we start with a meeting between two global superpowers. us secretary of state antony blinken was in china for talks with the chinese president xijinping on friday. the us's top diplomat said there has been progress in some areas. he praised beijing for its efforts to stop the supply of fentanyl from reaching the us and the increase in military—to—military communication. president xi agreed the two sides had "made some positive progress" since he met his us counterpart, joe biden, in november. mr xi added that the earth was �*big enough' for both countries to achieve development and prosperity. he warned that if such factors continued to grow, it could derail efforts to stabilise us—china ties. the negative factors are increasing. the relationship is

facing all kinds of disruptions. china's development rights have been unreasonably suppressed. should china and united states move forward with stability or return to a down ward spiral? this is a major question. for the united states, areas of concern include china's claims over taiwan and the south china sea, and china's support for russia in its war on ukraine. secretary blinken spoke to the bbc and said washington will act if beijing does not stop supplying russia with items used in its assault on ukraine. our china correspondent laura bicker has more from beijing. hello. i'm laura bicker. how are you? antony blinken�*s visit comes as us ties with china are at a turning point. how's your trip been? oh, it's been... i've covered a lot of ground. the dialogue and diplomacy for the cameras hides real discord and distrust. this is what chinese viewers are shown.

a cinematic soundtrack accompanies president xi, urging the us to be partners, not rivals. yet, hours earlier, mr blinken was warned the two sides could slip towards conflict and this could not be happening. but he came to beijing with a warning of his own. 70% of the machine tools that russia is getting from abroad coming from china, 90% of the microelectronics. so for china, if it wants to have better relations not only with us but with countries in europe, it can't do that while at the same time helping to fuel the biggest threat to european security since the end of the cold war. we've taken action already against chinese entities that are engaged in this. and what i made clear today is that if china won't act, we will. you say you will act. i just want to be clear

on what you're prepared to do. i'm not going to get into the details except to say, look at what we've done already. we've imposed sanctions, export controls, one kind or another. china views this as hypocrisy as the us continues to arm israel. beijing is using the war in gaza to discredit washington and paint itself as a peaceful power. it erodes the credibility of the united states, notjust here in china, but around the world, don't you think? of course, china will do whatever it will do to distort our policies and to misinform its own people about what we're actually doing, what we're not doing, what we stand for, what we don't stand for. and i think china can play a constructive role here. it has relationships. it has influence with countries like iran that it can use effectively to, in the first instance, try to prevent the conflict from spreading. a record shop was mr blinken�*s final stop. perhaps taylor swift can help forge cross—cultural ties.

this trip has not dealt with the two sides�* differences. they've merely talked about them. and real risks remain in this fragile relationship, which mr blinken described as the most consequential in the world. laura bicker, bbc news, beijing. for more on the chinese foriegn minister's comments and the us—china relationship, i spoke to massachusetts congressman seth moulton. congressman moulton sits on the house select committee on china. thank you for taking the time. chinese foreign minister wang yi was frank in his public remarks alongside sock tear anthony blinken. he said the relationship is risking can a down ward spiral. d0 relationship is risking can a down ward spiral.— relationship is risking can a down ward spiral. do you agree? i do. down ward spiral. do you agree? i d0- china's _ down ward spiral. do you agree? i do. china's talking _ down ward spiral. do you agree? i do. china's talking about - i do. china's talking about going to a democratic ally of the united states. as long as he say he will take taiwan by force, there's a chance that our relationship goes down

hill. ., ., , ,, hill. to what extent is the us testin: hill. to what extent is the us testing boundaries? - hill. to what extent is the us testing boundaries? we - hill. to what extent is the us - testing boundaries? we hevered from wang yi saying the us needs to be careful not to step on china's red lines. we saw this massive wave of sanctions, technology export bans by the us. we know there is increased presence by the us and allies militarily. what is that doing to the relationship? is that increasing tensions? this is all again china's aggression. china changes its lines. they literally change their lines on the map all the time, to just take over more territory by map geography. it's ridiculous. they're threatening their neighbours, notjust taiwan, neighbours, not just taiwan, but neighbours, notjust taiwan, but the philippines. they've been very aggressive, risking can filipino sailor lives with their actions in the south china sea. they are regularly risking can the lives of the united states sailors and airmen doing patrols. so, all

