here in the uk, labour's keir starmer sets out his party's key messages ahead of the general election, insisting they have not "scaled back" on their ambitions. another day in court for donald trump's former lawyer michael cohen to testify in the former president's hush money trial. president putin is given a red carpet welcome on his state visit to china, signing a joint declaration with president xi outlining the two countries�* close ties. also coming up on the world today — we look at how ai will shape the world of online dating. welcome to the world today, an hour of international news from the bbc. we are going to start in slovakia. a man has been charged with the attempted murder of slovakia's prime minister. robert fico was shot several times

yesterday in while visiting a small town in the centre of the country. he's now in a serious, but stable condition in hospital. at a news conference, the slovak interior minister described the suspect as a lone wolf who opposed the government. a neighbour and friend of the suspect said he was shocked by what happened. translation: i was very surprised by what he did. | i don't understand how it happened. something must have clicked. i've known him for a0 years. he was decent and normal like me. we travelled on a bus just a few days ago, and we were making jokes, no politics. i'm completely shocked by what he did. a little earlier, the slovakian president—elect, peter pellegrini, gave an update from the hospital where mr fico is being treated. translation: the prime minister i is now facing the most difficult l and challenging days, hours, minutes in order to survive, and i hope that everything will work out for the best.

i really hope for us all to see his soon recovery and coming to full strength. the current slovak president zuzana caputova also held a press conference and spoke about the political climate in the country. take a listen. translation: yesterday's attack on prime minister robert fico - is above all a great human tragedy, but at the same time, _ it is also an attack _ on a democratic establishment. that's why i'm asking everyone i to think about his quick recovery and to take a responsible approach. let's step out of the vicious cycle and mutual blame. i what happened yesterday- was individual act, but the tense atmosphere of hatred . was our collective fault. live to the slovak capital, bratislava, and our correspondent bethany bell. what is the latest? well, the people have been watching _ what is the latest? well, the people have been watching very _ what is the latest? well, the people have been watching very closely - have been watching very closely today for these updates on mr fico's

health. he is said to be in a very serious condition, still stable but as we have the incoming president they're saying, the next few days will be critical. we understand his injuries have been very extensive. they have also been described as complicated. and of course he did undergo several hours of emergency surgery last night. and elsewhere here in slovakia, people are still trying to come to terms with how this could have happened in a small town in the centre, in the middle of the day time and how questions are being asked as well about whether his security forces acted quickly enough at the time. it's a very difficult situation here for people to get their heads around. find difficult situation here for people to get their heads around. and what does this mean _ to get their heads around. and what does this mean for _ to get their heads around. and what does this mean for security, - to get their heads around. and what does this mean for security, for - does this mean for security, for politicians right across the country?—

politicians right across the count ? ~ ~ . , ~ country? well, certainly i think politicians— country? well, certainly i think politicians not _ country? well, certainly i think politicians not just _ country? well, certainly i think politicians notjust here - country? well, certainly i think politicians notjust here in - politicians notjust here in slovakia, but in the region are feeling very nervous and destabilised after this attack on mr fico. there is in many parts of eastern and central europe, there is a sense of increasingly polarised politics, splits over questions from everything from the way the coronavirus pandemic was handled to ukraine to various, all sorts of things which are things... and what we have heard certainly from politicians here in slovakia today, from the president, is that they want to see an end to hate speech and also there are some recriminations, once i blaming the other, for an atmosphere which has contributed to what the president

called hateful acts. she said the hate speech needed to stop. qm. hate speech needed to stop. ok, bethany, thank _ hate speech needed to stop. 0k, bethany, thank you very much for that. here, the labour leader, sir keir starmer, is setting out the first steps he'll take if his party wins the next general election. at an event in essex, he's been outlining the six pledges he says will begin "a decade of national renewal". the conservatives say his speech is another relaunch of policies. the labour priorities include setting up a border security command, recruiting 6500 new teachers in england and creating great british energy to generate clean energy and cut bills. starmer also said labour would provide 40,000 appointments and operations per week to help tackle nhs waiting lists. he said labour's pledges were fully costed and that voters could expect to see them delivered within two terms of a labour government. sir keir has been speaking with our politcial editor chris mason.

