live from london. this is bbc news. donald trump has given a defiant speech to supporters following a historic court hearing. the only crime that i have committed is to furiously defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it. french president emmanuel macron arrives in china — amid tensions over the war in ukraine. the latest after israeli police clash with palestinian worshippers insidejerusalem's al—aqsa mosque. and buckingham palace says after the coronation, the queen consort will be known as queen camilla.

the ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky is making his first official visit to poland since russia invaded ukraine. warsaw has been one of the most outspoken and generous supporters of kyiv since the war started. it's taken in millions of refugees and sent more than 300 tanks. it was also the first country to send fighterjets to ukraine. in a moment, we'll be speaking to our correspondent hugo bachega who is in the ukrainian capital, kyiv. but first, let's go live to warsaw where we can speak to the bbc�*s adam easton. welcome. the first official visit by president zelensky since the outbreak of the war. what can we expect? outbreak of the war. what can we exect? , , , , expect? this building behind me is warsaw's expect? this building behind me is warsaw's royal — expect? this building behind me is warsaw's royal castle _ expect? this building behind me is warsaw's royal castle where - warsaw's royal castle where president zelensky will be coming later to meet some of those refugees who fled the war in this country and now live in poland. he will be

speaking together with the polish president and their speech is going to be relayed live on these large tv screens. and the public are being asked to come here to watch that beach outside. there will be political meetings. with the polish prime minister, where they will discuss the state of the war and any additional help that poland can give. as you mention, poland is one of the largest military donors to ukraine, the third in the world after the uk and the us. i think this is really an opportunity for presidential and ski to come here and thank the polls in person because in the very last year poland opened its borders and its homes. hundreds of thousands of polish people who had a spare room to offer did indeed put up mainly ukrainian

women and children who were fleeing the war in many of those people are still actually staying with the polls so i think he wants to pay tribute to the generosity and assistance that the polls have given. assistance that the polls have civen. �* , ., ., ., given. let's get more from hugo in ke . given. let's get more from hugo in key- president _ given. let's get more from hugo in key. president zelensky _ given. let's get more from hugo in key. president zelensky does - given. let's get more from hugo in key. president zelensky does have| given. let's get more from hugo in. key. president zelensky does have a lot to be grateful for when it comes to poland. , ., ~ lot to be grateful for when it comes to poland. , . ~ , to poland. exactly and i think he is auoin to to poland. exactly and i think he is going to be — to poland. exactly and i think he is going to be using _ to poland. exactly and i think he is going to be using this _ to poland. exactly and i think he is going to be using this visit - to poland. exactly and i think he is going to be using this visit to - going to be using this visit to express— going to be using this visit to express his gratitude for the help that the _ express his gratitude for the help that the polish government and the people _ that the polish government and the people in_ that the polish government and the people in poland have been giving to the ukrainians but i think he will be repeating a familiar message, that the — be repeating a familiar message, that the ukrainians need more military— that the ukrainians need more military help. and this visit is happening as the ukrainians are expected — happening as the ukrainians are expected to launch a major offensive to try _ expected to launch a major offensive to try to _ expected to launch a major offensive to try to take back territory that is now _ to try to take back territory that is now under occupation. obviously, poland _ is now under occupation. obviously, poland has— is now under occupation. obviously, poland has been leading calls for tanks _ poland has been leading calls for tanks to— poland has been leading calls for tanks to be sent to the ukrainians.

