you're with bbc news, live from london. french president emanuel macron meets with president xijinping in beijing france faces another day of pension protests after talks between unions and the government break down here in the uk: serving london metropolitan police officers are moved from tackling serious crime to investigating wrongdoing in the force. we go behind the scenes with exclusive access in one of the uk's first gambling treatment centre for women. and a study of ancient norwegian ice suggests antarctica's glaciers could retreat faster than expected.

hello and welcome. the french president emmanuel macron and the president of the european commission, ursula von der leyen, are in beijing, where they're holding talks with the chinese leadership. the trip is the latest push by europe to engage with china, and they're expected to urge china to use its influence on russia to halt the war in ukraine. after meeting with china's premier — li qiang — preident macron has met president xi xingping in the last half hour. in his first comments, mr macron said the visit would focus on economic ties as well as international stability. joining me from the newsroom is our asia pacific editor, michael bristow.

thank you for being with us. tell us how significant this meeting is. it is very significant, you have seen the pomp and ceremony of the welcome xijinping has given emmanuel macron and it starts on a note of something like optimism. president macron said his meetings with the chinese premier, president macron said this was a chance for france and european nations to reset their relationship, re—engage with china following three years of the pandemic because it is worth remembering and mentioning that china over the last three years has essentially been close to the outside world. of course people have still been talking but there's a difference between talking on the phone or on the same cause and meeting people in person so president macron said earlier he hopes he will be able to in these face—to—face meetings with the

chinese leader xi jinping face—to—face meetings with the chinese leader xijinping re—engage really on those issues that you mentioned, the critical one being the right in ukraine and trying to persuade xijinping to the right in ukraine and trying to persuade xi jinping to use his influence with president putin to try and stop the fighting.- try and stop the fighting. that's what eumpe — try and stop the fighting. that's what europe is _ try and stop the fighting. that's what europe is looking - try and stop the fighting. that's what europe is looking for, - try and stop the fighting. that's| what europe is looking for, what does china want out of this meeting? because of the pandemic and the lockdown is, the massive testing and disruption it has caused to the chinese economy over the last three years, it's meant a damaging effect on economic growth and remember economic growth in china is vital that the chinese communist party because that is how they base their legitimacy. the chinese people have got used to year after year seeing their living standards rise and the chinese leader will want to focus on the economy, encouraging investment from foreign countries such as france and increasing trade as export markets for chinese goods,

that's going to be his focus. he's not really going to want to talk, i would imagine, too much about the war in ukraine or at least he will not let back or he will want to try and rebuff any suggestions it should change its stance because china in many respects is quite aligned to russia and has given russia some support. figs russia and has given russia some su ort. a ,, russia and has given russia some suuort, m ., russia and has given russia some su--ort. a ., ., ., , support. as you mentioned relations between china _ support. as you mentioned relations between china and _ support. as you mentioned relations between china and russia _ support. as you mentioned relations between china and russia are - between china and russia are relatively friendly, they have talked about the relationship having no limits so do we anticipate china will turn its back on russia in favour of the european union? ida. favour of the european union? no, not really- — favour of the european union? no, not really. china _ favour of the european union? iifr, not really. china and xi jinping in not really. china and xijinping in particular several years ago made a calculated decision it is in the strategic interests of china to align itself with russia and that is because of the long term battle it sees coming and already here with the united states. an alliance with russia is a bulwark against the united states and what china sees as

western led, us led institutions, global institutions. and so xi jinping has made up his mind some years ago and i do not then president macron is going to change his mind. ~ . ., president macron is going to change his mind. ~ . . ., ~ president macron is going to change his mind. ~ . ., . ~' ,, more demonstrations are expected in france today over controversial pension reforms. yesterday, talks between the french prime minister and unions resulted in deadlock. nationwide protests against the pension bill are now into a second week. the french government has decided to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. some analysts believe the backlash is the most difficult political challenge emmanuel macron has faced as french president. and he's currently out of the country in china. after yesterday's talks broke down, the unions placed the blame squarely at the door of the government. translation: we came | to demand the withdrawal of the pension reform on behalf of the millions of employees

that have been mobilised for more than three months. the prime minister refused outright and chose to send us back into the streets. we chose to end this pointless meeting. live now to hugh schofield, our paris correspondent. thank you for being with us. but do we expect today? thank you for being with us. but do we expect today?— we expect today? there will be another big _ we expect today? there will be another big demonstration - we expect today? there will be another big demonstration in i we expect today? there will be - another big demonstration in paris, across the country and lots of towns and cities and in addition there are strikes and blockages outside strategic economic sites like devils and so on. i need to say straightaway the level of involvement seems to be a bit less, for example, the paris transport system, the metro, is running pretty much normally. the number of teachers on strike has gone down. so we will need to see what the numbers are like this afternoon but there is beginning to take hold, a feeling

