this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. our top stories: china's president, xijinping, is to make a state visit to russia next week for talks with president putin. but ukraine's foreign minister tells the bbc that he doesn't think the talks will result in an end to the war. ido i do not think china is, has reached the moment it once too, where it is ready to arm russia, nor do i think that this visit will result in peace. markets rise after the announcement

of 30 billion dollar rescue package for the embattled first republic bank in the us. hopes turkey will ratify finland's application for nato membership as the leaders of the two countries meet. and a former professional surfer has broken the world record for the longest surf session in australia. hello and welcome. the chinese president, xijinping, will travel to russia next week for talks with president putin. the state visit follows us claims that china may be considering sending weapons to russia to support its war in ukraine. meanwhile, there's been a big boost for the ukrainian government. slovakia has followed poland with a promise to send it combat aircraft. from kyiv, james landale reports. before the war, they agreed what they called a partnership with no limits.

one that next week will bring president xi to moscow in a rare show of solidarity, for a leader in need of allies. china has neither endorsed nor condemned president putin's invasion of ukraine. but it has kept close diplomatic ties with moscow. china, he said, will maintain its fair position on the war and play a constructive role in any peace talks. ukraine's foreign minister in kyiv told me china's relationship with russia was complex. this is the message to the entire world, to the west, but also most importantly to the non—west, that russia is not alone, that there is china who is talking to them. do you think the chinese come to broker peace, or to arm russia? i don't think china has reached

the moment now where it's ready to arm russia. nor do i think that this visit will result in peace. poland has promised ukraine four soviet—era fighterjets, like these. today, slovakia went further, saying it would deliver 13. but kyiv is still impatient for more planes and more ammunition. if one delivery is postponed for one day, it means that someone is going to die on the front line. on that front line in bakhmut, the fighting continues, with russian forces, still struggling to encircle the city. james landale, bbc news, kyiv. vladimir putin's aide says the russian president and president xi will have an informal private meeting and dinner on monday, where they'll discuss the most

important and delicate issues. our russia editor steve rosenberg has more from moscow. presidents putin and xi have regular contact, i think the two men have met in person 39 times so in that sense not a surprise that the chinese leader will be coming to russia. if you think back to last year, putin was in beijing for talks, three weeks before the russian invasion of ukraine so this will be xi's first visit to russia since the invasion and it is a support for russia at a time when the kremlin is under intense international pressure but again, the two leaders have very similar worldviews. they both embrace the idea of what they call a multipolar world against american domination and both men have proclaimed their partnership has no limits. but there are limits. up to this point china has not provided the lethal aid that

would help russia win on the battlefield in ukraine. we have heard from the united states concerns that china may be considering doing that. i think what we will see at these talks is russia and china talking a lot about deepening their cooperation, partnership, probably they will be talking about the chinese initiative to end the war in ukraine. what there is not, important to say, is an actual peace plan on the table but what there is is a lot of scepticism amongst western governments that china, even if it wanted to, could actually broker peace in ukraine. our russia editorfrom moscow. i'm joined now by professor rana mitter, director of the china centre at the university of oxford. thank you forjoining us here on bbc news. how important is this visit by president xi to president putin? i

think it is very important because what it indicates is that xi jinping does not want to simply portray himself as being a neutral honest broker in the international community, he wants to get that impression but he also wants to show that in his eyes and the eyes of vladimir putin, the real enemy is washington, dc. in otherwords, i think that xijinping washington, dc. in otherwords, i think that xi jinping will use that meeting in moscow to back up the key message that putin is trying to put the wider world that it is nato who is the real problem in europe rather than russia's invasion of ukraine in february last year. it will not carry much weight in europe or north america, but the hope is that in sub—saharan africa, latin america, southeast asia, there will be audiences who are less tied to ukraine's because he wanted to hear that message, i think that is the overall idea. —— who will want to hear that message. overall idea. -- who will want to hear that message.— overall idea. -- who will want to hear that message. how likely is it that they will _