that has— tanks to be sent to the ukrainians. that has happened. fort fighterjets to be sent _ that has happened. fort fighterjets to be sent to the ukrainians. and that has— to be sent to the ukrainians. and that has happened as well thanks to poland _ that has happened as well thanks to poland. but the president is likely to say— poland. but the president is likely to say that it is not enough. if you look_ to say that it is not enough. if you took at _ to say that it is not enough. if you took at the — to say that it is not enough. if you look at the map, nearly a fifth of this country remains under occupation, so challenges remain. and this _ occupation, so challenges remain. and this counter offensive is expected to be launched in the next few weeks_ expected to be launched in the next few weeks and i think this is perhaps— few weeks and i think this is perhaps one of the messages that the president— perhaps one of the messages that the president will be giving later today in poland — president will be giving later today in poland. �* ., president will be giving later today in poland. �* . , ., ., in poland. adam, there is a bone of contention — in poland. adam, there is a bone of contention around _ in poland. adam, there is a bone of contention around grain. _ in poland. adam, there is a bone of contention around grain. explain . contention around grain. explain that to us- _ contention around grain. explain that to us. yeah, _ contention around grain. explain that to us. yeah, we _ contention around grain. explain that to us. yeah, we remember| contention around grain. explain i that to us. yeah, we remember the russians blocked at the black sea port which they used to export it's grain to africa in the middle east, so it had to ship that grain over and via poland. those countries didn't have the infrastructure to

actually take that grain in terms of the chains had to go in different gauges, there was no storage on what happened was 3 million tonnes of ukrainian grain, which is supposed to be going to africa, to the middle east, stayed in poland and that has angered polish family. the reason being is because of those transport bottlenecks and the fact that polish animal feed bottlenecks and the fact that polish animalfeed users bought it bottlenecks and the fact that polish animal feed users bought it because it was half the price of polish grain, which depressed grain prices in poland and upset farmers here. this is election year so it is something the government is saying that we will help the farmers and try and get money from that european union. so this will be a topic of discussion, exactly how to overcome those challenges in getting back ukrainian grain to export markets like the middle east and africa and not staying in places like poland

and romania. taste not staying in places like poland and romania.— not staying in places like poland and romania. ~ , . ~ and romania. we will be back with ou when and romania. we will be back with you when that _ and romania. we will be back with you when that visit _ and romania. we will be back with you when that visit gets _ and romania. we will be back with you when that visit gets under- and romania. we will be back with you when that visit gets under wayj you when that visit gets under way behind you. thanks for now. thanks for now. in hopes to reset relations with china, the french president, emmanuel macron, and the head of the european commission, ursula von der leyen, begin their three—day visit. macron's last visit to china was in 2019, since then the country's relations with europe soured, partly due to a stalled investment pact in 2021 and then beijing's refusal to condemn russia over its invasion of ukraine. traveling with a 50—strong business delegation, on the agenda for the trip is talks around ukraine and trade risks. with more on this, i'm joined now by dr yujie, senior research fellow on china in the asia—pacific programme at chatham house in london. thanks for being with us. there is a lot on the agenda for this three day trip, which will be packed. tell us where we should start. what is your

analysis of how important it is? obviously, there are three things that i think each side one from each other and firstly that revitalising the economic ties between china and europe with france where president macron wanted to catch up because. macron wanted to catch up secondly, european leaders are keen to find out what exactly should be included on the so—called peace plan from china. the mediation between russia and ukraine. thirdly, ithink that both sides will now try to explore, there might be room to manoeuvre. begin to negotiate. so i think there are three items from both sides but i think the problem is that because of russia's invasion, because of china, that makes this issue become even more difficult. just china, that makes this issue become even more difficult.—

even more difficult. just looking at ictures of even more difficult. just looking at pictures of president _ even more difficult. just looking at pictures of president macron - even more difficult. just looking at pictures of president macron who i even more difficult. just looking at| pictures of president macron who is already giving his first top. i think he is meeting with some french nationals in beijing right now, just off the plane a short time ago. when it comes to the war in ukraine, president biden and president macron had a chapjust a president biden and president macron had a chap just a few hours ago and discussed the need to engage china to try and hasten the end of the war in ukraine. we saw the chinese president visit russia a couple of weeks ago and had a warm, close conversations with president putin, realigning themselves with one another. the president has presented himself as an honest broker. what room for manoeuvre is that when it comes to president macron to try and engage in genuine peace talks to try and end this conflict? i engage in genuine peace talks to try and end this conflict?— and end this conflict? i think it is very limited _ and end this conflict? i think it is very limited and _ and end this conflict? i think it is very limited and i _ and end this conflict? i think it is very limited and i think - and end this conflict? i think it is very limited and i think the - and end this conflict? i think it is very limited and i think the basic| very limited and i think the basic consensus here is that nuclear weapons deployment, that should be utilised by russia, so that is one