of this aggression is coming from china. remember, america is not saying that we want to take over territory. we're not trying to take over countries. that is what china is trying to do. we're trying to defend democracies as we do all around the globe. a big part of the bi art the globe. a big part of the big part of _ the globe. a big part of the big part of the _ the globe. a big part of the big part of the trip was to warn _ big part of the trip was to warn china in supplying russia's military. if it continues to do, so what is the us ready— continues to do, so what is the us ready to do to prevent china from _ us ready to do to prevent china from sending parts or weapons to russia? do you think there might— to russia? do you think there might be _ to russia? do you think there might be some sanctions on the cards? — might be some sanctions on the cards? what would the us do? | cards? what would the us do? certainly cards? what would the us do? i certainly hope so. what xi jinping is doing is supporting a criminalwar of jinping is doing is supporting a criminal war of aggression by a criminal war of aggression by a war criminal. vladimir putin. that is the exact opposite of what the united states does. we defend sovereign territory. we defend sovereign territory. we defend freedom and democracy all around the globe. that's what we are doing in ukraine. that is what we said to china

we intend to do in the south pacific and china and russia have this axis of evil of aggression. evil autocracies trying to take over sovereign countries. the us is right to stand up against that. we heard from china's _ stand up against that. we heard from china's president - stand up against that. we heard from china's president xi - from china's president xi jinping speaking and saying that there is enough room in the world for both the us and for china. do you agree? can these two get along?- these two get along? well, that's up — these two get along? well, that's up to _ these two get along? well, that's up to china. - these two get along? well, that's up to china. again, l these two get along? well, i that's up to china. again, we have a peaceful agenda. they have a peaceful agenda. they have an agenda of con quest. of course there should be room for both of us. there is room for the united states and china as they exist today. what china is trying to do is take over other countries. that is not acceptable to the us and frankly shouldn't be to any sovereign nation. secretary anthony blinken _ sovereign nation. secretary anthony blinken said - sovereign nation. secretary anthony blinken said there| sovereign nation. secretary - anthony blinken said there was progress. i want to see if there is room for progress. he

noted some areas, like stopping supplies of fentinyl to the us. is there room for co—operation between the two countries? specifically where do you point to? �* , specifically where do you point to? �*, ., , specifically where do you point to? �* , ., , , specifically where do you point to? , to? there's always been room for co-operation, _ to? there's always been room for co-operation, fentinyl- to? there's always been room for co-operation, fentinyl is l to? there's always been room for co-operation, fentinyl is a j for co—operation, fentinyl is a good example. there's been some minor progress where china and us have worked together to limit the importation and the chemicals used from china to the united states. i sit on the china committee in congress. we released a report that said 96% of tentanyl precursors, the chemicals to construct, manufacture this deadly drug, come from china. china had has a proactive program to deliver them to the us deliberately because it's killing americans. we want this to stop. again, it's an example of aggressive