here's some of that interview. keir starmer, you want 40,000 more appointments per week in the nhs in england. can you be specific, by when? well, i think we can start on this straightaway. and they're desperately needed. as you know, we've got... start, though? we've got, what, the best part of 8 million appointments and operations that are needed, so this 40,000 each and every week is hugely important. but by when? when i say start, let me explain what i mean by that, because without getting ahead of ourselves and anticipating the result of the election, i do know we've got to be ready. and that's why we are already having discussions with nhs staff about how we would operate to this model, so i think we can do that pretty swiftly. there are other changes i've set out this morning. pretty swiftly�*s quite vague, though, isn't it? can you not... is it not really a promise if you can't actually put a timeframe on it? yes, it is. from day one, minute one, we will be working on this to deliver itjust

as quickly as possible. and how many days in do you get to 40,000, that's the point? we will have the necessary discussions now to ensure that we can go at pace. i know how important this is. i spoke this morning of some of the people on the waiting list. they're desperate for this to happen quickly. with the general election coming closer, each announcement by a party leader is being scrutinised by their opponents. the conservative party chairman, richard holden, had this reaction. look, i mean, this is keir starmer's 16th relaunch in a few months. i mean, he's dumped every pledge that he made during the labour leadership campaign. he's dumped every pledge he made when he tried to get jeremy corbyn into being our prime minister, not once but twice. i think people need to take with an enormous pinch of salt anything that he's putting forwards. it's quite clear that labour don't have a cohesive plan and would take the country back to square one. i have no idea why anybody would believe a word that keir starmer says when every single time he's got a different

audience to play for, he changes his tune, he changes what he's saying and changes what he says he stands for. you know, 16 relaunches in a matter of a couple of years after four years in opposition, he's not got a cohesive plan. i think it says everything you need to know about keir starmer. play more analysis of that event later on in the programme. still to come on the world today — the russian president is visiting his neighbour enchanted to talk about their everlasting friendship. and the king has been meeting the queen of reality tv. love island anyway. we will see what they chatted about. around the world and across the uk, this is the world today on bbc news.

this is to be seat news. a moment this is to be seat news. a moment ago i promised you more analysis on the politics story of the day and i shall deliver. let's speak to our political correspondent alex forsyth. we just heard a bit of chris mason's interview with a labour leader keir starmer and saw some of the pledges what should we take away from this? i think in the labour —— style of that launched today get the sense that launched today get the sense that the general election is due on people's mines despite the fact we are still months away from it. i think with this once was labour try to put some flesh on the bones of what it would do worry to get in the government if it wins that next election. of course we heard last year from the labour party about what it calls its five big missions. they were quite sort of grand, ambitious ideas for government, and i think what they are attending to do now is to narrow that down a little bit into a sort of offer that voters can kind of understand. so that when labour�*s out and about and

is asked what it stands for as the party and any parties often are, that it can point to the steps as he calls them. it's interesting that during the question and answer question with certain keir starmer after the speech he gave the event this morning, there are points raised about notjust what this morning, there are points raised about not just what was this morning, there are points raised about notjust what was in these pledges but what was not. so things like housing which labour has talked about but is not in this initial six steps for government supported calls them. things like climate change, labour 22 it's great british energy but nothing on climate change specifically in the initial six steps in the same with workers' rights which labour has talked a lot about but again not included. forthe talked a lot about but again not included. for the party is saying it is not a whole programme or government but a bit of it. i think the challenge remains for the labour party and of course for all parties as we approach the general election in the months to come is how do you speu in the months to come is how do you spell out what you stand for providers that making promises that you might not be able to deliver? and i think that it's a dilemma that we are seeing here with labour. they are trying to explain to voters with