consensus but i think the difficulty is because of china's pro russian neutrality, as well as europeans considered the invasion as a black and white issue. so i think that is and white issue. so i think that is a difficulty and i think the blaring line and the room to manoeuvre as i said is very limited in this sense. we have the president of the european commission on this trip. she was extremely critical of the president this week. it she was extremely critical of the president this week.— president this week. it didn't go down very _ president this week. it didn't go down very well. _ president this week. it didn't go down very well. as _ president this week. it didn't go down very well. as you - president this week. it didn't go down very well. as you can - president this week. it didn't go j down very well. as you can see, president this week. it didn't go - down very well. as you can see, the response. i think beijing would really want to send a strong message saying, look, even though we don't see eye to eye those values, beijing's foreign policy is always left that interest, and they might consider that there is a commercial interest. but even those commercial

interests these days will become very limited, given that the chinese companies already become very formidable competitors against that european companies in the chinese market and the international market. so i'm not quite sure this visit will really achieve what they intend. , ., ., , . , intend. ursula von der leyen wants to represent _ intend. ursula von der leyen wants to represent the _ intend. ursula von der leyen wants to represent the 27 _ intend. ursula von der leyen wants to represent the 27 eu _ intend. ursula von der leyen wants to represent the 27 eu countries, l to represent the 27 eu countries, doesn't she? trade is important in china's economy has really suffered post covid, so what room is therefore trade links improving, not just with the countries she represents but also president macron has got some 50 or so business delegates? taste has got some 50 or so business delegates?— has got some 50 or so business delegates? we will hear a lot of warm words _ delegates? we will hear a lot of warm words from _ delegates? we will hear a lot of warm words from the _ delegates? we will hear a lot of warm words from the business. warm words from the business community but i think the real difficulty is because the eu is... each of the 27 countries have different wants and needs from china. so how is sheila will be able to balance it, the current issue for

foreign policy for many years and i think 27 unity is very difficult to achieve for this particular visit and also given that i said earlier, bilateral relations between two and has been stagnating between recent years. i would actually consider as a major progress. years. i would actually consider as a major progress-— a major progress. thank you for aaivin us a major progress. thank you for giving us your— a major progress. thank you for giving us your analysis. - a major progress. thank you for| giving us your analysis. breaking news. the former snp chief executive peter morrell is understood to have been arrested by police scotland over an investigation into the party's finances and this comes after he actually resigned after taking responsibility for misleading the media about party membership numbers. peter merrill is of course married to that former snp leader nicola sturgeon, sojust a reminder of that breaking news in the past few minutes. he has been arrested by police scotland over an

investigation into their party's finances. we will get more details on that very shortly. we will bring it to you when we do. former new zealand prime minister, jacinda ardern, has bowed out of parliament with a standing ovation following her farewell speech earlier. the 42—year—old spoke about the honour she has felt representing her country and steering its people through some of the hardest times, including natural disasters, the covid—19 pandemic and the 2019 christchurch mosque attack. she shocked the country earlier this year when she announced she was stepping down as prime minister and retiring from politics, saying she no longer had "enough in the tank". i do hope i have demonstrated something else entirely. that you can be anxious, sensitive, kind, and wear your heart on your sleeve. you can be a mother or not. you can be an ex—mormon or not. you can be a nerd, a crier, a hugger, you can be all of these things.