chinese behaviour against america. chinese behaviour against america-— chinese behaviour against america. ., ., ., america. we are out of time. i want to ask — america. we are out of time. i want to ask you _ america. we are out of time. i want to ask you - _ america. we are out of time. i want to ask you - i _ america. we are out of time. i want to ask you - i saw - america. we are out of time. i want to ask you - i saw scenes want to ask you — i saw scenes of secretary blinken doing shopping in beijing. he picked up shopping in beijing. he picked up a copy of taylor swift's new album over there. curious. up a copy of taylor swift's new album overthere. curious. do you think that the secretary of state is a swiftie?— state is a swiftie? well, i don't know. _ state is a swiftie? well, i don't know. i _ state is a swiftie? well, i don't know. i think- state is a swiftie? well, i don't know. i think if- state is a swiftie? well, i don't know. i think if he l state is a swiftie? well, i - don't know. i think if he were a real one he wouldn't buy a pirated copy in china. [30 a real one he wouldn't buy a pirated copy in china. do you think it's _ pirated copy in china. do you think it's a — pirated copy in china. do you think it's a pirated _ pirated copy in china. do you think it's a pirated copy? - pirated copy in china. do you think it's a pirated copy? i. think it's a pirated copy? i think it's a pirated copy? i think there is a good chance. we know they like to steal our intellectual property all the time. ah. intellectual property all the time. �* , , ., ,, time. a big trip nonetheless. plenty of _ time. a big trip nonetheless. plenty of the _ time. a big trip nonetheless. plenty of the agenda. - time. a big trip nonetheless. plenty of the agenda. thank | time. a big trip nonetheless. i plenty of the agenda. thank you for your time. on friday, two british men were charged with helping russian intelligence services after a suspected arson attack on a ukraine—linked business in london. the suspects — aged 20 and 22 — are the first people to be prosecuted under the new national security act 2023, which was designed to strengthen the uk's defences

against hostile activity by other nations. one of the men is accused of planning to target a business, and of trying to recruit other people to assist a foreign intelligence service. he is also accused of fraudulent activity and aggravated arson. the other man is also accused of arson, and of accepting money in the knowledge that it was from a foreign intelligence service. public records show the businesses allegedly targeted, are owned by ukrainians. prosecutors claim the russian private military group, wagner, is involved. our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford has the latest. the industrial unit in east london linked to the ukraine owned business. i've been up there. it's badly damaged. one of the units has beams exposed to the sky, scorched beams that a ukrainian truck parked outside. on day, a british 20—year—old appeared in court, dylan earl, charged with aggravated arson and two

charges under the new national security act including assisting a foreign intelligence service which the prosecution say is linked to russia. we couldn't report that until today, when two more men appeared in court. one of those, jake reeves on the right is charged under the new act, brought in to tackle new threats from states like russia. in threats from states like russia. , ., ., threats from states like russia. ., , ., russia. in comes after a plot targeting _ russia. in comes after a plot targeting voldomyyr - russia. in comes after a plot l targeting voldomyyr zelenskyy in poland. the secretary—general of the un said that these russia backed plot also not stop the alliance supporting ukraine. the aid for ukraine will include crucial weapons. lloyd

austin stressed the us position and vladimir putin's aggression against ukraine is a global issue. if putin prevails in ukraine, the security consequences will be grave and global. europe would face a security threat that it hasn't seen in our lifetimes. president biden has noted that russia will not stop in ukraine. if the kremlin gets its way, if putin's war on imperial aggression succeeds, every tyrant on earth will take note. donald trump's �*hush money�* trial has wrapped up for the week — with testimony detailing a tabloid �*catch and kill�* scheme — that allegedly buried damaging stories about mr trump during his campaign for the white house in 2016. the trial could be the only one of mr trump�*s four criminal cases with a chance of wrapping up before the presidential election this november. also on friday, president biden said — he�*d be "happy" to face donald trump in a debate — something he had not previously committed to. mr trump skipped all the previous republican debates

— and no further debates have been scheduled. our correspondent nada tawfik has been following the trial closely from new york. president trump was defiant as ever when he left the courthouse. he said that he heard president biden agreed to a debate and he invited him to do that any time anywhere, even suggesting here in new york next week or even the white house. in court, his defence team had a chance to cross—examine two trump insiders. rona graff, donald trump�*s long—time assistant for over 30 years, prosecutors had her testify that she had entered the contacts for the former playboy model karen mcdougal and stormy daniels into donald trump�*s company contacts, and that she vaguely recalled seeing stormy daniels in trump tower ahead of the 2016 election. but she admitted on the stand

that she did not want to be here in court. testifying that she respected donald trump, and he even stood up and tried to give her a brief hello on her way out. well, things were very different with the former national enquirer publisher david becker. the defence tried to discredit him even though he was a reliable witness who said he didn�*t hold any grudges against donald trump or have any ill will against him. they tried to get him to say that the whole alleged catch and kill scheme, which prosecutors had said is a criminal conspiracy to influence the election — well, the defence tried to paint it as a business decision, kind of standard operating procedure for a tabloid. but david becker said he had been truthful on the stand. he reiterated that he did that scheme alongside donald trump and michael cohen, allegedly, to help the campaign.

