One of europes Migration Choke Points is gasping. More than 8000 arriving in lampedusa in just three days this week, more than the whole population of the italian island. The Migrant Centre built to hold 400 was at ten times its capacity congested, chaotic, some trying any futile way to get free. Today, two new arrivals rather more planned. The italian Prime Minister, giorgio meloni, and the eu president , Ursula Von Der Leyen to see for themselves the turmoil at europes door. Italys leader is under pressure, elected with promises to curb migration. Numbers are now double the same period last year. Translation what is at stake here is the future, future that europe wants to set for itself. And it is very important to be able to tackle the huge, massive challenges which lie ahead for us, especially in terms of illegal immigration. The eu president offered more help from the bloc� s border force to crack the smugglers and more efforts to distribute migrants across europe, something several eu members have refused, prompting fears she was armed more with rhetoric than with workable solutions. Migration is a european challenge and it needs a european answer and solution. It is concrete actions that will bring change on the ground. But lampedusa has repeatedly seen promises come as quickly as the migrant boats and vanish soon after. And patience here is wearing thin. Translation as far as im concerned, europes done nothing for lampedusa so far. Theyjust come here to parade. Weve been undergoing this extreme situation for years, and its not fair that we continue to suffer from it. The camp is emptying out as new arrivals are transferred elsewhere, but conditions remain grim. Aid agencies stretched to breaking point. Face to face with the dreams of europe turning to misery. The continents leaders will try yet again to solve it, just as countless more of the desperate will try yet again to come. Mark lowen, bbc news. We can speak now to andrew geddes, whos a director at the migration policy centre, which conducts research on the governance of international migration, asylum and mobility. Andrew, migration, asylum and mobility. Iwant andrew, migration, asylum and mobility. I want your take o visit . Andrew, i want your take on todays visit . , , u, visit . This is hugely significant because for visit . This is hugely significant because for the visit . This is hugely significant because for the italian visit . This is hugely significant because for the italian prime l because for the italian Prime Minister being able to engage with the European Union on a key Policy Challenge for the Italian Government is fundamental. They are focusing on border security. We is fundamental. They are focusing on border security. Border security. We were ust heafina border security. We were Ust Hearing You i border security. We were Ust Hearing You know, i border security. We were Ust Hearing You know, big h border security. We were just i hearing you know, big promises border security. We were jUst Hearing You know, big promises and we were hearing in that report, promises to lampedusa, they come and they go. Does this feel like this visit could bring change to the island . , ,. ,. Island . That is the big question. We are talkin island . That is the big question. We are talking about island . That is the big question. We are talking about the island . That is the big question. We are talking about the pressures are talking about the pressures today, but if we go back eight years today, but if we go back eight years to 2015 and large numbers of syrians arrived, on the italian islands and also increase. Since 2015, eu Member States have been argumentative about the sharing of responsibility. The Italian Government has wanted to share responsibility but the Member States and other Member States have been reluctant to do that. Member states like hungary and poland has been quite resistant to the idea of Sharing Responsibility for arrivals in countries like italy. fine Sharing Responsibility for arrivals in countries like italy. Sharing responsibility for arrivals in countries like italy. One of the big problems in countries like italy. One of the big problems people in countries like italy. One of the big problems people have in countries like italy. One of the big problems people have been i big problems people have been discussing on bbc news today is that how you combat migration at sea, because currently it is a case of helping people at sea, but how do authorities deal with that kind of issue . It authorities deal with that kind of issue . ,. , authorities deal with that kind of issue . ,. , authorities deal with that kind of issue . , , authorities deal with that kind of issue . ,, issue . It becomes a pressing issue of our time issue . It becomes a pressing issue of ourtime for issue . It becomes a pressing issue of our time. For most issue . It becomes a pressing issue of our time. For most people of our time. For most people observing these images it is difficult to understand what is going on, why are the people leaving . 