and not only can you be here, you can lead just like me. tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou. let's cross over to stirling in scotland to speak laura westring who is ms adern's former speechwriter. good to see you. i really emotional and personalfarewell good to see you. i really emotional and personal farewell speech. what and personal farewell speech. what did ou and personal farewell speech. what did you make _ and personal farewell speech. what did you make of— and personal farewell speech. what did you make of it? _ and personal farewell speech. what did you make of it? it _ and personal farewell speech. twist did you make of it? it was indeed this valedictory speech, this farewell speech to the new zealand parliament which is an elegant part of the transfer of power. it was heartfelt and it was humorous and the great majority of it was a speech of thanksgiving. jacinda ardern gave detailed personal anecdotes and thanks to her colleagues and families and the support of their own family. and you heard in the clip just then that

final refrain, you can be that person. it was her desire, that her final words to parliament for the record would be essentially a message to young new zealanders, future leaders that you can be sensitive. you can be anxious, even, you can be a hugger and still be a competent leader on the world stage and at home. it was very powerful, it was very moving. you heard speaking maori language at the end of her speech, what was particularly moving was that members of parliament bursting into marie song as she embraced each member in farewell. an incredible moment. describe her communication style more generally. she is a really skilled orator, and over the years she has been prime minister there, now stepping down of course, she has seem to be able to reach out to a

wider audience, seem to be able to reach out to a wideraudience, hasn't she? first seem to be able to reach out to a wider audience, hasn't she? first of all, wider audience, hasn't she? first of all. jacinda — wider audience, hasn't she? first of all, jacinda ardern _ wider audience, hasn't she? first of all, jacinda ardern has _ wider audience, hasn't she? first of all, jacinda ardern has taken - wider audience, hasn't she? first of all, jacinda ardern has taken part i all, jacinda ardern has taken part in speech competitions from a young age at the encouragement of her mother. so she is well practised as an orator. she knows what she is doing. there is also the factor that has made her a bit of a rock star on the world stage, it is the fact that... you must excuse me, i am getting a bit excited. it is the novelty as a young woman. the vast majority of world leaders and democracies are male. the average age according to the new york times is about 55. so she has been brought to our attention as a leader mostly because of the fact that she was so noble, but she is also well practised as a communicator. she is able to match her words with actions. she is able to convey

empathy. she is patiently persuasive, quietly competent and you can see that come to the fore both in victories, such landslide election in 2017 but also times of great crisis, such as the march 15 attack on christchurch, the christchurch mosque. so she is an incredible orator. she is very different and has been a rock star on the world stage. but he is also able to convey empathy which is something that helps us all sleep better at night when you have leaders like that.— better at night when you have leaders like that. thank you very much. leaders like that. thank you very much- more _ leaders like that. thank you very much. more details _ leaders like that. thank you very much. more details on _ leaders like that. thank you very much. more details on the - leaders like that. thank you very i much. more details on the breaking news. 58—year—old former snp chief executive peter murrell has been arrested by police scotland over an investigation into their party's finances. we have got more details. we have been told that a man has

been arrested after an investigation into scottish national party funding and finances. as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation the man is in custody and is being questioned by police scotland detectives. they say officers are also carrying out searches at a number of addresses as part of the investigation and he will be sent to the crown office and procurator fiscal service. we don't have any more information as yet but just a reminder that 58—year—old man, former snp chief executive peter murrell, the husband of nicola sturgeon, the former national party and first minister of scotland has now been arrested by police scotland over an investigation into their party's finances. we know that he did resign after taking responsibility for misleading the

media about party membership numbers. he had been set to face a no—confidence had he not step down. the party told the bbc a three weeks ago they had been a big drop in membership numbers which actually contradicted an earlier denial that that was the case. party president, he was party president, former chief executive. that is not correct. he was a hugely influential figure executive. that is not correct. he was a hugely influentialfigure in the party. he was chief executive since 1999 and was responsible for the day—to—day running of the snp. so this was a hugely significant story. just a reminder of that very little information we have got from police scotland saying that these investigations into scottish national party funding and finances have led to the arrest of a 58—year—old man as a suspect in

