and the wait is almost over for the world's largest television event as this year's eurovision contestants shine in style with malmo aiming to put on a spectacular opening. hello, i'm tadhg enright. welcome to the programme. china's president xijinping is in france on his first state visit to europe in five years with the war in ukraine and trade with the eu expected to dominate the agenda. president xi will hold talks with french president emmanuel macron and european commission president ursula von der leyen in paris on monday. in an article for the french newspaper le figaro, xi said he intended to work with france and the entire international community to uphold "world peace "and stability". on the war in ukraine,

he wrote: that's despite us claims that china is providing vital war material to russia. president macron is expected to warn president xi against backing russia in the conflict. let's speak to jonathan cheng, the china bureau chief for the wall streetjournal. thank you forjoining us today, jonathan. let's talk about the wider diplomacy first. president xi has been on somewhat of a diplomatic blitz recently, although usually receiving visitors rather than going abroad. how significant do you think this troop is? i

how significant do you think this troop is?— this troop is? i think it's re this troop is? i think it's pretty important - this troop is? i think it's l pretty important because, this troop is? i think it's - pretty important because, as you point out, he rarely leaves china these days and certainly during covid he didn't and this is one of his few trips outside and i think it's significant because i think in beijing, they still see europe as potentially winnable, if you want to call about. us, uk and other five eyes countries are perhaps beyond their grasp right now but they do see an opportunity in europe and i think that's why you are seeing this three country trip.- this three country trip. should be read into _ this three country trip. should be read into that _ this three country trip. should be read into that it's - this three country trip. should be read into that it's these - be read into that it's these three countries with whom president xi sees the greatest opportunities? president xi sees the greatest opportunities?— president xi sees the greatest opportunities? france of course is an important _ opportunities? france of course is an important country - opportunities? france of course is an important country in - is an important country in europe, perhaps along with germany the most important but hungry is as, i think many people know, a bit of an outlier within the eu and it's one is considered perhaps the most friendly to china so i think it explains why they are on the itinerary and we will

get a curious stopover in belgrade, the serbian capital, and it looks like it will happen on the 25th anniversary of when nato bombed the chinese embassy there in 1999, supposedly by accident but that's an explanation that china has not really accept it and it's an incident they keep talking about and especially with nato very much at the forefront of the ukraine situation, i think you are going to hear xijinping say something about that air. indeed. looking at that statement that we read out a few moments ago from president xi about ukraine, the summary being "we didn't start it and have nothing to do with it", clearly many europeans, the us see it otherwise. there will be words exchanged about china's support for roshai. does china have any kind of a listening ear, do you think for comments like that —— for russia. i think they've been listening for the past two years and i don't think we've seen them shift their message to much and should expect to see any real

change. should expect to see any real chance. . . change. the article in the french press _ change. the article in the french press that - change. the article in the french press that you - change. the article in the - french press that you mention from xijinping already french press that you mention from xi jinping already lays out what i think we're going hearfrom them and again, it's consistent with everything we've heard so far. obviously, the ties between xi jinping and vladimir putin are close. there are two neighbouring country, both on the un security council permanent members and they have history together and i don't think we will see any meaningful shiftjust think we will see any meaningful shift just because president macron says that this really matters to us, they've been saying that for two years and haven't really moved anything in beijing. anything in bei'ing. jonathan chen: , anything in bei'ing. jonathan cheng. china _ anything in beijing. jonathan cheng, china bureau - anything in beijing. jonathan cheng, china bureau chief. anything in beijing. jonathan cheng, china bureau chief ofj cheng, china bureau chief of the wall streetjournal, thank the wall street journal, thank you the wall streetjournal, thank you forjoining us. israel's military says three soldiers were killed and several injured after hamas fired rockets from an area in southern gaza, near the rafah crossing. israel responded by closing the karem shalom border point — one of the few routes to get aid into the territory. the surge in violence follows the conclusion of peace talks in cairo — no progress on a ceasefire agreement was made. it comes as the israeli government forced the news network aljazeera to shut down its operations in israel,