hear that message. how likely is it that they will be _ hear that message. how likely is it that they will be supplying - hear that message. how likely is it that they will be supplying arms i hear that message. how likely is it that they will be supplying arms to russia? we that they will be supplying arms to russia? ~ ., ., , ., . russia? we do not yet have evidence the will russia? we do not yet have evidence they will suwly _ russia? we do not yet have evidence they will supply arms _ russia? we do not yet have evidence they will supply arms to _ russia? we do not yet have evidence they will supply arms to russia. - russia? we do not yet have evidence they will supply arms to russia. in i they will supply arms to russia. in a weird way, it would be useful to their cause for people to think it might happen, it would force people to concentrate their minds without handing over the weapons in the first place. i think the greater challenge will come as china, beijing, is asked to put substance on its peace plan. steve's report said people do not see much of substance, my guess would be, only a guess, but something china has done in the past, is the announcements in moscow may say something about china supplying construction materials, supplying construction materials, supplying funds to try and rebuild ukraine after a peace has been achieved, so in other words try and shift the argument from what about national sovereignty to what about economic reconstruction. whether ukraine wants to accept that it would be another matter but it is the kind of language china likes to use. ~ ., the kind of language china likes to use, ~ ., , ., the kind of language china likes to use. ~ . , ., ., ~ the kind of language china likes to use. ~ . , ., .,~ ., ,

use. what should we make of the news that we are told _ use. what should we make of the news that we are told that _ use. what should we make of the news that we are told that president - use. what should we make of the news that we are told that president xi - that we are told that president xi is also going to have a phone call with the ukrainian president, volodymyr zelensky? i with the ukrainian president, volodymyr zelensky?- with the ukrainian president, volodymyr zelensky? i think he is auoin to volodymyr zelensky? i think he is going to do _ volodymyr zelensky? i think he is going to do that — volodymyr zelensky? i think he is going to do that show— volodymyr zelensky? i think he is going to do that show that - volodymyr zelensky? i think he is going to do that show that there l volodymyr zelensky? i think he is | going to do that show that there is some substance to the idea he is talking to both sides, but there is a massive imbalance. he and his representatives have been visiting russia for quite some months now and of course there are multiple phone calls with putin, just the one with zelensky. it based on a particular brand that china leading into over the last couple of weeks, they don't just helped to conclude a rather unexpected resumption of diplomatic relations between iran and saudi arabia which no one in the west saw coming. —— theyjust helped. on the back of that, china's argument will beat maybe we can have the conversations between opponents that the west can no longer have and if they do manage to get some sort of response out of russia and ukraine, they could count it as a diplomatic coup for the new strategy of trying to betray themselves as global peacemakers. aha, to betray themselves as global peacemakers-_

to betray themselves as global peacemakers. a lot riding on it in many ways. _ peacemakers. a lot riding on it in many ways, because _ peacemakers. a lot riding on it in many ways, because it _ peacemakers. a lot riding on it in many ways, because it could - peacemakers. a lot riding on it in l many ways, because it could affect china's relationships with many other countries? it china's relationships with many other countries?— china's relationships with many other countries? it really could. i think the argument _ other countries? it really could. i think the argument is _ other countries? it really could. i think the argument is that, - other countries? it really could. i think the argument is that, that l think the argument is that, that china will make, is in the end a great deal of what is important in the world is develop meant and economics, they want ten attention away from individual civil liberties and human rights and instead have people concentrate on economics and therefore their argument to a lot of other countries, including places like sub saharan africa would be let's not spend time thinking about politics, ideology, let's spend the time thinking about rebuilding and reconstruction. the issue with that as it is a kind of politics in its own right because it completely rejects the aspirations of let's say ukraine it to be remain a sovereign nation and that is something china has acknowledged but not really provided any solutions to in the face of the russian invasion. professor rana mitter, thank you very much for your time.- professor rana mitter, thank you

very much for your time. the finnish president is meeting his turkish counterpart amid signs that ankara may be willing to ratify his country's application for nato membership. sauli niinisto said he expected his visit to turkey would deepen the ties between the countries as allies. finland and sweden applied for membership in the alliance after the russian invasion of ukraine. turkey has delayed ratifying their bids, saying the nordic countries haven't yet done enough to combat what it calls kurdish terrorism, but recent comments from president recep tayyip erdogan suggest ankara might consider ratifying the finnish application. onur erum is from the bbc�*s turkish service. what are we expecting from the talks? we are expecting president erdogan to upload the finished application.

that is what was said today. gm? to upload the finished application. that is what was said today. why has turkey delayed _ that is what was said today. why has turkey delayed these _ that is what was said today. why has turkey delayed these bids _ that is what was said today. why has turkey delayed these bids because . turkey delayed these bids because they did put them in quite a long time ago? they did put them in quite a long time auo? , ., , they did put them in quite a long time auo? , . ,~ they did put them in quite a long time ao? , . y._ ., ., time ago? yes, nearly a year now. both countries _ time ago? yes, nearly a year now. both countries were _ time ago? yes, nearly a year now. both countries were accused - time ago? yes, nearly a year now. both countries were accused by i both countries were accused by turkey of harbouring members of two organisations which turkey considers as a terrorist organisation. these are accused of being behind the 2016 coup attempt and members of the kurdish militia in syria who are allies of the international coalition against isis. what have finland and _ coalition against isis. what have finland and sweden _ coalition against isis. what have finland and sweden done i coalition against isis. what have finland and sweden done to i coalition against isis. what have | finland and sweden done to show coalition against isis. what have i finland and sweden done to show that is not the case or enable this situation to move on?- is not the case or enable this situation to move on? last year three countries _ situation to move on? last year three countries signed - situation to move on? last year three countries signed a - situation to move on? last year - three countries signed a memorandum and finland and sweden must not to support these organisations and also extradite their accused members.