sexual assault survivors and advocates have expressed outrage afterjudges in new york overturned a 2020 rape conviction against the former hollywood producer, harvey weinstein. new york�*s highest court ruled that during his trial four years ago, prosecutors were wrongly allowed to call witnesses whose accusations were not part of the charges against him. weinstein will remain in prison on a separate rape conviction in california. weinstein�*s new york trial was a pivotal moment for the metoo movement, which raises awareness of sexual abuse and aggression against women. it began in 2006, and went viral during weinstein�*s trial after several women came forward alleging that he had sexually abused them. live now to tarana burke, founder of the metoo movement. you said the overturning of this conviction in harvey weinstein�*s 2024 case was not a

blow to the medtoo movement. what did you mean? i blow to the medtoo movement. what did you mean?— blow to the medtoo movement. what did you mean? i emean that while we are _ what did you mean? i emean that while we are disappointed. - what did you mean? i emean that while we are disappointed. one i while we are disappointed. one singular case cannot be a blow to an entire movement. i think people mistakenlyjudge the movement by the outcomes of these cases and that is not how we decide whether movements are successful. we know that historically the justice system, particularly in america, has never been where we find actual justice for survivors. so, while we�*re disappointed, i don�*t see this as a set—back for the movement. i see it as a disappointment. that�*s exactly what it is. i�*m that's exactly what it is. i'm sure you _ that's exactly what it is. i'm sure you were _ that's exactly what it is. i'm sure you were following this closely and the ruling by new york�*s top court. harvey weinstein�*s lawyer said on thursday that the law was not applied fairly to harvey weinstein. do you agree with that and with the decision of the court that reversed his conviction?

no. harvey weinstein�*s attorney is supposed to say that. that�*s his job. is supposed to say that. that�*s hisjob. that�*s in defending hisjob. that�*s in defending his client. i don�*t think the judges made the proper decision in this case. judges made the proper decision in this case-— in this case. how concerning are ou in this case. how concerning are you that _ in this case. how concerning are you that the _ in this case. how concerning are you that the ruling - in this case. how concerning are you that the ruling that l are you that the ruling that seems to rule out the use of other testimony from other potential victims not involved in the case itself, that this could end up changing other cases going forward, making it harder to bring convictions? i�*m concerned because we know the court cases sometimes precedents are set. i hope that what happens is over the last several yea rless we what happens is over the last several yearless we tried to educate people about the nature of sexual violence. it�*s different from other cases. this is exactly what is necessary so that we can see the breakdown and —depth of the

life cycle of a survivor. what happened many this case is what should have hand. you need to understand the nature of what happened and these perpetrators and how they operate. this conviction _ and how they operate. this conviction is _ and how they operate. this conviction is overturned - and how they operate. this conviction is overturned in new york. wuhan is serving a 16—year sentence in california for rape. do you think that is enoughjustice for the for rape. do you think that is enough justice for the alleged victims in new york? i�*m enough justice for the alleged victims in new york?— enough justice for the alleged victims in new york? i'm not a survivor- _ victims in new york? i'm not a survivor- it's — victims in new york? i'm not a survivor. it's not _ victims in new york? i'm not a survivor. it's not job _ victims in new york? i'm not a survivor. it's not job or- victims in new york? i'm not a survivor. it's not job or right i survivor. it�*s notjob or right to say what is enough justice for them. to say what is enough justice forthem. it�*s to say what is enough justice for them. it�*s up to them to say what is or isn�*t what they need. i think we have to see how the decisions are made. again, we cannot predicate the movement orjustice or accountability solely on what we see in the outcomes. out remains to be seen.- remains to be seen. you launched _ remains to be seen. you launched the _ remains to be seen. you launched the metoo - remains to be seen. you launched the metoo movement in 2006. you�*ve been working in this space for many years. how