are trying to explain to voters with a stand for but they are being cautious about putting time frames on when they might be able to do some of this stuff or specific targets because of course there is a risk that they may not deliver. and i think a party is trying to avoid that by saying we will do it as soon as we can when we are in government, if the party gets there.— if the party gets there. indeed it what do you _ if the party gets there. indeed it what do you make _ if the party gets there. indeed it what do you make of _ if the party gets there. indeed it what do you make of the - if the party gets there. indeed it i what do you make of the actual six then? what you think they are trying to achieve, timescales and delivery apart, what are they trying to appeal to? if apart, what are they trying to appeal to?— apart, what are they trying to auealto? ., ~ ., , appeal to? if you talk to the party, orthe appeal to? if you talk to the party, or they tell— appeal to? if you talk to the party, or they tell you — appeal to? if you talk to the party, or they tell you is _ appeal to? if you talk to the party, or they tell you is these _ appeal to? if you talk to the party, or they tell you is these are - appeal to? if you talk to the party, or they tell you is these are the . or they tell you is these are the properties that speak to the priorities of voters and of course there are some echoes with the five priorities that the prime minister set out but some differences as well. of course you have that one on the economy with lara saying delivering economic stability and tough spending rules. that's really interesting for the liberal party because one thing they are really keen to stress is that they would be economically responsible. labour has in the past been seen as a weakness so that is why they are putting that

so that is why they are putting that so high of the agenda. of course there are those who suggest actually a labour should not be so restrained on spending and there are others who might advocate a different academic approach with perhaps more borrowing to invest or even a different taxation system buffer labour that is a real priority which is why you were seeing it so i am. and then of course it ain'tjust were seeing it so i am. and then of course it ain't just waiting times or something else echoes with the promised or made a pledge on, although of course we know that the waiting list for the nhs still are remarkably high. in other one were flagging, so while some of these will echo the refrains that you heard in those five ambitious missions from lara last year, the one that's been added, the sixth step, is one of the new border security command. now it keir at summer gave a speech about this last week talking about labour's plans about trying to tackle the games behind the small boat crossings and interesting the party has chosen to include that on this list because it was to be so restrained on spending and there are others who might advocate a different academic approach with perhaps more borrowing to invest or even a different taxation system buffer labour that is a real priority which is why you

were seeing it so i am. and then of course it ain'tjust were seeing it so i am. and then of course it ain't just waiting times or something else echoes with the promised or made a pledge on, although of course we know that the waiting list for the nhs still are remarkably high. in other ones were flagging, so while some of these will echo the refrains that you heard in those five ambitious missions from lara last year, the one that's been added, the sixth step, is one of the new border security command. now it keir at summer gave a speech about this last week talking about labour's plans about trying to tackle the games behind the small boat crossings and interesting the party has chosen to include that on this list because it was a beast is these are speaking to what it sees as the priorities of the country and of course there is always a political calculation in announcements like this as well. alex, thank you so much for that. let's turn to the hague now, where south africa has asked the un's highest court to instruct israel to stop its offensive in rafah in southern gaza. the hearing at the international court ofjustice is the latest intervention by the south african

government in its legal case against israel. it says as well as direct military attacks, israel is starving palestinians in gaza by obstructing access to deliveries of food, fuel and medicines. israel has insisted it is acting in accordance with international law. it has dismissed the south african case as "a baseless blood libel". south africa's legal team have been outlining their case and have accused israel of breaching the court's previous orders with impunity. it is escalating its attacks in gaza, and in so doing, it is wilfully breaching the binding orders of this court. israel similarly breaches the binding resolutions of the united nations security council, erroneously believing from the lack of countermeasures by the international community that it is exempt from having to respect international law. we've heard assurances that israel was doing everything in its power to avoid civilian deaths as it exercised its claimed right of self—defence. we've heard boasts that israel's army is the most moral army in history, and we've heard denials that there is famine in gaza. for months, people, particularly in the west, have appeared unwilling to accept that the accusations are true. how could people who look like us and sound like us possibly engage in anything like genocide? in case you're wondering why we haven't heard from israel yet, the case is taking place over two days. south africa is putting its arguments today, israel will respond on friday. we'll bring you full

