this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. tiktok ceo grilled by us lawmakers as he tries to convince them the chinese—owned app is not a threat to us national security. clashes across france as more than a million take to the streets in continuing protests against a raise in the pension age. do kwon, founder of collapsed cryptocurrency terra luna is arrested in montenegro after months on the run. and walking in the footsteps of kings and queens — just as long as you take your shoes off.

hello and welcome. the chief executive of tiktok has been defending the chinese—owned video—sharing app in the face of hostile questioning at a us congressional committee hearing. shou zi chew denied tiktok is a national security risk — and played down the company's connection to china. but many in congress are not convinced, as nomia iqbal reports. 150 million americans... even before he arrived, shou zi chew was on tiktok, arguing for its existence. and even before he started speaking, lawmakers made it clear how they felt. tiktok has repeatedly chosen the path for more control, more surveillance and more manipulation. your platform should be banned. shou zi chew hit back. bytedance is not owned or controlled by the chinese government.

but politicians and many parent activists here don't believe that. former president donald trump was suspicious... we're looking at tiktok. we may be banning tiktok. ..and now, in a rare moment of bipartisanship, presidentjoe biden and congress are, too. they claim the apps beijing—based parent company bytedance has strong links with the chinese government and fear data belonging to more than 100 million american users could end up in the hands of the chinese communist party. we don't sell data to data brokers. ..issue is whether the company, tiktok, would commit to not selling it to anyone and just using it for its own purposes internally. i can get back to you on the details. mr chew denies the claims, and says all us data is being stored inside america after the app created a billion—dollarfirewall to alleviate concerns. we do not collect body, face or voice data... legally, it's unclear how a ban would work but politically,

it may be damaging. if you're a politician trying to win over young voters, banning their favourite app may cost you. the president has — has made an effort to demonstrate in the past that he values and cares about young people and their opinions and i think that the fact that that is not been — to something that — that he has publicly discussed when talking about tiktok, i think that can be - that can a do you feel let down, then? i wouldn't say i'm let down. i would say i — i hope to see clear — a clear demonstration of how young people are being included in this conversation by the president. after more than four hours of grilling, it's hard to say if mr chew is convinced politicians here. president biden has already given the backing by lawmakers to ban tiktok. he has told the company to find a new owner, or else. nomia iqbal, bbc news, washington. well, during those congressional hearings, tiktok was also accused of delivering harmful content to young people.

now, the state of utah has become the first us state to act on such fears, after the governor signed sweeping social media legislation, requiring explicit parental permission for any one under 18 to use platforms such as tiktok, instagram and facebook. looking at this story is our reporter who joins looking at this story is our reporter whojoins me now in the studio. what is inside this bill? ~ , ., , bill? tiktok has been a big focus for — bill? tiktok has been a big focus for the _ bill? tiktok has been a big focus for the last - bill? tiktok has been a big focus for the last few - bill? tiktok has been a big. focus for the last few weeks but lawmakers and parents have been concerned for years about the impact of social media is having on the mental health of their children. parents have been worried about the way children view their own bodies after being exposed to social media, about whether they are exposed to harmful content particularly self—harm content and the problem is many parents

feel powerless as these apps has become more addictive and thatis has become more addictive and that is exactly the goal that lawmakers have with this legislation. it is to give some control back to parents and they do that in specific ways. the first is that children and minors under 18 can no longer, once the bill comes into play next year, create accounts on social media that make media app social media that make media app as, they cannot create those accounts without permission from their parents or legal guardian. they will also have a social media curfew the parents can adjust default is 10:30pm until 6:30am and the third way and this is the most controversial part of it is that parents would not have complete access to their children's accounts, their messages, posts and replies and there for that does raise privacy concerns.- there for that does raise privacy concerns. there will be arents privacy concerns. there will be parents listening _ privacy concerns. there will be parents listening to _ privacy concerns. there will be parents listening to this - privacy concerns. there will be parents listening to this were l parents listening to this were delighted and think that is a great idea. however there are plenty of people who would disagree. 0ne plenty of people who would