connection with those investigations. they say the man is investigations. they say the man is in custody and he is being questioned by police scotland detectives. officers are they say carrying out a number of searches at a number of addresses as part of this investigation. they say the report will be sent to the crown office and procurator fiscal service and just a reminder to the media and to everybody else following these events, the case is now very much active so we have to be careful about what we say and the police aren't going to comment any further as they announce this arrest, a former snp chief executive peter murrell who has been arrested over these investigations into their party's finances. just a reminder that he resigned after taking responsibility for misleading the media about party membership numbers. he had married —— he was

married to the... he is married to the former party leader nicola sturgeon, no longer first minister of scotland or leader of the snp, in fact. he said that he had become a distraction to the leadership race and that is why he resigned. he was set to face a vote of no confidence had he not stepped down. while there had he not stepped down. while there had been a big drop in membership numbers, this is all about information that was put out to the media around troop membership numbers. and some miscommunications about what had gone on there. he was about what had gone on there. he was a hugely influentialfigure in the party for many years. let's talk to our correspondent who can bring it up—to—date on this. alexandra, this news just breaking. up—to—date on this. alexandra, this newsjust breaking. not up—to—date on this. alexandra, this news just breaking. not a lot of information just yet but just a little bit more about peter murrell and what we know so far. we have

'ust heard and what we know so far. we have just heard this _ and what we know so far. we have just heard this news. _ and what we know so far. we have just heard this news. it _ and what we know so far. we have just heard this news. it was - and what we know so far. we have just heard this news. it was a - and what we know so far. we have j just heard this news. it was a chief executive of the scottish national party. he had been in that position for many years but stepped down a couple of weeks ago over a separate issue, over numbers in the party during the leadership campaign. but we havejust heard during the leadership campaign. but we have just heard this morning that peter murrell, 58, has been arrested, following investigations into scottish national party funding and finances. this has been ongoing for over a year now. that arrest took place earlier this morning. we do have a really strong police scotland, eight release saying that

a man has been arrested and i suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into funding and finances of the scottish national party. it says the man in custody has been questioned by police scotland and they are also carrying out searches at a number of addresses as part of this investigation. a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal. so peter murrell, the husband of the former first minister nicola sturgeon has been arrested this morning. tell us a bit more about _ been arrested this morning. tell us a bit more about him. _ been arrested this morning. tell us a bit more about him. he _ been arrested this morning. tell us a bit more about him. he was- been arrested this morning. tell us a bit more about him. he was a - a bit more about him. he was a towering figure in the party for many years. towering figure in the party for many years-— many years. yes, absolutely, -robabl many years. yes, absolutely, probably someone _ many years. yes, absolutely, probably someone that - many years. yes, absolutely, probably someone that we i many years. yes, absolutely, i probably someone that we didn't many years. yes, absolutely, - probably someone that we didn't see as much as we sort nicola sturgeon because he was very much behind the scenes. i think we used to see him may be on days that she was going to

the polling station and he came into more prominent later when he did resign over the issues of numbers in the party. and the media officer also resigned over that when a newspaper had said that there had been fewer, there had been a significant drop in party membership and the snp had not confirmed, initially confirmed that and when it was confirmed that there had been a 30,000 drop in membership, then peter murrell took the decision to resign. so he had been a massive part of the snp for many years and as we have seen recently, there is a changing of the guard with nicola sturgeon moving on, obviously still in the snp but no longer first minister. peter murrell resigned.