coverage of that. let's speak to rosa friedman, a professor of law and conflict at reading university. if you very much for coming on the programme. what is the court being asked to do here exactly? the court being asked to do here exactl ? ~ �* , ., the court being asked to do here exactl? ~ exactly? well, it's of africa returned — exactly? well, it's of africa returned to _ exactly? well, it's of africa returned to the _ exactly? well, it's of africa returned to the court - exactly? well, it's of africa returned to the court to - exactly? well, it's of africa | returned to the court to ask exactly? well, it's of africa - returned to the court to ask for new provisional— returned to the court to ask for new provisional measures— returned to the court to ask for new provisional measures to _ returned to the court to ask for new provisional measures to be - returned to the court to ask for new provisional measures to be put into| provisional measures to be put into place _ provisional measures to be put into place in _ provisional measures to be put into place in the — provisional measures to be put into place in the time _ provisional measures to be put into place in the time that _ provisional measures to be put into place in the time that it _ provisional measures to be put into place in the time that it would - provisional measures to be put into place in the time that it would take| place in the time that it would take commercially— place in the time that it would take commercially many— place in the time that it would take commercially many years - place in the time that it would take commercially many years for- place in the time that it would take commercially many years for the l commercially many years for the court _ commercially many years for the court to — commercially many years for the court to hear— commercially many years for the court to hear the _ commercially many years for the court to hear the case _ commercially many years for the court to hear the case but- commercially many years for the l court to hear the case but whether or not _ court to hear the case but whether or not there has _ court to hear the case but whether or not there has been _ court to hear the case but whether or not there has been a _ court to hear the case but whether or not there has been a genocide i or not there has been a genocide perpetrated _ or not there has been a genocide perpetrated in _ or not there has been a genocide perpetrated in gaza. _ or not there has been a genocide perpetrated in gaza. and - or not there has been a genocide perpetrated in gaza. and there l perpetrated in gaza. and there are really _ perpetrated in gaza. and there are really two — perpetrated in gaza. and there are really two requested _ perpetrated in gaza. and there are really two requested measures. i perpetrated in gaza. and there are. really two requested measures. the first is_ really two requested measures. the first is for— really two requested measures. the first is for israel— really two requested measures. the first is for israel to _ really two requested measures. the first is for israel to immediately- first is for israel to immediately withdraw— first is for israel to immediately withdraw and _ first is for israel to immediately withdraw and sees _ first is for israel to immediately withdraw and sees his - first is for israel to immediately withdraw and sees his military. withdraw and sees his military offensive _ withdraw and sees his military offensive in— withdraw and sees his military offensive in the _ withdraw and sees his military offensive in the second - withdraw and sees his military offensive in the second for. withdraw and sees his military offensive in the second for it i withdraw and sees his militaryl offensive in the second for it to take _ offensive in the second for it to take all— offensive in the second for it to take all effective _ offensive in the second for it to take all effective measures - offensive in the second for it to take all effective measures to i take all effective measures to allow unimpeded — take all effective measures to allow unimpeded access— take all effective measures to allow unimpeded access for— take all effective measures to allow unimpeded access for unitarian - unimpeded access for unitarian workers. — unimpeded access for unitarian workers, investigators- unimpeded access for unitarian workers, investigators and - workers, investigators and journalists _ workers, investigators and journalists to _ workers, investigators and journalists to go _ workers, investigators and journalists to go into - workers, investigators and | journalists to go into gaza. workers, investigators and - journalists to go into gaza. find workers, investigators and journalists to go into gaza. and so what ruling. _ journalists to go into gaza. and so what ruling, what _ journalists to go into gaza. and so what ruling, what effect _ journalists to go into gaza. and so what ruling, what effect would - journalists to go into gaza. and so j what ruling, what effect would any ruling have?— what ruling, what effect would any rulin: have? ., ., ., ruling have? look, the international court ofjustice _ ruling have? look, the international court ofjustice can _ ruling have? look, the international court ofjustice can issue _ ruling have? look, the international court ofjustice can issue any - court ofjustice can issue any rulings— court ofjustice can issue any rulings that _ court ofjustice can issue any rulings that it _ court ofjustice can issue any rulings that it wants - court ofjustice can issue any rulings that it wants what - court ofjustice can issue any rulings that it wants what it i court ofjustice can issue any. rulings that it wants what it does not have — rulings that it wants what it does not have enforcement _ rulings that it wants what it does i not have enforcement mechanisms. rulings that it wants what it does - not have enforcement mechanisms. it is not _ not have enforcement mechanisms. it is not a _ not have enforcement mechanisms. it is not a national— not have enforcement mechanisms. it is not a national court. _ not have enforcement mechanisms. it is not a national court. it— not have enforcement mechanisms. it is not a national court. it cannot - is not a national court. it cannot send _ is not a national court. it cannot send estate _