disagree. one of the main criticisms of this and how has this gone down? i criticisms of this and how has this gone down?— criticisms of this and how has this gone down? i spoke to many civil liberty _ this gone down? i spoke to many civil liberty experts _ this gone down? i spoke to many civil liberty experts and _ this gone down? i spoke to many civil liberty experts and what - civil liberty experts and what they said is that the very concerned about what this means for first amendment rights and speech because children also have a right to that. that it could infringe upon their privacy and i spoke to one advocate for lgbt q privacy and i spoke to one advocate for lgbt 0 rights. his concern is that children from those communities who may be vulnerable and perhaps from an abusive home who feel they have nowhere to belong, social media can be a good outlet for them and connect them to people who understand them. and this would cut them off from that. i have also spoken to a spokesperson for the parent company of facebook and they say they have been working with lawmakers to try and ensure that there are age verification tools and technology to protect

children from harmful content and that they do manage to capture much of the content before it is even reported. as far as lawmakers are concerned, thatis far as lawmakers are concerned, that is not enough. prosecutors in the united states have charged the south korean businessman, do kwon, with fraud in connection with a failed cryptocurrency scheme. south korean police have confirmed that a man arrested with false passports in montenegro on thursday is mr kwon. he's been on the run since his terraform labs collapsed last year, owing billions of dollars to investors. we will have a lot more on that story in the business news in 30 minutes.— 30 minutes. extraordinary -ictures 30 minutes. extraordinary pictures from _ 30 minutes. extraordinary pictures from france - 30 minutes. extraordinary - pictures from france yesterday. the french prime minister has condemned the violence that's accompanied the latest day of mass demonstrations against reform of the country's pension system. there were clashes in numerous cities, as more than a million people took to the streets to protest against president

macron�*s plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. vincent mcaviney reports. bordeaux's town hall set alight by protesters overnight. more than 1 by protesters overnight. more than1 million had taken to by protesters overnight. more than 1 million had taken to the streets across the country through the day, angrier president macron�*s wrote raising of the retirement age from 60 to 264. in paris were over 100,000 had marched from 60 to 264. in paris were over100,000 had marched in from 60 to 264. in paris were over 100,000 had marched in a largely peaceful demonstration, the night was also hijacked by violent protesters. running battles through the capital centre between small groups and the police saw binns set on fire, projectiles held and teargas launched in response. there were clashes in cities including lil, strasberg, normed and to lose. 0vernight the interior minister visited police headquarters. translation: ,, . , ., translation: since this morning olice have translation: since this morning police have been _ translation: since this morning police have been the _ translation: since this morning police have been the target - translation: since this morning police have been the target of- police have been the target of unacceptable attacks. 149 have

been injured, some of them seriously. they have been hit with acid, molotov cocktails and cobblestones.— and cobblestones. labour protests _ and cobblestones. labour protests are _ and cobblestones. labour protests are not - and cobblestones. labour l protests are not uncommon and cobblestones. labour - protests are not uncommon in france. what is bought out huge swathes of the country this time as the weather pension reforms were made, forcing them through without a vote and on television to double down. find television to double down. and it was seen _ television to double down. and it was seen by _ television to double down. fific it was seen by pretty much everyone as a middle finger to the entire population and they are angry already and it through oil on the fire. translation: £371 through oil on the fire. translation: ., ., ., translation: of parliament had voted for a democratic _ translation: of parliament had voted for a democratic -- - translation: of parliament had voted for a democratic -- for - voted for a democratic —— for it democratically i would not be here. i'm not militant, protesting is not what i like to do. ~ ., protesting is not what i like todo. ,, protesting is not what i like todo. ,., , to do. more protests are planned _ to do. more protests are planned for— to do. more protests are planned for next - to do. more protests are planned for next week . to do. more protests are i planned for next week that could interrupt a state visit from king charles and camilla queen consort. but president macron made two promises when

he first ran for office, to reform france and united. this battle is forcing him to choose which promise he most wants to keep. —— france and unite it. the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, says he's determined to proceed with what he calls �*responsible' judicial reforms — but, as he left to travel to the uk for trade talks, there was a change in his tone. he vowed to do everything to bring calm and cohesion to the country after tens of thousands of people took to the streets again on thursday. from jerusalem, tom bateman sent this report. israelis are stopping the traffic over their politicians�* plan to overhaul their court. weeks of protest are boiling over into is a bitter division. this is a fight for the flag. and now, it is spilling blood onto the streets of tel aviv.