that i think maybe this campaign, this movement has crested, the inevitability of the reform going through seems to be becoming more apparent it may be, it may be acting as a disincentive for people to turn out. it is really weariness with this long campaign, it does not mean people are any less angry with the change, at least the majority of the protesters but it doesn't maybe signify they can see they are losing the battle. ~ ., , , the battle. momentum slightly slowin: the battle. momentum slightly slowing down _ the battle. momentum slightly slowing down but _ the battle. momentum slightly slowing down but equally - the battle. momentum slightly slowing down but equally the l slowing down but equally the government is not backing down on the union say they will not back down. it feels like a case of who is going to blink first?— down. it feels like a case of who is going to blink first? yes, but as we have said from _ going to blink first? yes, but as we have said from the _ going to blink first? yes, but as we have said from the start, _ going to blink first? yes, but as we have said from the start, that - going to blink first? yes, but as we have said from the start, that is . have said from the start, that is what both sides have said from the start and they keep saying it. what is different is the law is almost low on from the law is almost law, when the law becomes law, the question arises what is the point of

going on protesting about it? and i think that is the sad predicament for the protesters, is the prospect of quite send the level being promulgated, coming into effect and therefore, it becoming clear to potential protesters that there is actually no point going on losing money because they do when they go on strike and staging these days of protest which are becoming interminable and very exhausting for people. enable that s what president macron was banking on an maybe his calculation is correct. it's not to say he will be any more popular for a but it means that he wins this type go around by seeing the law through and the kind of lassitude taking over the protesters. figs through and the kind of lassitude taking over the protesters. as we have heard. _ taking over the protesters. as we have heard, president _ taking over the protesters. as we have heard, president macron - taking over the protesters. as we | have heard, president macron not evenin have heard, president macron not even in the country to deal with this, what is the french public reaction to that? it this, what is the french public reaction to that?— this, what is the french public reaction to that? it is nothing, reall . reaction to that? it is nothing, really- they — reaction to that? it is nothing, really. they do _ reaction to that? it is nothing, really. they do not _ reaction to that? it is nothing, really. they do not expect -

reaction to that? it is nothing, really. they do not expect the | really. they do not expect the president to always be there on these affairs, the president is always a bill in france to rise above the dirty, day—to—day stuff and it is quite normal to project himself as an international statesman by travelling abroad and representing the country as its head of state and what he's doing now, the system allows and almost encourages it. delegates to the prime minister sought the prime minister is dealing with that at the moment, and on for system and it means the president can dip in and out of domestic affairs but way it is and the prime minister if things go wrong will be the immediate grunt and lose her we willjust have to see. we willjust have to see. we're not through this yet but as i say i sense that maybe this movement has crested. ., ~ , ., ., , crested. thank you for being with us. let's take _ crested. thank you for being with us. let's take you _ crested. thank you for being with us. let's take you to _ crested. thank you for being with us. let's take you to some - crested. thank you for being with us. let's take you to some live i us. let's take you to some live pictures from patient now. president xijinping. infishing pictures from patient now. president xijinping. in fishing at pictures from patient now. president xi jinping. in fishing at the

moment. he sits down for roundtable discussions with president macron of france. and also the head of the european commission ursula von der leyen. earlier president macron and bush about the underlying met de president of thai mine. trying to move the issue forward, especially on economic and trade matters, pushing china to do what it can regarding the situation in ukraine. mr macron is also discussing the ukraine conflict whilst in china. our correspondent hugo bachega is kyiv. he says ukraine still doesn't view beijing as a possible peacemaker in the conflict. well, i don't think there's any

expectation here that china could emerge as a trusted mediator in this conflict. remember that weeks ago, president xi was in moscow shaking hands with president putin. they were talking about the no limits partnership between the two countries. russia... china has not condemned russia's invasion of ukraine, has not criticised president putin for his actions here. and he has actually put forward a peace proposal that has been dismissed by the ukrainians, by western countries, as being a plan that favours russia, in other words, consolidates russia's gains in this country. so... and on the other hand, there has been no dialogue between president zelensky and president xi since the beginning of this conflict. so i don't think there is any expectation, any kind of meaningful results could emerge after this trip by the french president. but i think he's trying perhaps to persuade china to put pressure

on moscow to end the war here. i think the view is that china could be perhaps a game changer in this war because of its position as russia's key international ally in this war. there are media reports that the former italian prime minister silvio berlusconi has been diagnosed with leukaemia. the 86—year—old has been in intensive care since wednesday suffering from breathing problems. the billionaire has been battling with ill health in recent years. there have been clashes for a second night inside the al—aqsa mosque injerusalem. israeli security forces stormed the compound, known tojews as temple mount, and cleared it completely. thousands of worshippers were inside. an israeli police spokesperson said the troops prevented some palestinian youths from barricading themselves inside.