is not a national court. it cannot send estate to _ is not a national court. it cannot send estate to prison— is not a national court. it cannot send estate to prison or- is not a national court. it cannot send estate to prison or baylissl send estate to prison or bayliss around — send estate to prison or bayliss around you _ send estate to prison or bayliss around. you cannot _ send estate to prison or bayliss around. you cannot enforce - send estate to prison or bayliss - around. you cannot enforce without either _ around. you cannot enforce without either the _ around. you cannot enforce without either the security— around. you cannot enforce without either the security council- around. you cannot enforce without either the security council taking i either the security council taking action, _ either the security council taking action, so— either the security council taking action, so embargoes_ either the security council taking action, so embargoes are - either the security council taking action, so embargoes are no—flyl action, so embargoes are no—fly zones _ action, so embargoes are no—fly zones or— action, so embargoes are no—fly zones or things _ action, so embargoes are no—fly zones or things like that, - zones or things like that, sanctions. _ zones or things like that, sanctions, or— zones or things like that, sanctions, or other- zones or things like that, - sanctions, or other countries zones or things like that, _ sanctions, or other countries around the world _ sanctions, or other countries around the world using _ sanctions, or other countries around the world using international- the world using international politics— the world using international politics and _ the world using international politics and trade _ the world using international politics and trade to - the world using international politics and trade to try- the world using international politics and trade to try to i the world using international- politics and trade to try to coerce or force — politics and trade to try to coerce or force the state _ politics and trade to try to coerce or force the state to _ politics and trade to try to coerce or force the state to comply - or force the state to comply with the international— or force the state to comply with the international court _ or force the state to comply with the international court ruling. i or force the state to comply with i the international court ruling. that does _ the international court ruling. that does not _ the international court ruling. that does not mean _ the international court ruling. that does not mean it's— the international court ruling. that does not mean it's meaningless. i the international court ruling. thatj does not mean it's meaningless. if the court rules— does not mean it's meaningless. if the court rules for— does not mean it's meaningless. if the court rules for provisional- the court rules for provisional nieasures_ the court rules for provisional measures in— the court rules for provisional measures in this case, - the court rules for provisional measures in this case, then. the court rules for provisional- measures in this case, then israel will have — measures in this case, then israel will have to — measures in this case, then israel will have to make _ measures in this case, then israel will have to make a _ measures in this case, then israel will have to make a decision - will have to make a decision whether to uphold _ will have to make a decision whether to uphold those _ will have to make a decision whether to uphold those measures _ will have to make a decision whether to uphold those measures are - will have to make a decision whether. to uphold those measures are whether to become _ to uphold those measures are whether to become essentially— to uphold those measures are whether to become essentially a client- to become essentially a client state — to become essentially a client state but _ to become essentially a client state but i— to become essentially a client state. but i don't— to become essentially a client state. but i don't think- to become essentially a client state. but i don't think we - to become essentially a client- state. but i don't think we should underestimate _ state. but i don't think we should underestimate this— state. but i don't think we should underestimate this because - state. but i don't think we should underestimate this because it's. underestimate this because it's quite _ underestimate this because it's quite unlikely— underestimate this because it's quite unlikely that _ underestimate this because it's quite unlikely that the - underestimate this because it's quite unlikely that the court - underestimate this because it's. quite unlikely that the court ruled all the _ quite unlikely that the court ruled all the things _ quite unlikely that the court ruled all the things south _ quite unlikely that the court ruled all the things south africa - all the things south africa is asking — all the things south africa is asking for~ _ all the things south africa is asking for. if— all the things south africa is asking for-— all the things south africa is askin: for. ,, , . asking for. if you very much coming on the programme, _ asking for. if you very much coming on the programme, thank - asking for. if you very much coming on the programme, thank you. -