they sprayed us with mace. and then, i tried to stop him and he hit me with a can on the face. how does this make you feel about all of this — what's happening in your country? we have a dictator in israel that is trying to make these people hurt us. you tell your government, you tell your people. the demonstrators had reached the british embassy last week, wanting foreign governments to add pressure as mr netanyahu heads abroad, visiting london today. they warned of dystopia and dictatorship and a muzzling of legal protections by the new coalition of the ultra—religious and the far—right. this government is the first post—zionist messianic government. my father and his brothers didn't fight in wars for a theocracy for orthodox jews. the israeli leader is caught between deepening dissent and a coalition he needs to survive, and is vowing

to push on. translation: | will do - everything - everything to calm the situation and to end division among the people, because we are brothers. and with the help of god, together, we will manage and together, we will succeed. but his far—right and religious coalition is under growing international pressure over both its rhetoric and its policies amid its spiralling violence. in the west bank, the protests feel a world away. for palestinians, the faces of israel's forces may change but the occupation remains, and things are getting much worse. for people here, it feels like a crisis arriving from all sides. israel's most extreme government in its history, a palestinian leadership losing its limited security grip on key cities around here, and that is why the fears are growing that the west bank

could slip out of control. for over a year, i've seen militants rearm in nearbyjenin and nablus as violence grips this region. israel's political turmoil comes amid calls for calm that may be impossible to heed. tom bateman, bbc news, jerusalem. stay with us on bbc news. still to come — the record breakers: harry kane and cristiano ronaldo set new benchmarks for their countries as euro 2024 qualifying starts. applause i'm so proud of both of you. let there be no more wars or bloodshed

between arabs and israelis. with great regret, the committee have decided that south africa will be excluded from the 1970 competition. chanting streaking across the sky, the white—hot wreckage from mir drew gasps from onlookers on fiji. wow! this is bbc news. the latest headlines — the head of tiktok is grilled by us lawmakers as he tries to convince them the chinese—owned app is not

a threat to us national security. clashes across france as more than a million take to the streets in continuing protests against a raise in the pension age. gene—edited food can now be developed commercially and sold in england after a change in the law. supporters of the technology say it will speed up the development of hardier crops that will be needed because of climate change. critics say that the change could bring disaster to uk food production and the environment. here's our science correspondent, pallab ghosh this research centre in the cambridge countryside has been developing crops forfarmers for more than 100 years. —— cambridgeshire countryside. they cross breed different varieties to produce new ones that grow better and are more resistant to diseases and can take 10—15

years of development. but from now, they'll be able to use a new genetic technology in england called gene editing that can halve that time. the only thing we need to do now is adapt to climate change. mario caccamo, who's the head of the lab, shows me what could be done with gene editing. one of the characteristics we are looking into into weeds is their root structure. typically, a weed has a shallow root structure, which we see here, but we have other varieties that can go deeper and they will be better prepared for climate change because they will do better in the conditions. —— better in the conditions of drought. professor caccamo believes traditional breeding methods won't be able to produce all the food we need for a growing population in a warming world. the projections are showing that if we don't bring an acceleration into how we can improve crops, we will be struggling to feed the world. the uk is among the world leaders in plant genetics, but that expertise has not really been able to take off

because of the effective ban on the commercial development of the technology. the hope is that the change in law will attract greater investment, leading to new companies, newjobs and new foods. but gene—edited food won't be allowed in scotland, wales and northern ireland because the governments won't change their rules. —— the devolved governments won't be changing their rules. the entire process of this bill has been one of the government consulting a narrow range of vested—interest scientists, usually in the biotech industry, who are reassuring the government that this change in the law will have no consequences. history has shown that when we remove regulatory control, particularly around food and the environment, there's a looming disaster on the horizon. the next step is to allow gene—edited animals on english farms, like these disease—resistant pigs, but that will require another vote by mps in westminster once the government is satisfied

that animals won't suffer. pallab ghosh, bbc news, cambridge. let's get some of the day's other news. the president of the democratic republic of congo, felix tshisekedi, has appointed a former militia leader once convicted of war crimes as his new defence minister. jean—pierre bemba, a former congolese vice president, was cleared on appeal by the international criminal court in 2018. president biden is meeting canada's prime minister, justin trudeau, in ottawa. the leaders are expected to update an asylum agreement, potentially allowing both countries to turn asylum seekers away at their borders. in exchange, canada has agreed to provide a new legal refugee programme for 15,000 migrants from latin america. the war in ukraine, trade and a force to stabilise haiti are also expected to be on the agenda for the visit. time for all the sports news.