the palestinian red crescent says six people were injured as stun grenades and rubber bullets were used by israeli forces. the united nations secretary—general, antonio guterres, has condemned the violence and the united states urged all sides to avoid further escalation. here in the uk, the port of dover says ferry operators are trying to reduce the number of coaches that will be travelling to france on good friday in an attempt to avoid a repeat of heavy congestion seen on the weekend. the port says a temporary border control infrastructure will also be installed to help process coaches if needed. live now to our transport correspondent, katy austin, who is at dover. good morning to hear. what have the port authority said? good good morning to hear. what have the port authority said?— port authority said? good morning. the port authorities _ port authority said? good morning. the port authorities say _ port authority said? good morning. the port authorities say that - port authority said? good morning. the port authorities say that they l the port authorities say that they and everyone else involved here recognise that that happened last weekend was a horrible situation particularly for school children and

elderly people trying to set off on their trips. elderly people trying to set off on theirtrips. some elderly people trying to set off on their trips. some coach passengers said they were stuck for 12 hours before they can finally board their theories, the reasons officials gave but that was a variety of things including bad weather, more coaches than expected and the process of getting people through the border checks because after brexit, passports have to be stamped and things take a little bit longer. so there has been a review of how to make things worse mentally over the next few days. it is expected to be quite busy down here again. as we come into easter weekend and you might be able to see behind me there is quite a bit of traffic coming into the port but it seems to be going fairly smoothly at the moment and the port of dover says not as many coaches are expected to come through, about 30% fewer than last weekend but to try and make sure we do not see those same kind of delays, they are trying to make sure

and reduce the number of coaches travelling tomorrow on good friday and spread out that travel either two other times of the day that are less busy or too today and saturday instead. that's one of the main measures being taken to try and prevent problems. there are a couple of other things as well, for example the poet says there will be a full contingent of french border police despite the fact there are not as many coaches as last weekend and there is a marquee being put up to provide extra space to process those coach passengers at the border. and another thing, the port is asking car drivers and coach drivers not to get here early because that will add to the congestion. so what we're seeing so far as things appear to be moving pretty smartly. we will see how that goes over the of today. the ort how that goes over the of today. the port authority said this is a method of tackling congestion but what have passengers said?—

of tackling congestion but what have passengers said? today, we have not heard of any — passengers said? today, we have not heard of any particular _ passengers said? today, we have not heard of any particular problems. - heard of any particular problems. last weekend we heard from a lot of people who were extremely unhappy at the delays they faced and some coach operators as well but at the moment things seem to be going fairly smoothly and the next couple of days are expected to be pretty busy, perhaps not quite the same level as last weekend. perhaps not quite the same level as last weekend-— last weekend. thank you for “oining us. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. the cameras of the future have arrived. cameras click. and they've been catching motorists using mobile phones and driving without seatbelts across east yorkshire and northern lincolnshire all week. it captures images like these on a similar system in australia and artificial intelligence then sorts out the law breakers

for an operator's human eye to make decisions on fines or prosecution. the artificial intelligence looks for if you've got a hand up to your ear holding a phone, or if you're holding a phone on your lap, send the images to the operator. they're then checked and then we'll go from there. great. about time they've done something. people should not text, phone, whatever, using mobiles and driving. every day, there are collisions where people i are killed or seriously injured. i and a lot of those are caused - by people on their mobile phones. and that's why safer roads humber wants its own van like this in the future. you're live with bbc news. london's metropolitan police says it has moved officers from tackling serious crime and terrorism to boost efforts to clean up its own workforce. last month, a major review branded the force institutionally sexist, racist and homophobic. the head of the met, which is the uk's largest police force, says hundreds of officers and civilian staff will be removed over the next few years. helena wilkinson reports.

david carrick, the serving police officer who committed violent and degrading sexual offences against a dozen women over nearly two decades. the country's biggest police force, the metropolitan police, in which he served, missed many opportunities to stop him. injanuary, the force promised to root out rogue officers. it began a review looking at all completed sexual offence, or domestic abuse cases, made against officers and staff in the ten years up until april last year, concerning individuals who weren't dismissed at the time. today, an update from the met on that review. of the more than 1,000 individuals reinvestigated, it's concluded that 196 face urgent risk assessments or vetting reviews. 689 will undergo a new assessment to pursue new or missed lines of inquiry.