0ne going on, why are the people leaving . One thing the government is trying to do is intercept at source, trying to do is intercept at source, trying to do is intercept at source, trying to stop people making these journeys. But that means cooperating with governments like that of tunisia. The eu entered into an agreement with the tunisian government to try to stop people leaving. And for many people it is almost becoming the most alarming aspect of the issue, the boat crossing. We have seen it for a large number of years now a Member States have tried to deal with the problem at source. But states have tried to deal with the problem at source. States have tried to deal with the problem at source. But is it a case of those peeple problem at source. But is it a case of those people that problem at source. But is it a case of those people that are problem at source. But is it a case i of those people that are encouraging those crossings taking money from people who are so desperate . Is it a case of targeting those instead of the people making those crossings . How do we go about trying to truly address this issue. I am not asking you for one fits all solution, but like were saying, there were so many push and pull factors from immigrants here, how can leaders truly address the issue . That immigrants here, how can leaders truly address the issue . Immigrants here, how can leaders truly address the issue . That is the fundamental truly address the issue . That is the fundamental question. Truly address the issue . That is the fundamental question. Look truly address the issue . That is the fundamental question. Look at truly address the issue . That is the | fundamental question. Look at what eu Member States are doing, they focus on people smuggling and we have familiar rhetoric about smashing the gangs and breaking the Business Model of smugness. 0thers Business Model of smugness. Others may say it is the symptom of a series of deeper problems. The deeper problems are probably the cost of living, conflict, instability, effects of Climate Change and the natural disasters we have seen recently as well as conflict and instability in the region of africa. The governments are focused on smuggling and tackling the Smuggling Gangs. 0thers, tackling the Smuggling Gangs. Others, and a lot of research would point to this, the Smuggling Gangs are symptoms of a deeper set of problems and at the moment what we can see is those problems becoming more severe. And those are more difficult, probably longer term issues that are far more difficult to address. Issues that are far more difficult to addres issues that are far more difficult to address. ,. ,. , to address. Interesting to get your thou~hts. To address. Interesting to get your thoughts. Thank to address. Interesting to get your thoughts. Thank you to address. Interesting to get your thoughts. Thank you for to address. Interesting to get your thoughts. Thank you for coming i to address. Interesting to get your| thoughts. Thank you for coming on bbc news. , ~ ,. , the bbc and a producution company who made programmes for channel 4 are both investigating allegations of serious misconduct against the comedian Russell Brand whilst he was presenting radio and Television Shows in the uk in the mid 20005. It follows allegations of rape and Sexual Assault in a joint investigation by the sunday times, the times and channel 4 dispatches. The report claimed concerns about brands behaviour whilst working on shows were reported to Production Managers at endemol, the Production Company commissioned by channel four. In a statement, banijay uk, which purchased endemol in 2020, said, in light of the very serious allegations relating to the alleged serious misconduct of Russell Brand while presenting shows produced by endemol in 2004 and 2005, banijay uk has launched an urgent internal investigation and will co operate with any requests for information from broadcast partners and external agencies. The bbc has issued a statement this afternoon saying, the reports contained serious allegations, spanning a number of years. Russell brand worked on bbc radio programmes between 2006 and 2008 and we are urgently looking into the issues raised. Brand was working for channel 4, the bbc, and Acting In Hollywood Films during the period of the claims, all of which he denied. David sillito has the latest. Rape, multiple counts of Sexual Assault. Todays headlines about Russell Brand come from four women who spoke to the Programme Dispatches and times newspapers. And as the story began to unfold last night, the comedian headed to a performance where, when he was on stage, he was met by fans with cheers and a standing ovation. But today, a womens charity, the trevie, said it was cutting links with the performer. His literary agents, Tavistock Wood have also dropped brand, saying they believe they were misled by him. I phoned the offices and i asked to speak to his agent. The agency had been approached in 2020 by a woman, the program called alice, who said a relationship had begun when she was 16 and that she had been assaulted by brand. They believed the denials. The programme also catalogued concerns that went back to the beginning of his tv career, and the Foreign Secretary says it raises wider questions about the entertainment industry. There are some real challenges where you have these very, very acute differentials in power, whether that be in the entertainment industry, whether that be in politics. And we see this in the commercial world as well. And i think we have to be particularly careful when we listen to the voices of the people who are relatively powerless. These allegations pertain to the time when i was. In response Russell Brand has issued a Video Message vehemently denying the allegations. I was very, very promiscuous. Now, during that time of promiscuity, the relationships