calling it a mouthpiece for hamas. frank gardner reports from jerusalem. in a country that prides itself on free speech and democracy, israeli police shut down the offices of aljazeera today, seizing its broadcast equipment. if you're watching this pre—recorded report, then aljazeera has been banned in the territory of israel. this was one of its final broadcasts from jerusalem before the police arrived. the government accused the qatar—based tv channel of incitement to terrorism, calling it a mouthpiece for hamas. its bureau chief called it a dangerous move. israel cannot claim all the time that it is a democracy and, at the same time, they are cutting and preventing the journalists to do theirjob.

meanwhile, down on the gaza border close to rafah, a deadly rocket attack by hamas on the very crossing point through which it was hoped more aid could flow into the territory. it has since been shut. at least three israeli soldiers were killed. today, israel's embattled prime minister reacted to hamas' demands for a permanent ceasefire and an israel withdrawal from gaza. "the state of israel is not willing to accept this," he said, "capitulating to the hamas' demands "would be "a terrible defeat for israel". but the government here is under pressure from parts of its own population. last night, tens of thousands of israelis rallied in protest at delays in getting the hostages out of gaza. they don't believe the government is making it a priority. the israeli government wants its hostages out but, at the same time, it's vowed to destroy hamas, which is why it will not agree to a permanent ceasefire. but hamas, which holds the hostages, says it won't sign a deal unless

the ceasefire is permanent, which is why the peace talks have' stalled. a delegation from hamas hasjust been in cairo talking to mediators. they have now left to consult with their leadership. in gaza, the war continues with air strikes and deprivation. gazans are desperate for this war to end. so, too, are many israelis. but others in israel see this as unfinished business. they want this war pursued until hamas is utterly destroyed. frank gardner, bbc news, jerusalem. with me now is said shehata from bbc arabic. he brings us more analysis on the situation so let's start with the air strikes first. is there a significance that the rockets were fired from an area close to rafah because that's of course an area where we've been poised for an israeli

invasion. it puts that question back into the spotlight, doesn't it? i back into the spotlight, doesn't it?— back into the spotlight, doesn't it? i think it will strengthen _ doesn't it? i think it will strengthen the - doesn't it? i think it will strengthen the position | doesn't it? i think it will. strengthen the position of doesn't it? i think it will- strengthen the position of the israeli prime minister of insisting to make a ground assault on rafah because unintelligible rockets can be fired because it came from lebanon, from within gaza may be because israel are controlling more than gaza, so it's the only place to fire rockets, even with some clashes and some rockets coming but like unrwa big one and killing three israeli soldiers and wounding others, it makes a threat to israeli security said shehata benjamin netanyahu so this gives them more, like, you know, insisting to do that even unintelligible international community because of the catastrophic humanitarian crisis will come out of that. and he has said he is

determined to do so, even if the ceasefire negotiations had gone somewhere, he said it was their intention to invade rafah. what happened with those ceasefire negotiations? they've wrapped up, no deal was done. is that it now, of the card, for some time? unfortunately it's a problem _ for some time? unfortunately it's a problem since the - for some time? unfortunately it's a problem since the last i it's a problem since the last truce in november. there is no progress. sticking points between them, hamas insists on permanent ceasefires, withdrawal of israeli troops from gaza. the return of displaced people to their homes in the north. unintelligible hamas. mr netanyahu said clearly, that's not going to be accepting to end the war because it would be a defeat for the state of israel and if we don't go to gaza and finish the war, it may give hamas an opportunity to rebuild its infrastructure, make an effort to israel and even is a real working on a buffer zone so the buffer zone may help but the