hello, i'm hugh ferris. two of european football's biggest names broke a significant record each on the opening night of qualifying for euro 2024. harry kane's winner in england's victory over italy in a repeat of the last tournament's final was his 54th international goal, breaking his country's all—time record previously held by wayne rooney. the captain helped his team to a first away win in italy for 62 years. i'm being, breaking the goalscoring record of course would have been a proud moment no matter the circumstance but for sure it feels a little bit sweeter when you win and like i touched on to win our first game here in italy against italy for a long long time so amazing amazing night and yeah, overalljust amazing amazing night and yeah, overall just really tough amazing amazing night and yeah, overalljust really tough game, you know, the penalty, there had to be a penalty, i had a few but that's why you practise, that's why you keep your head down and work hard for those moments and you know

i prepared well for it and thankfully i put it away. from na - les thankfully i put it away. from naples to _ thankfully i put it away. from naples to lisbon. _ it was a landmark night, too, for portugal's captain cristiano ronaldo as he became the most capped men's international of all time. he played his 197th game for his country and marked the occasion by scoring twice as they thrashed liechtenstein 4—0 in their opening euro qualifier in lisbon. his first goal was a penalty, the second a stunning free kick. world athletics has banned transgender women from competing in the female category at international events. the head of the worldwide governing body for track and field sebastian coe says athletes who've gone through male puberty will not be permitted to take part in female world ranking events after this month. he's also announced a working group will be set up to conduct further research into the transgender eligibility guidelines. the world athletics council has today taken the decisive action to protect the female category in our sport, and to do so by restricting the participation of tra nsgender and dsd athletes.

the decision was taken in consultation with a number of stakeholders, including 40 memberfederations, our coaches, our athletes and through the athletes' commission, as well as a range of other community groups, including trans groups, un experts, the international olympic committee and para athletics. and the world's top three golfers all won at the wgc match play championship. in austin, texas, jon rahm bouncing back from his opening loss to beat american keith mitchell four and three. the players are split into 16 groups of four. the winners of each making the knockout rounds at the weekend. meanwhile, the world number one and defending champion scottie scheffler looks well—placed to do just that this year again. he followed up his first—day victory against davis riley by thrashing sweden's alex noren five and four to make it two wins out of two. scheffler plays tom kim of south korea in his

final group match. and world number three rory mcilroy also made it two wins out of two. mcilroy, who won the title back in 2015, sealed his two—up win against denny mccarthy of the usa after this astonishing 375—yard drive to within four feet of the final hole. he plays keegan bradley on friday to decide top spot in that group. you can get all the latest sports news at our website — that's bbc.com/sport. but from me and the rest of the sport team, goodbye. visitors to westminster abbey this summer will be invited to remove their shoes and walk in their socks on one of britain's greatest medieval art treasures, the cosmati pavement, where the coronation chair will be placed as king charles takes the throne on may 6th. sarah campbell reports. injust six weeks' in just six weeks' time, westminster abbey will host another coronation. since 1066,

39 monarchs have been crowned here. and for the past 700 years, beneath theirfeet here. and for the past 700 years, beneath their feet has been this does make a mosaic made from thousands of pieces of glass, marble and stone. the cosmati pavement. it is of glass, marble and stone. the cosmati pavement.— cosmati pavement. it is 'ust so unusual that i cosmati pavement. it is 'ust so unusual that this is h cosmati pavement. it isjust so unusual that this is here. - unusual that this is here. italian masons came here with all of their materials, they collaborated with the english masons to reduce this fantastic glittering, shiny mosaic in front of the high altar at the heart of westminster abbey. it would have looked amazing. it’s would have looked amazing. it's so beautiful in the flesh but it's been covered up for years? yes, covered with carpet and boarding, just because it was in such a deteriorated condition that it could be safely used.— condition that it could be safely used. and that's why when you — safely used. and that's why when you look _ safely used. and that's why when you look back - safely used. and that's why when you look back at - safely used. and that's why i when you look back at archive footage from the late queen's coronation in 1953, all you can see is the light carpet. mediaeval floor which, see is the light carpet. mediaevalfloor which, by see is the light carpet. mediaevalfloorwhich, by then, was uneven and damaged have