i had were absolutely always consensual. I was always transparent about that then almost too transparent. And im being transparent about it now as well. And to see that Transparency Metastasized into something criminal that i absolutely deny. Makes me question, is there another agenda at play . But the people behind the investigation say there is evidence beyond the testimony. A woman, the programme called nadia says she was raped by brand. Hes grabbing at my underwear, pulling it to the side. Im telling him to get off me and he wont get off. This, the apologetic text message they say he sent to her afterwards. They also contacted people who they say heard screams from another assault. |and he pulled me aside and he said to me, i have never forgiven myself for not running in that house to save you Russell Brand, meanwhile, is due to continue a tour of britain. He has millions of followers on social media. This is anti establishment, anti authoritarian. Where he has cast himself as a voice of dissent against Mainstream Media, a Mainstream Media that is today carrying out some urgent inquiries. The White House National security adviser, jake sullivan, has held two days of talks with the Chinese Foreign minister wang yi in malta. The two parties were said to have discussed topics from the war in ukraine to taiwans independence. Sullivans meeting follows a series of high level talks between the us and china. They point to the possibility of a meeting between President Biden and president xijinping later this autumn. Live now to anna ashton, who is a director at eurasiagroup, where she examines the Business Implications of Policy Developments in china. Thank you forjoining us on bbc news. First of all, could you talk through your talks on the significance of this latest meeting . You know, it is one that follows several others over the course of the summer. We have had a summer of diplomatic meetings between the us and china following a rocky start to the year with the Balloon Debacle in february. But it is clear that both sides are, for the time being at least, quite committed to continue engagement. That doesnt mean that they are not also continuing to perceive each other as strategic competitors. They do perceive each other as serious strategic competitors. But there is a mutual recognition that it is not good for either countrys priority, interest or good for the world to have a lack of communication when the stakes are so high. Of communication when the stakes are so hiuh. ,. , so high. You mentioned the balloon issue, communication so high. You mentioned the balloon issue, communication between so high. You mentioned the balloon issue, communication between the | so high. You mentioned the balloon. Issue, communication between the two countries is a key issue. Following those issues, the spy balloons, tiktol semiconductors, can it be restored . ,. , tiktol semiconductors, can it be restored . ,. , ~ restored . Definitely not. We dont think there restored . Definitely not. We dont think there is restored . Definitely not. We dont think there is the restored . Definitely not. We dont think there is the possibility restored . Definitely not. We dontj think there is the possibility where it would be constructive or harmonious, the way that it was during the first decade and a half of this century. For the foreseeable future, we are in a different era, but it doesnt have to be an area that leads to conflict. I think that is what this engagement is about, ensuring there is adequate communication to dispel any misunderstandings, to resolve Crisis Scenarios and prevent a worse case situations from developing. Just lookinu situations from developing. Just lookin at situations from developing. Just looking at china, the leadership currently faces distinctive challenges, economic problems, record youth unemployment, how does the leadership there perceive the us in the context of those challenges . Certainly, those challenges. The leadership, not that they are playing it down, but they are emphasising that they can overcome the Economic Growth and get the country on a better track and they just need enough time to do that. That they have the policies and they have been rolling out a variety of policies to try to ease pressures on the property sector, so it is less of a drag on the economy. But it is clear that there is an economic struggle at play and i do think there is plenty of evidence that it is affecting chinas foreign policy. It is making it Harderfor China to be assertive or aggressive and its relationships abroad because it needs to focus its attention on the domestic situation. That being said, is that the reason there is a talk with the United States . No, i think there would be a desire for some stabilisation, regardless of what the Economic Situation looks like this year. You need look no further avi xi jinping this year. You need look no further Avi Xijinping and a meeting on the sidelines in bali to see that there was an intent to express even then. 0k, thank you for your thoughts on bbc news. Now its time for a look at todays sport. We will start with the Rugby World Cup because england havejust started their second half. Fiji have beaten Australia Forjust the third time in their history and that result totally changes the pool. And that includes wales and that means there will be a lot riding on the game between australia and wales. South africa, in the same group as ireland and scotland beat roman