and 246 will face no formal action. the review determined correct action was taken at the time. all the cases will also be reassessed by an independent panel of experts. criminal convictions of serving officers are also being looked into. we have 161 officers with criminal convictions. the majority of those, we knew about the criminal conviction before theyjoined policing. and in line with national vetting standards, they were assessed and it was felt appropriate for them to join. it may be a very minor conviction, ten or 15 years before theyjoined the police, and they've now got a good work history. but frankly, having looked at them, some of them concern me that i think we shouldn't have let them in. national vetting standards are quite permissive in giving a range of interpretation.

we're looking here at putting some tougher standards in where, unless you've got the most minor historic conviction, you're not you're not going to be joining the police. i think over the next two or three years, we're going to be removing hundreds of people from this organisation who shouldn't be here. last month, a major review branded the met institutionally sexist, racist and homophobic. the review, by baroness casey, highlighted a boys club culture across the organisation. the met commissioner says over the next two or three years the force will remove hundreds of people from the organisation who shouldn't be working for it. there is still much work to be done. restoring public confidence will also take time. helena wilkinson, bbc news. china has condemned a meeting between taiwan's president tsai ing—wen and the speaker of the us house of representatives kevin mccarthy in california. beijing said the us was breaching its commitments on taiwan. mr mccarthy stressed the need to speed up arms deliveries to taiwan. china — which considers taiwan part of its territory — accused the us of seeking

taiwanese independence. following the meeting, taiwan's defence minister said a chinese aircraft carrier and three chinese warships had been detected 200 nautical miles off taiwan's east coast. here's kevin mccarthy responding to warnings from china of escalating tensions. well, my first message, there's no need for retaliation. but the one thing i would say to china too, at no time, i am the speaker of the house. there is no place that china is going to tell me where i can go or who i can speak to, whether you be foe or whether you be friend. researchers studying how ice sheets melt say new findings suggest antarctica's glaciers could retreat 20 times faster than previously thought. the study looked at how ice melted in norway thousands of years ago and found it reduced by 600 metres a day. doctor christine batchelor from newcastle university in the uk led the study and she joins me

now. thank you forjoining us. what did your findings demonstrate? we anal sed your findings demonstrate? - analysed sea floor riches of norway to show the rate at which the ice sheet which occurred during the last ice age reduced during a period of climate warming broadly comparable with what we have going on today. i am so sorry, i cannot hear you. hagar am so sorry, i cannot hear you. how is that relevant _ am so sorry, i cannot hear you. how is that relevant to _ am so sorry, i cannot hear you. how is that relevant to the _ am so sorry, i cannot hear you. how is that relevant to the climate picture today? we is that relevant to the climate picture today?— is that relevant to the climate picture today? is that relevant to the climate icture toda ? ~ , ., . , picture today? we showed the rates of ice melting _ picture today? we showed the rates of ice melting that _ picture today? we showed the rates of ice melting that we _ picture today? we showed the rates of ice melting that we have - picture today? we showed the rates of ice melting that we have going i picture today? we showed the rates| of ice melting that we have going on our sufficient to cause a very rapid pulse of ice sheet retreat across some of the more vulnerable places and antarctica today and this will be short lived but rapid process of retreat which could reach weights of tens or even hundreds of metres per

day. we tens or even hundreds of metres per da . ~ ., ., tens or even hundreds of metres per da. ., ., tens or even hundreds of metres per da .~ ., ., . ,, . day. we are not talking about a few thousand years. — day. we are not talking about a few thousand years, 20,000 _ day. we are not talking about a few thousand years, 20,000 year- day. we are not talking about a few thousand years, 20,000 year old i day. we are not talking about a few. thousand years, 20,000 year old ice sheets, can you tell us more about how you did the research? we used data collected _ how you did the research? we used data collected from _ how you did the research? we used data collected from sonar _ data collected from sonar measurements from ships, to build up high resolution maps showing the shape and depth of the sea floor and these allow us to look at landforms that were left behind when there were large ice sheets that covered but of north america, parts of europe during the last ice age and the spacing of these switches we found on the sea floor, these landforms, allow us to derive information at which the former ice sheet were large ice sheets that covered parts of north america, parts of europe during the last ice age and the spacing of the switches we found on the sea floor, these landforms, allow us to derive information at which the former ice sheet retreated.— information at which the former ice sheet retreated. we've heard lots of warninus sheet retreated. we've heard lots of warnings about _ sheet retreated. we've heard lots of warnings about melting _ sheet retreated. we've heard lots of warnings about melting ice - sheet retreated. we've heard lots of warnings about melting ice caps - sheet retreated. we've heard lots of warnings about melting ice caps but| warnings about melting ice caps but what does this new information due to those warnings come up with new information does this give us and how do we have to change our minds? it shows how nonlinear and pulsed the rate of ice sheet retreat can be and of course the rate of ice sheet

