our china correspondent robin brant is in tiananmen square in beijing, outside the great hall of the people, where mr xi has been speaking. this is obviously wide ranging, it

thank you, robin brant.er top story — president trump is under attack from two senators from his own party, and not because they disagree with a particular policy but because of his behaviour. this man, senator bob corker, and senatorjeff flake, are both republicans who have decided not to seek re—election and in turn, they say allows them to speak their minds. here's senator bob corker speaking to american media, prior to president trump meeting republican senators on capitol hill. it isa it is a sad place from my perspective for our nation. the worst of it will be the whole debasing, if you will, of our nation. i think that will be the contribution that hurts our nation the most. do you think the president is debasing the nation?” the most. do you think the president is debasing the nation? i don't think there is any question. it is the way he conducts himself and goes to such a low level, i do. well after that meeting with president trump, republican senatorjeff flake took to the senate floor to announce

the bbc‘s robin brant has been following the congress and joins us now live from tienanmen square. expect from day to? far less pomp and ceremony, we don't get yesterday's bit of epic theatre really when xi jingping, the general secretary of china's commonest party, was on his feet for some 3.5 hours, delivering a mammoth speech that looked back to some of the pledges and promises he made in his first five years, but more importantly looked ahead to the next five years and there's no question he will be anointed at the end of this meeting and will continue to lead china for a further five years. he had a huge smile on his face when he walked away from the rostrum and put down his notes, not very often do we get to see xi jingping with a big natural smile on his face but clearly he felt happy and pleased with what was a confident, strident address from a man who believes he is very much in control of this party, in control of this country, and is very confident about the future. he painted china as a country that by 2050, with the communists in charge, that will be one year passed it

robin brant in beijing for us.on what delegates at the congress in beijing think of their neighbour, kim jong—un, the leader of north korea, that's at: clean air campaigners have warned that new measures designed to improve air quality in london don't go far enough. clean air campaigners have warned that new measures designed to improve air quality in london don't go far enough. drivers of some older vehicles will now have to pay an extra ten pounds to enter central areas of london. the toxicity charge, or t—charge, will apply mainly to diesel and petrol vehicles registered before 2006. the mayor of london, sadiq khan, said the move would help tackle a health crisis in the city caused by poor quality air. our transport correspondent richard westcott reports. london has some of the most polluted streets in europe. swimming in nitrogen dioxide and tiny particles, invisible, unless you use a special camera. it's a hidden killer, pollution's linked to lung and heart disease with children the most vulnerable. what i am

bbc‘s robin brant has been following the event, and joins us now live from tiananmen square.did you make of the first day? it was hugely significant for the communist party, for the leader, president xijinping. he spoke for three bona fide hours, looking back at work and promises in the first term. —— three and a half hours. he also promised what was to come. this is a man who at the heart of his talk yesterday spoke of china becoming a great socialist nation and taking centre stage in the world by the time you get to 2050. 2050 is key because it is just after china in its current incarnation with the government in charge passes 100 yea rs. government in charge passes 100 years. a big smile from xijinping. you don't see that much. he was confident. 0n the economy, interesting, a lot of talk about a more decisive role for market forces. radical reforms that will target big companies. is that part of his overhaul? when he talked about his pledge, more importantly, he made it clear that those big companies the government owns, the railway construction, telecom, he wa nted eve n

robin brant in beijing. to come: is america in need of an unprecedented constitutional intervention? some people think so. we explain why the 25th amendment is getting a lot of attention. a historic moment that many of his victims have waited for for decades. the former dictator in the dock, older, slimmer and, as he sat down, obedient enough. dawn, and as the sun breaks through the piercing chill of night on the plain outside korem, it lights up a biblicalfamine, now, in the 20th century. the depressing conclusion — in argentina today, it is actually cheaper to paper your walls with money. we've had controversies in the past with great britain but as good friends, we have always found a good and lasting solution. concorde bows out in style after almost three decades in service. an aircraft that has enthralled its many admirers for so long taxis home one last time. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: the us says it holds myanmar‘s army accountable for the deepening rohingya refugee crisis in bangladesh.