main thing i think for many commentators and international communities is a two—state solution, if there is not a two—state solution there would be no excuse for hamas to attack israel so unintelligible long run two—state solution. politicians are doing their thing or not, as it is right now. meanwhile, the ordinary people of gaza continue to suffer and we saw it alluded to in the report there but also unrwa, the un agency, putting out a report about health and conditions for the people of gaza right now. what is it said? , �* gaza right now. what is it said? a ., ., said? unintelligible sanitation crisis in gaza. _ said? unintelligible sanitation crisis in gaza. there _ said? unintelligible sanitation crisis in gaza. there is _ crisis in gaza. there is thousands of waste are piling up thousands of waste are piling up in gaza, there is a spread of mosquitoes, flies and rats, as well as diseases, because of the increase in temperature will increase these kind of diseases in addition to that, according to the health

organisation, says only 30% of hospitals in gaza are working partially, unintelligible full capacity so it would add to the pressure on the people in gaza but in addition, closing kerem shalom crossing will add to the misery of the humanitarian because it's one of the main routes, the few routes to deliver aid into gaza. said shehata _ deliver aid into gaza. said shehata from _ deliver aid into gaza. said shehata from bbc - deliveraid into gaza. said shehata from bbc arabic, thank you for bringing us up to date. we will talk more about the closure of aljazeera within israel with omar shakir at human rights watch later in the programme. let's get some of the day's other news now. rescue efforts are continuing in the brazilian state of rio grande do sul, where floods and landslides have left nearly 80 people dead. president lula, who visited the state on sunday, has blamed the disaster on climate change. among the worst—hit areas is the state capital, porto alegre, where residents

have been forced onto rooftops. three bodies found in a well in mexico's northwest all had bullet wounds to the heads and have been formally identified. the two australian brothers and an american were on holiday in the area near the us border when they were attacked. three suspects have been detained on suspicion of involvement with the attack. the right—wing candidate in panama's presidential election, jose raul mulino, has secured victory after his closest rival conceded. mr mulino was only on the ballot because his party's initial candidate, the former president ricardo martinelli, was found guilty of money laundering. the vote comes as panama grapples with a severe drought. the australian airline qantas has agreed to pay a $66 million fine for misleading consumers by advertising seats on thousands of flights

that had been cancelled. the head of the australian competition and consumer commission said the airline's conduct had been egregious and unacceptable. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

more now on the israeli government's move to shut down aljazeera's operations in israel. the news network has condemned the decision as a criminal act aimed at concealing the truth of the war against hamas. the qatar—based channel has been one of the only international media outlets to cover the war from inside gaza. let's speak to to omar shakir, the israel and palestine director at human rights watch. on cue forjoining us today. firstly, what's your reaction to israel's decision here —— thank you. i to israel's decision here -- thank vom— to israel's decision here -- thank yon-— to israel's decision here -- thank you. i think this is an assault on _ thank you. i think this is an assault on the _ thank you. i think this is an assault on the freedom - thank you. i think this is an assault on the freedom of. thank you. i think this is an i assault on the freedom of the press. the reality here is al

jazeera has been a critical source of information for decades, it's reporting on gaza is relied upon on the world, specially in the arab world. instead of trying to muzzle reporting on atrocities, the israeli government should stop committing them.— israeli government should stop committing them. yeah, indeed. i wonder what _ committing them. yeah, indeed. i wonder what they _ committing them. yeah, indeed. i wonder what they claim, - committing them. yeah, indeed. i wonder what they claim, the i i wonder what they claim, the israeli government's claim, is aljazeera had become a mouthpiece for hamas. what do you say to that? i mouthpiece for hamas. what do you say to that?— you say to that? i mean, they are reporting _ you say to that? i mean, they are reporting the _ you say to that? i mean, they are reporting the news. - you say to that? i mean, they are reporting the news. newsj are reporting the news. news reporting can always be attacked if people don't like the substance of the information. i covered egypt when the egyptian government tried to muzzle aljazeera's reporting. this is the same sort of allegations that are used there and governments around the world have used to muzzle critical reporting. ultimately, respecting freedom of expression, respecting the right of audiences to receive different information is critical in any country but israeli government is silencing