retreat translates to the level of c level rice of this is the difference between getting a certain amount of sea level rise happening over ten years to over 100 years. the rate of sea—level rise is important for helping us to plan defences such as those around the coast to deal with coastal flooding.— those around the coast to deal with coastal flooding. what more research is needed on — coastal flooding. what more research is needed on the _ coastal flooding. what more research is needed on the topic? _ coastal flooding. what more research is needed on the topic? our- coastal flooding. what more research is needed on the topic? our research| is needed on the topic? our research hiuuhlihts is needed on the topic? our research highlights the _ is needed on the topic? our research highlights the role _ is needed on the topic? our research highlights the role that _ is needed on the topic? our research highlights the role that the _ is needed on the topic? our research highlights the role that the ice - highlights the role that the ice sheet bed plays in controlling or modulating the rate of retreat, motivated by the research about the subglacial environment in the ice sheets so we can tease out high for theice sheets so we can tease out high for the ice sheets might retreat in the future. ., ~' , ., the ice sheets might retreat in the future. ., ,, i. the ice sheets might retreat in the future. ., ,, . ., future. thank you so much for “oininu future. thank you so much for joining us- _ in brisbane, australia, the race is under way to find two people accused of kidnapping a platypus. the pair boarded a train on tuesday, holding the animal wrapped in a towel. police have concerns for the mammals health as they believe it was taken from its natural habitat, an offence that can attract a fine

of more than $200,000. just a reminder that you can get all the latest on the bbc news website. you can of course also download the bbc news app. that is all online, you can get that 2a hours a day. just a reminder before we go, the top story the summer, president emmanuel macron of france and i von der leyen from the european commission are embellishing meeting president xijinping and pushing commission are embellishing meeting president xi jinping and pushing for closer economic ties between europe and china but they are also pushing for china to do more when it comes to pressure on russia regarding the war in ukraine. stay with us on bbc news, we will keep you posted on that story during the day. thank you

very much for your company. i will see you next time. goodbye. hello again. if you are out and about over the next few days and you have an allergy to tree pollen, across the southern half of england and all of wales, the levels are going to be high or on saturday, very high. today, a ridge of high pressure building in behind this weather front. the weather front has produced a fair bit of cloud and rain in the early part of the day. it is continuing to move into the north sea, clearing all but the north—east of scotland and shetland, and in shetland, it will also be windy. behind it, we have got sunshine, bright spells and showers. some of the showers will be heavy down the east coast, from lincolnshire down towards kent. of course, they are showers so we won't all see one but top temperatures today between 7—14. tonight, we hang onto some of these

showers for a time and also the rain across shetland. look how the skies clear and in light winds, there will be one or two pockets of mist and fog forming. with low temperatures, we will see some frost as well. —1 for example in glasgow. but first thing tomorrow means we start with a fair bit of sunshine. most of us will hang on to a lot of sunshine through the day. a weather front close to this east coast is going to bring in more cloud and also it will be thick enough here and there for the odd spot of drizzle or indeed the odd shower. a little bit milder tomorrow. nine to about 1k degrees being our top temperatures. as we head into the weekend, high pressure still clinging on. but this weather front coming in from the atlantic tries to make inroads into the west of northern ireland, bringing some patchy rain. but it fizzles. on sunday, this clutch of fronts makes more progress. on saturday, still with a weather front close to the east, there will be areas of cloud. it should break up more readily than friday, though, and we will have some sunshine but more cloud building in the west.

here is our weather front, introducing some light, patchy rain into the west of northern ireland through the afternoon. top temperatures up to about 1a or 15 degrees. that weather front fizzles and on sunday again we will be chasing banks of cloud. there will be some sunshine around, but do you remember that clutch of weather fronts coming in from the atlantic? they are going to come in later in the day, bringing some rain probably by around lunchtime into northern ireland, with highs of up to 16 degrees. 0vernight and into easter monday, this weather front clears the east and then on easter monday, it is going to be showery.

live from london, this is bbc news. french president emmanuel macron meets with president xijinping in beijing. france faces another day of pension protests after talks between unions and the government break down. the husband of scotland's former first minister nicola sturgeon is released without charge while further investigations are done into the scottish national party's finances. and a pair of sneakers worn by michaeljordan is expected to break records at auction next week.