robin brant, thank you very much indeed for that.ot against mother hood and apple pie?|j what have you got against mother hood and apple pie? i got confused with my analogy there as you noticed! let's take a look at some of the other stories making the news. the head of amazon's film and television arm, amazon studios, has resigned after being accused of harassing a producer. roy price had also been facing claims that he had ignored an actor's allegation that she'd been sexually assaulted by harvey weinstein. mr price has yet to comment. meanwhile harvey weinstein has resigned from the board of his film production firm the weinstein company. he's facing multiple allegations of sexual assault and harassment but he insists any sexual relations he had were consensual. he reportedly still owns more than a fifth of the company. trade ministers from the united states, mexico and canada have agreed to a fifth round of talks to revise their 23—year—old trade pact. they'll pick up again where they left off in the early part of 2018 after all

robin brant reports from the city of shenzhen in the south.as been a dirty business, with wealth and progress has come in and is pollution. china's leaders think this is part of the solution. more cars. electric cars, to be specific. the southern megacities shenzhen is at the heart of the government's big green push. this sprawling complex is the home of byd, the world's largest manufacturer of electric vehicles. this is notjust about trying to ensure a greener, cleaner future for china. there is an industrial strategy at play here, because china is trying to become the world's dominant manufacturer of what is tucked away under here. but there is a price to pay in the bid to become the battery kings of the world. an environmental price. this is late in 2016. protesters outside the byd factory, claiming poisonous gas was being pumped out of the planned. government inspectors ordered new, sealed facilities. just over the road, some of the neighbours who live high up are still worried. the summer nights are hot in shenzhen, but this mother has no

robin brant reports from shanghai on china's growing debt pile.de a glass skin. this is asia's tallest building. the shanghai tower is a testa m e nt to building. the shanghai tower is a testament to rising china. but if you look at from the 123rd floor, underneath there is a mountain of debt. it is a fitting symbol of the debt. it is a fitting symbol of the debt addiction of the country. their debt addiction of the country. their debt stands at 260% of gdp, and it is growing, forecast to top 300% in four yea rs' is growing, forecast to top 300% in four years' time. well over half of thatis four years' time. well over half of that is corporate debt and state—owned companies.” that is corporate debt and state-owned companies. i don't see an impending catastrophe. i think that, as you say, the level of reserves the chinese government has is quite significant to be able to pay off debt. but it is something to monitor, because when the debt gets so monitor, because when the debt gets so large it outgrows growth, it becomes a problem. if the individual

specifically, a electric cars. 0ur correspondent robin brant reports now from the south in shenzhen. been a dirty business with wealth and progress comes immense pollution. china thinks this is part of the solution — more cars — electric cars, to be specific. the southern magas city of shenzhen is at the heart of the government's big green push and this is the home of byd, the largest manufacturer in the world of electric vehicles. this isn't just about trying to ensure world of electric vehicles. this isn'tjust about trying to ensure a greener, cleaner future for china. there is an industrial strategy at play here. because china is trying to become the world's dominant manufacturer of what's tucked away under here. but there is a price to pay in their bid to become the battery kings of the world. an environmental price. this was late in 2016. protesters outside the byd factory claim poisonous gas was being pumped out of the plant. government inspectors ordered new sealed facilities. butjust over the road some of the neighbours who live high up still worried. summer nights are hot in

joining us now from beijing is our correspondent robin brant. of course, the economic policies they talkut that, fundamental to it all is the progress of the economy. yes, growth continues in the world's second largest economy, but it is slowing, and the figures for last year are the slowest rate of growth we have seen in a generation. but for xi of growth we have seen in a generation. but forxijinping, of growth we have seen in a generation. but for xi jinping, this country's leader, who hasjust stopped speaking after 3.5 hours on his feet, the future for china's economy is absolutely crucial to not just the country's wealth but the survival of the chinese communist party as the leaders of this party. and those state—controlled entities, those huge firms in coal and steel that the government uses to try and leveraged change in the economy continued to be hugely troubling for the leadership. there have been many pledges and promises to bring about change, especially at the beginning of xijinping's rain, but change, especially at the beginning of xi jinping's rain, but they change, especi