the messenger instead of dealing with the content of the allegations. to dealing with the content of the allegations-_ dealing with the content of the alleuations. ., , ., ~ ., allegations. to your knowledge, what kind of— allegations. to your knowledge, what kind of an _ allegations. to your knowledge, what kind of an audience - allegations. to your knowledge, what kind of an audience did - allegations. to your knowledge, what kind of an audience did all what kind of an audience did al jazeera have within israel? how many people who previously watched it will no longer be able to? �* ., ., , watched it will no longer be ableto? �* ., ., , , able to? i've already seen re orts able to? i've already seen reports from _ able to? i've already seen reports from israeli - able to? i've already seen - reports from israeli colleagues and friends and human rights community folks and others who are not able to access al jazeera's website. the reality is if you want up to date information about the occupied palestinian territory, today, aljazeera is one of the few sources. given that the israeli government has not allowed foreign journalists into gaza foreign journalists into gaza for more than six months, for nearly seven months, given that killing of scores of reporters, so anybody who wants the real update on gaza is relying on al jazeera, especially given that israeli media frequently isn't reporting on the realities on the ground. reporting on the realities on the ground-—

reporting on the realities on the round. .,~ ., , ., the ground. speaking of israeli media, the ground. speaking of israeli media. the _ the ground. speaking of israeli media, the ability _ the ground. speaking of israeli media, the ability to _ the ground. speaking of israeli media, the ability to do - the ground. speaking of israeli media, the ability to do this i media, the ability to do this has come about because israel has come about because israel has passed a new media law and i wonder would you also have concerns for the future of any israeli —based media outlets that could be critical of the government, whether they may feel less inclined to do so? absolutely. the target here is muzzling aljazeera but the law itself has dramatic implications that threatens to clamp down on critical reporting. we've seen this pattern with the israeli government before. they create a law that restricts expression, they do a trial balloon, they go after a particularly critical source and then, if it works without pushback, they expanded. it's happened when it comes to denying entry to critical human rights advocates, it has happened when it comes to moves against palestinian civil society organisations. we have seen the same textbook used before. �* , .,

before. indeed, it's worth remembering _ before. indeed, it's worth remembering the - before. indeed, it's worth remembering the al - before. indeed, it's worth i remembering the al jazeera remembering the aljazeera journalists and other journalists and other journalists who have been killed covering the war in gaza. will this decision, do you think, affect in any way their ability to keep doing that? �* , ,., , their ability to keep doing that? �* , , �* their ability to keep doing that? ~ , that? absolutely. al jazeera's offices have _ that? absolutely. al jazeera's offices have been _ that? absolutely. al jazeera's offices have been bombed - that? absolutely. al jazeera's offices have been bombed in l offices have been bombed in gaza, the staff have been killed in gaza and the west bank, their staff have been beaten in the west bank while this decision only applies inside israel proper though of course, the raids took place in occupied eastjerusalem, the reality here is we've seen the israeli government often the military will take action in line in the occupied territory with action inside israel, so it may only be a matter of time before we see corresponding action in the west bank, in gaza that reflects the same policy and that ultimately prevents aljazeera from doing its reporting on those areas. omar shakir from its reporting on those areas. omar shakirfrom human rights omar shakir from human rights watch, omar shakirfrom human rights watch, thank you very much for

joining us today. the former deputy first minister of scotland john swinney is expected to be confirmed as the next leader of the scottish national party later today. the veteran party activist graeme mccormick pulled out of the leadership race last night and endorsed him. mr swinney is the only candidate. prime minister rishi sunak has acknowledged the conservatives may not win the next uk general election. speaking to the times newspaper, the prime minister said one analysis of thursday's local election defeats suggested the uk was on course for a hung parliament and said voters would not want to see sir keir starmer "propped up "in downing street" by the snp or smaller parties. tory critics have called on mr sunak to shift the party to the right. here, train drivers in the aslef union are beginning a six—day overtime ban, which is expected to cause widespread disruption. a series of one—day strikes are also being staged at 16 rail companies this week as part of a long—running