sweden is not moving according to this effort but finland is. the foreign minister was saying that they could approve the membership. sweden has not made the same progress? sweden has not made the same rouress? ., , ., ., progress? not yet. there are also s ria ties progress? not yet. there are also syria ties between _ progress? not yet. there are also syria ties between two _ progress? not yet. there are also syria ties between two countries, | syria ties between two countries, one was hanging an effigy of president erdogan in a protest and after this the talks stalled with the sweden. after this the talks stalled with the sweden-— after this the talks stalled with the sweden. . . ., , the sweden. there are elections in turkey this — the sweden. there are elections in turkey this year — the sweden. there are elections in turkey this year and _ the sweden. there are elections in turkey this year and president i turkey this year and president erdogan will have an eye on those. how does this relate to elections? he does not want to be seen as a country supporting russia so that is

also where he is approving finland before sweden and it will also help him in his negotiations with the united states about buying fighter jets, because it since the talks began, the congress and the us wanted turkey to first approve nato membership so it can buy the jets that it wants. membership so it can buy the 'ets that it wants.i a major review of the metropolitan police is expected to heavily criticise the force for racist, sexist and homophobic behaviour. baroness casey was appointed to examine the met�*s standards and internal culture after the murder of sarah everard by wayne couzens, a serving policeman. the bbc has been told the review — published next week — will be extremely bad for britain's biggest police force. our special correspondent

lucy manning has been talking to former partners of police officers, who say the met fails to deal with abusive officers in its ranks. sirens they used to be in uniform, until they were convicted. since wayne couzens was arrested, more met police officers have been sentenced, many for sexual offences or violence against women. the force has faced criticism it can't deal with complaints against its own officers. i think it's easier to let these police officers stay than try and get rid of them. sally — not her real name — was the partner of a met police officer. they met when he investigated a crime she was the victim of. last year, she told the met he'd domestically abused her, and police powers. how do you feel that they have dealt with him, given the fact he is a police officer? well, they haven't dealt with him, have they? he's still working. he's still getting paid. he's still going to get his full pension. get everything he asked for. he is now going through the met�*s misconduct system, on restricted duties. i think, 100%, if he had attacked me

and he wasn't a police officer, he would have been arrested, and taken and carted off. where are you on being able to trust the met? i don't. i don't trust the police at all. and i do not understand why we report allegations against police to other police officers. there is no place in the police service for an officer like him. absolutely not. the met boss has accepted he is unable to sack hundreds of officers, and the bbc understands the casey review next week will heavily criticise the way the met tolerates wrongdoing and puts its own people ahead of the public. do you believe the head of the met when he says they are going to do better? no, sorry. prove it. prove it by actions. don'tjust stand there and give us a load of old words. we want proof that you're going to act on those words.

you're brought up to believe the police are there to protect. the police should be there to protect. that's what we pay taxes for. but theyjust seem to protect themselves. natalie claims her ex—husband, a met officer, coercively controlled her. she struggled to find the right avenues to complain to the force to get them to take action. her words are spoken by an actor to protect her anonymity. i've been in police stations. i've spoken to policewomen who squeezed my arm and looked compassionate, and told me this time it would be sorted, you know? it was unacceptable. you know, then like i said, you hear nothing. and it then makes him worse. he's bolstered by this, isn't he? he's enabled, and protected. what more do you think the met needs to do now? own up. i think they need total reform. we will take the most robust action against officers that are found to have committed his crimes.

the re—vetting of officers has been stepped up. i recognise we are in a bad place. but we are committed, and absolutely determined, to turn that around, and we are going to do so. i completely understand that people will often feel nervous or hesitant to go to the police to report a crime committed by the police. but it's clear it's notjust about a few officers who've been sentenced. the entire force will face serious accusations of racism, misogyny and homophobia. its reputation and ability to regain trust in serious doubt. lucy manning, bbc news. pakistan's main opposition leader, the former prime minister imran khan, has arrived in court in lahore, where he'll ask for an arrest warrant against him to be suspended. on thursday, a court in islamabad rejected an appeal by mr khan for its suspension. it was issued after he failed to appear in court to defend charges that he had incorrectly declared state gifts he received while he was premier.