have you seen this movement change society in the us and globally? change society in the us and aloball ? . ., ., , , globally? the change has been tremendous. _ globally? the change has been tremendous. i— globally? the change has been tremendous. i think— globally? the change has been tremendous. i think what - globally? the change has been | tremendous. i think what we've tremendous. i think what we�*ve seenin tremendous. i think what we�*ve seen in the last seven years since the hashtag went we probably couldn�*t have seen in 27 years. with the onset of things like social media and how the internet has connected people and made information move faster, it�*s been able to connect people and allow us, so people like survivors to find and see each other and a lot of movements to go exponentially. now, we can say, you know, "i�*m a survivor in america", "i�*m a survivor in the united kingdom". we couldn�*t find each other before. survivors were siloed. we felt alone and we felt unseen. you can�*t put the genie back in the bottle. we know where we are. we see each other and we know that we�*re a force to be reckoned with, not

just sitting alone in at the dark suffering in silence. what do ou dark suffering in silence. what do you think — dark suffering in silence. what do you think comes _ dark suffering in silence. what do you think comes next - dark suffering in silence. what do you think comes next for. dark suffering in silence. what do you think comes next for the metoo movement?— do you think comes next for the metoo movement? well, you know, we are exoanded _ metoo movement? well, you know, we are expanded all— metoo movement? well, you know, we are expanded all across - metoo movement? well, you know, we are expanded all across the - we are expanded all across the globe. i think when i get this question all the time of what comes next, we�*ve never stopped. what comes next is we will keep advocating, growing. the thing is that in america alone, there�*s another act of sexual violence every 68 seconds, another survivor. as unfortunate as that is, it�*s another opportunity to have a person tojoin this another opportunity to have a person to join this fight and as much as there are survivors as much as there are survivors as individuals there are also people that love us. so, as we grow in numbers, people want to look at survivors from a of pity, but you should look at us from a place of strength, right? there are elections coming up. imagine if we vote along the line of our survivorship? that makes us one

of the largest voting blocs in the world. people shouldn�*t be worried about what we do next. as decisions like this come down and we get more angry, we have a why chows rage and we move from that and we — righteous rage, and as we move from it we are a powerful, powerful people.- from it we are a powerful, powerful people. thank you very much. buckingham palace has announced that king charles is returning to public engagements next week, following encouraging progress in his treatment for cancer. the palace says that, while he�*ll make more public appearances in the coming weeks, he will also continue to undergo cancer care. the palace hasn�*t said which type of cancer he�*s been diagnosed with, but the announcement that he�*s able to get back to public duties is being seen as a sign for cautious optimism. our correspondent charlotte gallagher reports. the king and queen together in the gardens of buckingham palace. a positive sign ant about the king�*s health. the

photo was taken this month but is just released. the photo was taken this month but isjust released. the palace says the king is making encouraging progress and shortly will return to public facing duties. after a period of treatment and recoupation, following his recent cancer diagnosis. as the first anniversary of the king�*s last public event was in windsor on easter sunday. he surprised the crowds ljy sunday. he surprised the crowds by stopping to chat. he thanked them for their good wishes. thank you. them for their good wishes. thank you-— thank you. never give in. you're very _ thank you. never give in. you're very nice. - thank you. never give in. you're very nice. his - thank you. never give in. you're very nice. his next visit will _ you're very nice. his next visit will be _ you're very nice. his next visit will be more - you're very nice. his next l visit will be more symbolic, you're very nice. his next - visit will be more symbolic, a trip to a cancer treatment centre. this has been a really tough time for the royal family with the king and the princess of wales being diagnosed with cancer. like, with any family, that has come as a huge blow.