live now to our correspondent robin brant, who's in tiananmen square in beijing. resident xi jinping would be elevated to this incredibly senior position, akin to that of chairman mao. has that happened? it is the story there? —— what is the story. yes, domestic media is reporting in the last ten minutes that, indeed, as proceedings wrap up inside be great hall of the people, they have voted unanimously, we are told, followed by enthusiastic applause, we are told. they voted to accept an amendment to the constitution of the party which will indeed right, in reference to president xi jinping's theories, his thoughts, and also ascribed his name to it. this sounds like a technicality, frankly, a little strange to outsiders, maybe. and an anachronism, as well. but inside china this is a very significant moment. hugely symbolic. as you have said, there are only two previous leaders who have had such a change made to the constitution of their party. one is chairman mao, their party. one is chairman mao, the founder of modern china, he sported still hanging on the wall of

our correspondent robin brant is in beijing. this is going to be a very length the speech.on to section three. last time there were 12 sections. if a lot for xi jinping to cover. interestingly in the last few minutes, we have had a nod to the one thing that domestically i think is most closely associated with this man, with its leader, and thatis with this man, with its leader, and that is his anticorruption efforts, the efforts to rid the communist party of the virus, i think he has referred to it in this speech of corruption, which made it an organisation when he came to power towards the end of 2012 that was increasingly distrusted and disliked by many people in this country and perhaps was seen as losing its legitimacy. he has sought to change that. it has also been political control and oppression for him because many of those people who have been targeted right up until just a few months before this congress have been rivals, or those in the future who may be rivals. so clearly, i think that reference to ridding the party of any virus that may threaten its health, we

being unknown names to the outside world, many are unknown inside china as well. 0ur correspondent robin brant. it is hugely important. firstly, we get this very visual moment where these seven men walk out from behind a hoarding and are revealed to the 1.1 billion people of china and the world. we get them in seniority. xijinping, then the premier, li keqiang, who stays in the post. and then the five league faces. not household names in china and outside of it. this is the most senior decision—making body in the country. will they all be allies of xi jinping? it looks increasingly likely. or will they reflect some of the factional fighting, some of the competing allegiances, which goes on within the communist party of china? we know some things, the man who led the anticorruption fight in the country, he will not be in the standing committee. he goes. and cheng ming ur, he is now a possibility for the heir apparent. will he feature? we just don't know. a year of official mourning in thailand will culminate in a spectacular cremation ceremony on thursday for the late king bhumibol adulyadej, w

our china correspondent robin brant is in tjiananmen square in beijing.curity is very intense for this event, which, as i say, comes every five years. it lasts for about a week and it starts today, with a significant moment, a speech from the country's president. more importantly, today the general secretary of the chinese communist party, xijinping, and that will look back on the last five years, assessing how the communist party has done and if it might live up to the pressures of reform. and looking to the next five years, which are more important for xijinping, because he hopes to stamp his authority on this party, consolidate his power in the leadership at the top of the party. and he hopes that will give him the opportunity to have a much stronger influence on trying to bring about the influence he wants in china going forward. so we technically do get elections here but people are not voting freely. it is a very small number of people. xi jinping will be confirmed for another five—year period in charge. crucially, there will be a substantial change

joining us from tiananmen square in beijing is robin brant. be taking place on the final day of the congress? we get is some up from the president. it won't bea some up from the president. it won't be a rerun of that epic 3.5 hours on his feet last week. these will be the final words as this seventh and final day comes to a head, then later in the day we get to see changes that are likely to be made to this party's constitution. this is usually significant in china. mal saved in, the people who founded the people's republic of china. it looks like xijinping, he is neither leader, he will be given the same accolade. it is a hugely symbolic moment. also a moment to judge accolade. it is a hugely symbolic moment. also a moment tojudge how powerful this country's president has become. another key event comes tomorrow when the congress is formally over. we get to see five of the new members of the politburo standing committee. this is the circle of seven, the important decision—making body in this country. five will be retiring. i many will be the

has consolidated his power ever since he first became leader five years ago as our correspondent robin branteen telling me. yes, it's hugely important. firstly we get this very visual moment where these seven men walk out from behind a hoarding and are revealed to china's 1.4 billion people, but also to the world. they walk out in seniority. so we get xi jingping first and his premier li keqiang, he stays in post. then the five new faces. as you say, not household names outside of china. frankly, maybe not household names to many people in china, but hugely important because this is the most senior decision—making body in this country and will they all be allies of xi jingping? that looks increasingly likely. or will some of these new faces reflect still, some of the factional fighting that some of the competing allegiances that goes on within the communist party of china. we do know a couple of things, wang chi shan, the man who led the anti—corruption fight in this country, he will not be in the standing committee. so he goes. someone like the man who has ascended up the ladder very quickl