dispute over pay. greater anglia said services would be "severely impacted" on tuesday. passengers have been advised to check before travelling and plan accordingly. the cast of the lords of the rings have paid tribute to their co—star bernard hill, who has died aged 79. the actor, who played king theoden in peterjackson's trilogy, passed away early on sunday morning. elijah wood, billy boyd, dominic monaghan and sean astin, who played the four hobbits in the films, said goodbye to their "funny, gruff, beautiful" friend. they told comic con fans in liverpool they had lost a "family member". the final of this year's eurovision song contest is coming up next weekend but contestants have already been putting on the style for the event's official opening in malmo. as many as 100,000 visitors are set to descend on the swedish city for the world's largest live music contest. poppyjeffery reports.

in your revision, you don't get a red carpet, you get a turquoise one —— eurovision. see that girl, singing the dancing queen.— see that girl, singing the dancing queen. this year's contest has _ dancing queen. this year's contest has been - dancing queen. this year's contest has been officiallyl contest has been officially openedin contest has been officially opened in the swedish city of malmo. ahead of what is a very busy week for the 37 representatives taking part. from the refined to the quirky. hello! ,, �* , from the refined to the quirky. hello! ,, �*, ., ., , hello! she's unforgettable. tomorrow _ hello! she's unforgettable. tomorrow is _ hello! she's unforgettable. tomorrow is the _ hello! she's unforgettable. tomorrow is the first - hello! she's unforgettable. . tomorrow is the first semifinal with help of the acts performing in the hopes of making it to the grand final on saturday. the uk is part of the big five, the countries that contribute the most to the ebu, and they automatically get a place in the final. but for the first time, they will perform live in the semis and it's fair to say that only alexander

isn't doing things by halves. take me back to the beginning. again. take me back to the beginning. aaain. , take me back to the beginning. aain, , , ., �* , take me back to the beginning. aaain. _ ., �*, , take me back to the beginning. aaain. _ , again. this year's contest has an undertone _ again. this year's contest has an undertone of _ again. this year's contest has an undertone of tension - again. this year's contest has an undertone of tension with l an undertone of tension with calls for some acts, including the uk, to boycott the event over the israel — gaza war. i think it's really important that people are able to protest and people voice their opinions. also, myself, ithink it's really important to not stay silent and that's why also, i collaborated with several artists this year to write a written letter which is still on my instagrammed. every da , i'm still on my instagrammed. every day. i'm losing _ still on my instagrammed. every day. i'm losing my _ still on my instagrammed. every day, i'm losing my mind. - day, i'm losing my mind. holding— day, i'm losing my mind. holding on in this mysterious wax — holding on in this mysterious wa . , . holding on in this mysterious wa , , ., , , way. israel is competing. the son . way. israel is competing. the song hurricane _ way. israel is competing. the song hurricane is _ way. israel is competing. the song hurricane is a _ way. israel is competing. the song hurricane is a rewritten | song hurricane is a rewritten version of the first entry october rain which was thought to reference the hamas attacks of october the seventh. the

tension means security is a real focus but police in malmo say they are ready. we real focus but police in malmo say they are ready.— real focus but police in malmo say they are ready. we have the hi . h say they are ready. we have the high security — say they are ready. we have the high security around _ say they are ready. we have the high security around the - high security around the delegation from israel but we also have high security for the other delegations from the other delegations from the other countries, so i think it is important for us that all of them feel safe about coming to malmo, so even if they are not from israel, we try to keep them in a good mood and feel safe, no matter what country they're from. safe, no matter what country they're from-— they're from. and they are definitely _ they're from. and they are definitely in _ they're from. and they are definitely in a _ they're from. and they are definitely in a good - they're from. and they are definitely in a good mood. j they're from. and they are - definitely in a good mood. the permanent slogan of your revision is united by music. something that is not lost on those taking part.— something that is not lost on those taking part. there should be demonstrations _ those taking part. there should be demonstrations and - those taking part. there should be demonstrations and people | be demonstrations and people should voice their opinions and people should boycott but from our sense, for us, people should boycott but from oursense, for us, it people should boycott but from our sense, for us, it boils down to those three minutes of music really, that's completely