and we have heard today that he has been arrested.— been arrested. arrested but no charues been arrested. arrested but no charges at _ been arrested. arrested but no charges at the _ been arrested. arrested but no charges at the moment. - been arrested. arrested but no charges at the moment. so i been arrested. arrested but no charges at the moment. so we | been arrested. arrested but no i charges at the moment. so we have been arrested. arrested but no - charges at the moment. so we have to be careful about what we say and how we report this, don't we? absolutely, this is an ongoing investigation and just to go over what we do know so far, police scotland have said an investigation into snp funding and finances, there has been a man arrested at a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the scottish national party. as you said, no charges at this stage. he has been arrested in connection with those issues. and connection with those issues. and alexandra. _ connection with those issues. and alexandra, people might be wondering why we are covering this story. and the fact that not many people will actually know who he is, but in

scotland this will be huge, won't it? , �* ., , scotland this will be huge, won't it? , �* ., ., it? yes, i'm actually covering an additional _ it? yes, i'm actually covering an additional story _ it? yes, i'm actually covering an additional story at _ it? yes, i'm actually covering an additional story at the _ it? yes, i'm actually covering an additional story at the moment l it? yes, i'm actually covering an l additional story at the moment on the stone of destiny, and where we are the people who are organising it, when they found out he had been arrested, it was, oh, my goodness. but i think the story in connection with nicola sturgeon being married to the former first minister, but he himself has been a big part of the scottish national party in scotland and government for many years. so he does or has made a very big part in scottish politics —— played a very big part. in the scottish referendum he played a very big part in that in 2014. so people may not be as familiar with peter murrell, but certainly he has played a huge part

in scottish politics over many years now. ~ , ., ., " now. we must leave it there. thank ou for now. we must leave it there. thank you for taking _ now. we must leave it there. thank you for taking us — now. we must leave it there. thank you for taking us through _ now. we must leave it there. thank you for taking us through the - you for taking us through the breaking news. away from the south—east, not so cold. we have the second weather front coming in and that will produce heavier and more persistent rain as it moves from that west of the east. so a bright start in the south—east and hiv—1. it will turn haiti as the weather front do approach in this weather front will produce heavy rain. we could hit 14 or 15 degrees but it will remain windy across shetland. if you are stepping out, do bear in mind tree

pollen is prolific at the moment across southern england and wales with that level is being moderate or high today. though this evening and overnight, all this rain continues to move in the direction of the north sea. we will see some clear skies behind in the west but by the end of the night, some heavy showers coming into northern ireland. as a result, it is not going to be a cold night but in some sheltered glens in north—east scotland can be just may fall to three or 4 degrees. tomorrow, cloud and rain in the east. i quickly put it into the north sea but lingered, especially across shetland but it will still be windy. behind it, a mixture of bright spells, sunshine and showers. she was becoming more widespread through the day and some heavy in eastern england, possibly into the midlands when it could be thundery. top temperatures of up to 14 degrees. thursday night, you can see high pressure building and remains with us during the course of friday and into saturday. really blocking these weather fronts from coming in

with any substantial rain from the west. for good friday, the remnants of some cloud from thursday's weather front. of some cloud from thursday's weatherfront. we of some cloud from thursday's weather front. we could see the odd shower in east anglia, london, with the exception rather than the rule. for most it will be dry and a lot of sunshine around. temperatures nine to about 14 degrees. and then as we head on into the easter weekend, for saturday, again, a lot of dry weather around. saturday, again, a lot of dry weatheraround. laterwe saturday, again, a lot of dry weather around. later we could see light rain coming into northern ireland from that weather front. sunday mostly dry with patchy cloud but showers for many of us on monday.

live from london, this is bbc news. the husband of former scottish first minister nicola sturgeon is arrested over an investigation into the party's finances. donald trump has given a defiant speech to supporters following a historic court hearing. the only crime that i have committed is to furiously defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it. french president emmanuel macron begins a visit to china — amid tensions over the war in ukraine. the latest after israeli police clash with palestinian worshippers insidejerusalem's al—aqsa mosque. and buckingham palace says after the coronation, the queen consort will be known as queen camilla.