been covered up since victorian times. vanessa and her team spent two years fully restoring the mosaic with maintenance and ongoing project. it’s the mosaic with maintenance and ongoing project-— ongoing pro'ect. it's witnessed so much. — ongoing project. it's witnessed so much, throughout - ongoing project. it's witnessed so much, throughout the - so much, throughout the centuries, every special event has taken place and probably on the cosmati pavement.- the cosmati pavement. usually the cosmati pavement. usually the ublic the cosmati pavement. usually the public is — the cosmati pavement. usually the public is kept _ the cosmati pavement. usually the public is kept well - the cosmati pavement. usually the public is kept well away - the public is kept well away from the cosmati pavement in order to protect it but for a few short weeks after the coronation, they will be allowed, for the first time, to actually walk on the mosaic, as long as, of course, they take off their shoes. it’s long as, of course, they take off their shoes.— off their shoes. it's the high altar, off their shoes. it's the high altar. it's — off their shoes. it's the high altar. it's a _ off their shoes. it's the high altar, it's a very _ off their shoes. it's the high altar, it's a very sacred - altar, it's a very sacred space, it is where special services and major services take place and for normal visiting the area is completely roped off but we just think as part of the celebration of combination, we want to allow a few people access onto the pavement to see what it is really like and get a real feel and a sense of the space. and

and a sense of the space. and to stand on — and a sense of the space. and to stand on the _ and a sense of the space. and to stand on the place - and a sense of the space. and to stand on the place where the coronation chair willjust be. we will be able to stand right at the centre point where the coronation chair sits and faces east and also, you will be able to see the pavement itself in great detail. i mean, it is a afterpay is, it has been there since 1268. it's really lovely. but before it is a masterpiece. campaigners opted not to remove their shoes are carried out a brief protest during this week. may the sixth, the focus will again be on the 700 metres square mosaic. a colourful example of the abbey's long history and connection with the monarchy. sarah campbell, bbc news. but coronation of course on may the sixth. a reminder of our top story — the chief executive of tiktok has been defending the chinese—owned video—sharing app in the face of hostile questioning at a us congressional committee hearing. one congressman pointed out

some people run marathons quicker than that. shou zi chew denied tiktok is a national security risk and played down the company's connection to china. 20 more on that story coming up in the business injust 20 more on that story coming up in the business in just a moment. —— plenty. hello. quite an ominous—looking sky behind me with heavy showers forecast for friday, perhaps with hail and thunder. and, indeed, the outlook is looking very unsettled. sunday onwards, it's also going to turn quite a bit colder, particularly across the northern half of the uk. now, here's the satellite picture. look at this broad area of cloud to the south. that brought the rain on thursday evening. but the centre of the low pressure here now — a very large area of low pressure — is approaching ireland and within this centre of low pressure, we have frequent showers circling. so, from early morning onwards, the winds will start to strengthen across many western parts of the uk. it's already cloudy with showers across scotland and northern ireland but in england and wales, it's actually going to start off pretty clear and, in fact, lots of sunshine

expected early in the morning. but as this area of low pressure approaches, the winds reach gale force around the south—western coasts of the uk, gusting 50 mph or more, and really blustery inland, too, so, the showers will be fast—moving across england and wales. again, some of them will be downpours with hail and thunder. in northern ireland and scotland, the showers will be slow—moving. the winds are much lighter here, so any showers will last for longer, and that's in the centre of this area of low pressure, and this blustery weather will continue into the evening hours on friday. this is saturday's weather map and one area of low pressure clears away, another one is approaching, but we're sort of in between these areas of low pressure. i think the most frequent showers on saturday will be across more northern and eastern parts of england. elsewhere, yes, some showers in the forecast — not as heavy, not as frequent. temperatures will get up to around 12—13 degrees, i think, for most of us. and then on sunday, we start to see a change. cold northerly winds spread from the northern climes, pushing that milder air to the south.

and in the north of the country, yes, it will be cold enough for some hill snow. watch the wintry showers spreading across the highlands of scotland. in the south, however, closer to a weather front, there will be some rain early in the day but eventually, that rain will clear away. temperatures may be making double figures across the south of england and wales but further north, it'll be around six degrees in aberdeen, and a wind chill. and before i go, just a reminder that the clocks change this weekend. bye— bye.

this is bbc news with the latest business headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. under fire from us lawmakers, the chief of tiktok defends the app in front of a congressional committee. central banks continue to fight inflation, but higher interest rates create other problems. how do they get the balance right? and the pandemic—fuelled switch to sportswear continues, but how long can the trend continue? we speak to the boss of swiss shoe and sportswear company on running.