks and vehicles since this offensive began. on a hot day east of blahodatne, the ukrainian attack begins.

the air thickens with artillery and expectation. ukrainian guns pound the russian positions. and the enemy soon response. and the enemy soon responds. but it is a mess. yuri of the drone unit can't delay until the shelling stops. the drones he is sending to enemy trenches carry grenades and smoke bombs. they lose as many as five of these a day. and there is more than just artillery to contend with. than 'ust artillery to contend with. ., than 'ust artillery to contend with. . ,., , ., with. there are reports of russian — with. there are reports of russian jets _ with. there are reports of russian jets firing - with. there are reports of russian jets firing every l with. there are reports of i russian jets firing every day, every time. go russian jets firing every day, every time-— russian jets firing every day,

every time. go to shelter. ok. good luck- _ every time. go to shelter. ok. good luck. he _ every time. go to shelter. ok. good luck. he just _ every time. go to shelter. ok. good luck. he just illustrated. good luck. hejust illustrated that point very well, that one of the big advantage is that the russians have over the ukrainians is airpower. ukrainians is airpower. ukrainians are attacking on the ground, while the russians still have helicopters, still have war planes. it makes it much more difficult for them to advance. the battle won, the danger is far from over. advance. the battle won, the danger is farfrom over. as advance. the battle won, the danger is far from over. as we make our way back from the trenches, more russian artillery fire targets the convoy. we need to move fast. and the 49—year—old commander carries an extra burden. the memory of his son.- carries an extra burden. the memory of his son. this helmet of my son. _ memory of his son. this helmet of my son. a — memory of his son. this helmet of my son, a little _ memory of his son. this helmet of my son, a little bit _ memory of his son. this helmet of my son, a little bit smaller i of my son, a little bit smaller for me, but this is like, i can remember. this is like a

memory. remember. this is like a memory-— remember. this is like a memo. , ' , ., ., memory. this was 21-year-old -- the 21-year-old _ memory. this was 21-year-old -- the 21-year-old old _ memory. this was 21-year-old -- the 21-year-old old films - memory. this was 21-year-old -- the 21-year-old old films a i memory. this was 21-year-old -- the 21-year-old old films a day i the 21—year—old old films a day before his death. he fought on the same front lines as his father, two days before the counteroffensive began, he was killed by russian drone. it has cost a lot, it has been especially hard for you, you lost your son. can you tell is a bit about your son, please? he wanted to be a hero for me. he wanted to be a hero for me. and he succeeded. i wanted to protect him, but he wanted to be a hero. and he won. ukraine ma et be a hero. and he won. ukraine may yet win _ be a hero. and he won. ukraine may yet win back _ be a hero. and he won. ukraine may yet win back its _ be a hero. and he won. ukraine may yet win back its land, i be a hero. and he won. ukraine may yet win back its land, but l may yet win back its land, but there is much here that will never be recovered. quentin

somerville, bbc news, donetsk. in other news... the situation of afghan women is high on the agenda, as the un human rights council is meeting in geneva, with a report accusing the taliban rulers of gender apartheid. the systematic exclusion of women from public life under taliban rule means even un aid agencies can no longer employ female staff. one of the most severe marine heatwaves anywhere in the world has developed off the coast of britain and ireland. the european space agency says in some areas, water temperatures are as much as 3 to 4 degrees celsius higher than average. the met office says the reason is partly human—caused climate change. thank you for watching bbc news, we will be back with more headlines at the top of the next hour, stay with us.

hello. once again, some of you, thundery downpours on the way for tuesday. not a wash—out of a day, there will be some brighter moments too, but especially for england and wales, that thundery rain comes from what was some of these clouds of the bay of biscay on monday edging their way northwards. and by the end of the night, into the start of the day, that rain will have set in across parts of wales and southern england. another humid start here in particular, tiny bit fresher further north, but temperatures in double figures. isolated shower for much of scotland, northern ireland, northern england. start the day dry with some sunshine, but spells of heavy, thundery rain work their way northwards and eastwards across much of england and wales. the worst of the overnight rain clearing the south west quite quickly, but some intense downpours in amongst that. but further east, east anglia, southeast, rainfall amounts will vary quite widely, some say not much at all. that heavy, thundery rain moves across northern england during the morning and early afternoon, affecting some eastern fringes of scotland as well. west of scotland, northern ireland, another

day of sunny spells, but also some well—scattered, heavy and thundery showers. and across england and wales, while skies will brighten into the afternoon, some slow moving thunderstorms possible here — not too many, but some of those could be close to edgbaston, on what will be another reasonably warm day. the rain to the far east of scotland to finish the day clears northwards as we go into wednesday night. most will then have a dry night, a few isolated showers out into the far northwest, but temperatures 11—14 celsius, with a little less humidity out there. it should feel a touch more comfortable for some of you for sleeping. but there is a change for wednesday, in that whilst we've also got low pressure close by to the north, which will be prone to bringing showers to the northern half the country, the winds will be westerly. so showers will develop, but they'll move through across the skies quite quickly. so it'll be a chopping and changing day for scotland, northern ireland and northern england, some of the showers heavy and thundery. further south, though, fewer showers and more of you will be dry. and with some longer sunny spells, temperatures should lift a little bit across the south, up to around 25—26 celsius. for the end of the week, a brief ridge of high pressure tries to push its way

into southern eastern areas. weather fronts always close by to the west, so it does look like we will still see some rain at times, especially across the western half of the country. but in the sunnier moments, it's going to turn increasingly humid. 29 degrees possible this weekend in the london area, but not completely without the rain. and with lots of events going on through this week and weekend, check the latest details for where you're heading on the bbc weather app. take care.

the chinese premier looks to charm the eu's largest