first, robin brant is in beijing.—to—date with what has been happening, and what does this all mean for the economy? five new faces. what we now have is the upper echelons of power, the seven person body, filled now with people who are loyal to president xi and what he wants to do with the economy. it continues to grow at a rate that many in the west would envy, but the rate is slowing and the government needs to deal with changes to big state—owned entities that employ millions of people but are struck down by terrible inefficiencies. xijinping made it clear that he wants market reforms to remain in place, but he wants few of them but more of them,, the state—owned entities. we are not good to see sudden reforms that mean big bankruptcies and more privatisation. that is not going to happen. asian shares outside ofjapan edged higher on wednesday, while us treasury yields and the dollar got a lift following a report that republican senators were leaning towardsjohn taylor to be the next federal reserve chief. that is a

place at the end of the week—long gathering, i've been speaking to our correspondent in beijing robin brantdelegates a few thousand strong have gone inside to the great hall. and what they will hear the closing ceremony, brief words from xi jinping, not the epic three and a half hours we got last week from him. and that will be the end of this five—year gathering. and it will end with xi jinping anointed for a second five—year term. and it will end with the general secretary of the communist party of china in a hugely powerful position. we are expected today to get something which to outsiders sounds like an anachronistic technicality, and edits to the constitution. it's looking like xi jinping's thoughts are going to be written into the constitution, possibly with his name alongside it. he shares his name along with chairman mao, founder of modern china, and deng xiaoping, who led during a crucial period for this country. xijinping thinks he is at the helm in this third era, and that is going to be symbolised today almost certainly by seeing his thoughts strangely described and actually wr

and for more on president xi's opening speech to the national congress, i spoke to the bbc‘s robin branten square. it was hugely significant for the communist party and for its leader, president xijingping, communist party and for its leader, president xi jingping, he was on communist party and for its leader, president xijingping, he was on his feet for 3.5 hours, looking back to work, looking back to promises made in his first term but also giving pointers as to what is to come. and this is a man who at the very hard of this address yesterday spoke about seeing china becoming a great socialist nation and taking centre stage in the world by the time we get to 2050. now, 2050 is key because that is just after china, in its current incarnation with the communist party in charge, passes its centenary. a big smile from xi jingping, you don't get to see that very much, he was buried confident. 0n the economy it was interesting, there's been lots of talk at the beginning of his term about a more decisive role for market forces here, would there be radical reforms that would try to target thos

our china correspondent robin brant is in tiananmen square in beijing, outside the great hall of the people, where mr xi has been speaking. this is obviously wide ranging, it is bound to be. is there, do you think... do you detect the main message coming out of this? yes, i think certainly on the campaign that has been most closely associated with xijinping has been most closely associated with xi jinping and has been most closely associated with xijinping and his leadership in the last five years, and that has been an anti— graft and corruption campaign, that has been aimed at trying to deal with a poison, really, i think, trying to deal with a poison, really, ithink, which trying to deal with a poison, really, i think, which infected the communist party. when he took over there were questions about its legitimacy going forward, its ability to maintain control over this country and he has used this anti—corruption campaign to try and make the comment is leadership what it used to be, which is a group of people that leads in this country and takes its legitimacy from that. because it

our china correspondent robin brant is in beijing, where president xijinping has been speaking in the robin, i was listening to some of this earlier on. it has been a lengthy address. what were some of the key points made? did you listen to all three and half hours? i would certainly say it has been interesting and important. interesting because we get the spectacle of china's communist party, the most senior members, meeting here in the great hall of the people, at the edge of tiananmen square. they have come to anoint xi jinping once again as their leader, the general secretary of the communist party. he has had five yea rs communist party. he has had five years in power and there is no doubt he will get five years more. it is also important because what we have heard from him, during the three and a half hours of his speech, is a pointerfor a half hours of his speech, is a pointer for the future a half hours of his speech, is a pointerfor the future in a half hours of his speech, is a pointer for the future in this country. that is important to you watching, because china is the wo