he says the case is politically motivated. police had tried to arrest him earlier this week, leading to clashes with his supporters on tuesday and wednesday. markets in asia have risen out of concerns with the banking sector. there's been renewed concern about parts of the banking sector, despite massive bailouts of two troubled institutions. shares in credit suisse have fallen again after rallying on thursday following the bailout announcement. in the us markets, stocks in the first republic — another embattled bank that was given a lifeline this week — have fallen sharply. european markets had opened higher but are currently edging down, as are the markets across the atlantic. recent bank collapses in the us have raised fears over the health of the banking system. and now we are joined by

bloomberg's senior executive editor, stephanie flanders. thank you very much for talking to us today here on bbc news. just characterise the week as you see it, if you would, because huge concerns of tone while over rising interest rates. , , , rates. yes, it is interesting, barely a _ rates. yes, it is interesting, barely a week _ rates. yes, it is interesting, barely a week ago, - rates. yes, it is interesting, barely a week ago, central i rates. yes, it is interesting, i barely a week ago, central banks around the world was just wondering how much further they were going to have to go in raising interest rates to tackle inflation and quite a lot of people in the financial markets and elsewhere were sort of wondering why the very steep creeping interest rates specially in the uk and the us over the last year have not had a bigger impact on the real economy and financial markets, and a week later you have had this sudden outbreak of tension and concern rippling through markets. some people questioning whether they will

be any more interest rate increases because central banks are so worried about the prospect of further banking collapses, so itjust shows you can have nothing happen for several months but in the course of a week the implications of all of those increases of interest rates we saw last year are finally coming home to roost and some big questions being asked. home to roost and some big questions bein: asked. ., , ., being asked. larry from the investment _ being asked. larry from the investment house - being asked. larry from the investment house bank i being asked. larry from the| investment house bank rock being asked. larry from the i investment house bank rock said being asked. larry from the - investment house bank rock said he sees some kind of rolling crisis. what does he mean by that, do you know? what would it look like, how does it affect us all? it is interesting, _ does it affect us all? it is interesting, it _ does it affect us all? it is interesting, it depends i does it affect us all? it is| interesting, it depends on does it affect us all? it 3 interesting, it depends on your definition of crisis. although there were some parallels being made and were some parallels being made and we had the question marks around the swiss bank, credit suisse, people are making parallels with the global financial crisis and northern rock and lehman brothers collapse, it does not feel like that, certainly

not yet, and i think what he means ljy not yet, and i think what he means by rolling as we will have this period where we see more and more financial institutions parts of the economy perhaps face their own moment of reckoning when it comes to the implications of much more expensive lending, the fact we have had this long period of basically free money, came to an end a while ago for the uk, we got pushed into that very quickly by the crisis over the mini budget in september. now other parts of the global economy are starting to feel the effects of higher interest rates and that could produce a period where we have rounds of concern around the financial system without actually seeing a crisis on the scale that we did in 2008. just seeing a crisis on the scale that we did in 2008-_ did in 2008. just briefly, what miaht did in 2008. just briefly, what mi . ht we did in 2008. just briefly, what might we see _ did in 2008. just briefly, what might we see in _ did in 2008. just briefly, what might we see in terms - did in 2008. just briefly, what might we see in terms of i did in 2008. just briefly, what. might we see in terms of action did in 2008. just briefly, what i might we see in terms of action by other central banks, we have seen interventions that certainly by the swiss national bank and in the united states? we swiss national bank and in the united states?—

swiss national bank and in the united states? ~ . ., . , united states? we are watching very closely what — united states? we are watching very closely what happens _ united states? we are watching very closely what happens to _ united states? we are watching very closely what happens to credit i closely what happens to credit suisse, there is a lively debate about whether the other big bank in switzerland, ubs, will be more or less strong—armed by the authorities to and merge with credit suisse. we will continue to see central banks i think watching the situation, seeing whether these concerns in markets actually starts to affect a real activity and that could affect whether they raise interest rates any further. we are not there yet they. any further. we are not there yet the . ., ~ any further. we are not there yet the . ., ,, , ., any further. we are not there yet the . ., ~' , ., , any further. we are not there yet the. .~g , . any further. we are not there yet the. ., , . ., they. thank you very much for talkin: they. thank you very much for talking to _ they. thank you very much for talking to us. _ the funeral of footballer christian atsu has been taking place in the ghanaian capital, accra. his body was recovered from the rubble following the earthquake in turkey and syria. christian atsu spent most of his career playing in the english premier league for clubs including chelsea, newcastle and everton. thomas naadi reports. trumpets play hundreds of mourners, including