they�*ve had to deal with intense media scrutiny. so, the announcement that the king feels well enough to resume some public duties will be welcome news. the prime minister, your majesty _ the prime minister, your majesty-— the prime minister, your ma'es . ., , , majesty. the king has been working. — majesty. the king has been working, including - majesty. the king has been working, including meeting| majesty. the king has been - working, including meeting with the prime minister. but it still remains uncertain if he will be attending some of the big events coming up in the calendar, such as trooping the colour, royalascot calendar, such as trooping the colour, royal ascot and overseas trips in autumn. the king and catherine are two of the most senior and popular members of the royal family. their absence has been felt by many. i their absence has been felt by man . ., ., ., ~ , many. i wanted to take this opportunity _ many. i wanted to take this opportunity to _ many. i wanted to take this opportunity to say - many. i wanted to take this opportunity to say thank . many. i wanted to take this | opportunity to say thank you personally. opportunity to say thank you personally-— opportunity to say thank you personally. there is no news about when _ personally. there is no news about when the _ personally. there is no news about when the princess - personally. there is no news about when the princess of l about when the princess of wales will return to public duties. she announced her cancer diagnosis in march and

asked for time, space and privacy for herself and her family. let�*s turn to some important news around the world. french police say they�*ve started clearing public spaces outside a university occupied by pro—palestinian students since thursday. a noisy stand off between those students and pro—israeli protesters prompted police intervention earlier. the demonstrations there have echoed ones found on us campuses. multiple countries in east africa are experiencing severe flooding and landslides. at least 70 people were killed in kenya and 150 people were killed in tanzania. nearly 100,000 people have been displaced in the nearby country of burundi. the region has seen heavier rainfall than usual in recent weeks, exacerbated by the el nino weather pattern. the olympic flame was formally handed over to organisers of the paris summer games ahead of its opening injuly. the flame was received at the marble pana—thenaic stadium in athens following an eleven—day relay across greece.

hello. after what has been a mixed and decidedly chilly week of weather, things are not going to warm up an awful lot through the weekend. staying chilly, some rain at times, but it is going to turn warmer next week. however, not completely dry. still some wet weather in the forecast. certainly some wet weather for the weekend, all driven by this area of low pressure pushing up from the south. this frontal system here bringing rain northwards across southern england into wales, the midlands and east anglia. to the north of that, some sunny spells to start the day. a cold start with a frost across northern england, northern ireland and scotland. it will be another sunshine and showers day. the showers wintry over high ground in scotland. some hefty showers breaking out for southern counties, and then some more persistent rain heading in from the south by the end of the afternoon, temperatures generally around 10—13 degrees. and then through saturday night, this rain will push its way northwards, covering large parts of england, clipping into the east of wales.

further north and west, some clear spells. another relatively chilly night, there�*ll be a frost for some. further south and east, not as cold because of the extra cloud, because of the outbreaks of rain, all driven by this area of low pressure which will be sliding its way northwards through the day on sunday. some parts of england are going to have a lot of rain through the day, heavy and persistent rain that will make it feel decidedly chilly. some rain fringing into east wales, turning wet in eastern scotland, rather windy for some of these eastern coasts, but eventually brightening up for south west england, for wales, parts of northwest england, northern ireland and western scotland seeing some sunshine as well. temperatures still stubbornly stuck in that range between 9—14 degrees, but temperatures will start to lift on monday. a frontal system pushing in from the west. outbreaks of rain for some, but ahead of that, a southerly wind bringing a warmer feel. temperatures back up really to where they should be for late april 12—16 degrees. and it�*ll turn warmer still as the week wears on. this area of low pressure tending

to roll away southwards as all these different weather systems reorientate themselves. well, the wind direction will change, we�*ll pick up something of an easterly flow from the near continent, and that will bring some warmer air. highs potentially up to 19, maybe the low 20s celsius. but with that, there will still be some rain at times.

voice—over: this is bbc news. we�*ll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. this week... james is racing across the globe testing the latest ai translation tools. we�*re in miami to see the data behind basketball. whilst you�*re there, why not grab yourself a beer... ..and turn it into leather? she sings

and we�*re on the stage helping musicians get used to