a music really, that�*s completely a non— music really, that's completely a non— intellectual experience. when you don't think any more and you just experience and you don'tjudge or divide, that stuff goes away and we need to foster those moments where we experience that together. find experience that together. and with that, _ experience that together. and with that, the _ experience that together. and with that, the eurovision song contest 2024 is good to go. peppyjeffery, bbc news. and some baking news now. france has restored national pride, reclaiming the record for the world's longest baguette. and get a �*loaf�* of this — the creation measures more than 140m long — almost half the length of the eiffel tower. a group of bakers managed the feat in a competition in paris. the previous record was held by italians, despite the baguette being a classic french product, meaning the win marks a return to the �*status dough'. guinness record adjudicator joanne brent was there to certify the achievement. the final measurement is taken

by the length of the baguette and, with a great, huge record to beat of 132.63m, i can confirm that this attempt has been successful. cheering and applause. that's it. stay with us on bbc news. hello. so far, this bank holiday weekend has been a decidedly mixed affair. some spells of warm sunshine but also some really heavy downpours. we saw some flash flooding in parts of eastern scotland during sunday. you can see the showers and thunderstorms that erupted here through the day. quite slow—moving, actually. not much wind to push these showers and storms along. one or two locations had close to half a month's worth of rain in the space ofjust a few hours. we are currently in the grip of this fairly weak and fairly flabby area of low pressure, so not much wind with that low to push the showers around. where they do crop up again on bank holiday monday,

they will be heavy, quite slow moving, but with some spells of sunshine in between. this is how we start the day. the southern half of the uk seeing some areas of mist and fog, some sunny spells developing but some rain across the south east of england and east anglia. northern ireland and scotland keeping quite a lot of cloud. still with some hefty showers across some central and eastern parts of scotland. by the middle of the afternoon, parts of east anglia and the south—east seeing outbreaks of rain. elsewhere through the south—west of england into wales, the midlands and northern england, that mix of sunny spells and heavy, possibly thundery showers — those showers quite slow—moving — but the sunniest spot seeing highs of 19 or 20 degrees. more cloud for northern ireland, but largely dry. still some hefty showers across southern and eastern scotland. further north and west, something drier and, in places, a little bit brighter. now, as we head through monday night, the showers should slowly but surely fade away in most locations. we'll keep some fairly large amounts of cloud, perhaps some mist patches here and there. temperatures generally holding up between six and ten degrees.

now, more showers in the forecast for tuesday but they shouldn't be as widespread and, on the whole, they shouldn't be quite as heavy. so, mainly fine to start off. some fairly large amounts of cloud, spells of sunshine, too. some of those showers getting going through the day, particularly across parts of england and wales. but in the sunny spots, those temperatures again up to around 20 degrees celsius. that is a sign of things to come because as we head deeper into the week, high pressure builds a little more strongly. we'll still see frontal systems to the north of the uk, so a bit of rain at times, particularly across parts of scotland. but further south, it stays mostly dry. some spells of sunshine. temperatures climbing, seeing highs of around 21, 22, maybe 23 degrees.

live from london, this is bbc news. high—stakes diplomacy — china's president has arrived in france, with trade at the top of his agenda. a massive transport strike in argentina is expected to disrupt almost all forms of transport. from london to paris and beyond — we'll look at the three—decade history of trains connecting the uk to europe. putting your best foot forward —

we visit the world championships of shoemaking and will reveal the winner of the global competition. hello. let's start with the crossover between diplomacy and economics. chinese president xijinping has kicked off his first trip to europe in five years. he's arrived in france and will make stops in serbia and hungary later this week. the visit comes as some countries in europe are taking action over what they perceive to be anti—competitive practices by china. our business reporter david waddell has more. joining me now is mabrouk chetouane, head of global market strategy, natixis investment managers. xi and his team have been publishing op—eds in french newspapers ahead of his visit, describing their relationship

as a model of peaceful co—existence.