former national team—mates, attended the ceremony, tribute after tribute eulogised the late ghanian star who was killed in last month's earthquake in turkey. he had moved there to play for hatayspor. but he spent most of his career in england, playing for clubs such as chelsea, newcastle and everton. he also made 65 appearances for the senior national team, the black stars, helping them to reach the finals of the 2016 africa cup of nations and awarded player of the tournament. many in this country have told the bbc he will be remembered for his love for humanity and for supporting the poor. atsu will be buried later today at his home town in south—eastern ghana. thomas naadi, bbc news, accra. new zealand's government has become the latest to ban tiktok on devices with access to its parliamentary network, due to security concerns. this is because of fears

that the chinese—owned app passes information about users to the chinese government — something the owners, bytedance, deny. earlier on thursday, the uk followed the united states, and the european commission, in banning the app from sensitive government devices. china says it's a politically motivated decision, not one based on facts, and tiktok�*s european spokesman had this to say. we are very disappointed. the government has said this is about fears rather than facts. we haven't done anything wrong. and we believe this is based on geopolitics more than anything else. i think tiktok is a political football in all of this. new zealand's prime minister, chris hipkins, outlined the guidance and he was asked if he used tiktok himself. no, i'm not that hip and trendy. ok, thanks, everybody!

short and sweet, new zealand's prime minister. there will be no further strikes by teachers for two weeks after unions agreed to hold intensive talks. the government says it will create a period of com as talks take place. the discussions will focus on pay, conditions and workload and follow strikes which hit schools across england earlier this week. more than half of schools closed or restricted attendance on the 15th and 16th of march. if you have ever wondered who would win a confrontation between a crane and an alligator, let's show you these pictures. these are from the united states and you can see an alligator climbing out of the water and confronting the crane. the bird raises its wings and squawks at the animal, but then backs away. but as the alligator moves closer,

the bird ultimately stands firm, continuing to squawk and the alligator retreats into the water. other birds in the immediate location appeared unconcerned by the stand—off. you find out who your friends are, don't you? you are watching bbc news. hello there. it's a case of mixed fortunes for many for the remainder of the day and for the start of the weekend as we see a case of sunny spells and scattered showers. it's been a rather grey and gloomy start across kent this morning, as you can see from the puddles. quite significant sharp showers here. further north and east in county durham, we've had beautiful blue sky and sunshine and it's likely across north—east england we could see the highest temperatures for the remainder of the afternoon. showers easing away from the south—east and a cluster of showers developing more widespread to the south.

so it is an afternoon of mixed fortunes, sunny spells and scattered showers continue for most. a mild story with the wind coming from a southerly direction, so generally those temperatures between 13 and 16 degrees. slightly cooler in the far north of scotland. it's a messy mix as we go through the night and we keep quite a lot of cloud around, we continue to see some showers from time to time, some of them quite heavy but the cloud will act like a blanket and prevent those temperatures falling too far. it will be a mild start to the weekend and temperatures between five and 9 degrees. low pressure controls the story for the time being. the first half of the weekend will stay pretty unsettled and this weatherfront could bring more persistent rain by the end of the day in the far north—west. once again it is sunny spells and scattered showers. starting off pretty grey and gloomy across the south—east and with the lighter winds on saturday, some of these showers could be quite slow moving. once again, can't rule out the odd rumble of thunder. temperatures will be

at around 13 or 1a degrees, not quite as warm as friday. more persistent rain into northern ireland, western scotland as we go through the middle part of the afternoon as well. now in terms of that rain, it is going to continue to track its way steadily northwards over to the northern isles and the winds will pick up. on the back edge of that we could see for a time some snow. shouldn't cause too much of an issue. that will ease away on sunday. sunday will be a quieter day as a ridge of high pressure builds. a good deal of dry weather, few showers around before cloud and rain arrives into northern ireland by the end of the day. top temperatures for sunday afternoon ranging from six to 1a degrees. take care.

california's troubled silicon valley bank files for bankruptcy protection. it's the latest twist in a series of banking troubles. and just how much will the uk economy grow in the next few years? two independent forecasters come up with two very different predictions — so which one is right? welcome to world business report, i'm ben boulos. we begin with the struggles faced by the global banking sector. a short time ago, the silicon valley bank financial group revealed it had

filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the united states,