he was dubbed britain's kindest plumber, for helping vulnerable people for free, but a bbc investigation has found that james anderson's business in fact faked stories that helped raise millions of pounds in donations. his plumbing and heating company, depher, has used photos of people on social media without their consent, and in some cases, made untrue claims about the elderly people who were featured. mr anderson has defended himself against some of the allegations, but admitted mistakes were made. 0ur uk editor ed thomas has the story. now, you won't meet. people more remarkable than the plumberjames anderson. james anderson's acts of kindness moved the nation. his name isjames anderson. he's a plumber who couldn't stand seeing people getting cold because they didn't have enough money for boiler repairs. we put a shout out on social media. we've analysed those social media accounts, many linked to fundraising appeals... known as britain'sl kindest plumber... ..uncovering misleading, false posts... so far, he's helped over 2 million people across the country. ..allegations vulnerable people have been exploited. even catching the attention of actor hugh grant. one of the most shocking was this —

posted injune 2022. an elderly woman covered with an emoji, upset and desperate. it says, "when i got there, she had a noose ready to commit suicide." the truth is that her name wasjoyce, and she died years before the story ofjames anderson saving her life. we tracked down joyce's daughter, andrea. joyce's kitchen. she had no idea her mother's image was being used by depher. "when i got there... ...she had a noose ready to commit suicide." how do you describe that post? a lie, it's a complete lie. this image of a noose was also posted, linked to fundraising pages. how do you sleep at night? it's like vulnerable people, like my mother,

is their moneymaking machine. james anderson has helped many people with free boilers, gas and electricity payments. but we found multiple examples of misleading posts. this one claims the woman with the hidden face died from carbon monoxide. we later learned the story was fake. hey, you all right? hi, ed from bbc news. james anderson agreed to speak to us about his company's use of social media... really appreciate you speaking to us and... starting with this story, aboutjoyce and thoughts of suicide. i didn't put that on. that's from depher�*s account. is that post true? that post is not true, no. the family has said that is a lie. what do you want to say to that family? well, i'vejust said, i apologise to the family, but i will have to look further into that, onto the old account. and the carbon monoxide death story. it's depher�*s post, but how it got onto depher�*s account, i don't know. that is a disgusting, leading,

misleading post, yeah. and i apologise from the bottom of my heart. is that is a lie? that is a lie, whoever�*s put that on, yeah. here we are today. we also found this serious safeguarding failure, a video posted onjames anderson's facebook page. 0k. just doing a little video. we've blurred his image. but anderson asks the elderly man if he's 0k to be filmed. are you 0k to be on this video or do you not want to be on it? oh, god, no. no, 0k, nota problem. "oh, god, no." no, 0k, nota problem. but his image was posted repeatedly for years and linked to fundraising pages worth £270,000. are you 0k to be on this video? the man is clearly filmed saying no. right, ok, i accept that. will you return this money? i'll return what funding is connected to that if the people who have donated it want that money back. we also wanted clarity on how much money depher has spent. we've spent over £3 million, 0k...

is £3 million, correct, yes or no? i don't know. you don't know? i don't know. 0k. we've helped over 2 million people. 2,150,000, to be exact. that's exact? that's. .. yeah, they're made up figures. they're guesstimates. they�* re guesstimates, yeah. they're guesstimates. yeah, guesstimates. if i have to get on my knees and apologise for the rest of my life, i will. butjames anderson also said he was a victim of online trolls. he now faces an investigation by the fundraising regulator. ed thomas, bbc news, burnley. 0ne one line to add to that story, the british citizen awards have rescinded the award they gave to mr anderson. in a statement, they said they pride themselves on recognising millions across the us —— uk who work for charity. the russian and chinese leaders have reaffirmed their close relationship

during vladimir putin's two—day visit in beijing. the pair signed a statement that promised to deepen their relationship and repeated their vow to work together against what they said were "destructive and hostile" us policies. trade between china and russia has surged since moscow's invasion of ukraine. 0ur correspondent laura bicker sent this report from beijing. band plays. in the west, he's seen as a pariah. but in china, president putin is a key partner as beijing seeks a new world order. 0ne not led by the united states. the red carpet was rolled out complete with a red army band welcome as they walked together in a show of defiance against western pressure. mr putin needs china. it's become an economic lifeline for an isolated and heavily—sanctioned russia.

translation: china will always be | a good neighbour and good friend | of mutual trust with russia. mr putin said he would inform president xi about the situation in ukraine, and he said he would welcome china's role as peacemaker. beijing put forward a 12—point peace plan more than a year ago, but it received a lukewarm welcome from both ukraine and russia. but while mr xi is trying to play peacemaker, he's also accused of helping to fuel russia's war. if the west wants to stop russia's advances in ukraine, they know here is one place they can do that. now beijing is not supplying moscow with weapons, but the west believes it is supplying russia with components that it can use in its war machine. the us has a raft of new sanctions at the ready, this time to target chinese banks, so president xi has a decision to make.

beijing does need moscow. russia supplies it with cheap oil and gas. this soaring trade also helps shield mr putin from western sanctions. beijing is not likely to make any policy shifts. instead, the two pledged to deepen their partnership, but mr xi will be calculating just how much he is willing to pay for mr putin's war. laura bicker, bbc news, beijing. that's it, i'm back with headlines and a couple minutes' time. do stay with us. this is bbc news, bye—bye. hello. today has brought a real patchwork of weather across the uk. for some, it's been a story of blue sky and sunshine. northern scotland doing very well for brightness and indeed for warmth, whereas in derbyshire,

it was a very different affair — some very heavy rain. and for others, well, it stayed pretty misty and murky for a good part of the day, especially close to north sea coasts. now, the wettest of the weather is sliding away westwards, taken away by this little wiggle on this weather front. so the rain tending to clear away from wales as we head into the night, but a band of cloud left behind across the north of wales, the north midlands, northern england — quite murky and drizzly in places here. some fog patches elsewhere as well. temperatures generally between 7—12 degrees. we mayjust see a few places getting a little bit chillier than that. into friday morning, there will be some areas of mist and murk. this band of cloud sitting in place across parts of northern england, but all of that mist and low cloud and fog tends to lift up and break in most places to give some spells of sunshine. may just stay a bit murky for some north sea coasts, which will suppress the temperatures, but in the best of the sunshine, values up into the low 20s celsius,

maybe 23 in parts of western scotland. now, as we head towards the weekend, it stays pretty mixed — mist and fog at night and early in the morning. some spells of warm sunshine, but also a scattering of heavy showers. in fact, some more persistent rain to start saturday morning across parts of south—east england as this next wriggling weather front just bends its way in, so could be a wet start down towards the south and the south—east. elsewhere, quite a lot of mist and murk and low cloud as we start the day. could be a grey and gloomy start. and for some, it could be a slow process to clear that mist and murk, but most places should see some sunshine by saturday afternoon. small chance for a shower, particularly seeing some showers down towards the south. temperatures in glasgow up to 23 degrees, but i think we will see more cloud generally across scotland on sunday, perhaps into northern ireland, the far north of england as well — could see the odd spell of rain with that. england and wales seeing more sunshine, just the chance for one or two showers, and temperature—wise, most places into the high

teens or low 20s celsius.

this is bbc news. police charged a man with the attempted murder of

slovakian prime minister robert fico, who remains in a serious condition. labour's sets out key messages, insisting they are back ambitions. lashes between the army and paramilitary groups in sudan's war in the darfur region. and king charles gives an introduction for the world of reality tv at a creative industries garden party. michael cohen is back on the stand for another day of testimony as part of the former president's hush money trial. he's already been giving evidence for two days with trump's defence team attacking cohen's credibility, bringing up his many social media comments criticising the former president. earlier, members of the freedom caucus rallied and spoke in support

of the former president.