welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines: the speaker of the us house of representatives meets taiwan's president, in california — despite threats of retaliation from china. i believe our bond is stronger now than at any time or point of my life. and of course, president tsai is a great champion of that bond. western leaders are on a state visit to china — as they try to get beijing to play a bigger role in ending the war in ukraine.

ukraine's president gets the red—carpet treatment in poland — and a pledge of fighterjets. one of the world's biggest online, crime websites is shut down by police in 17 countries. live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news. it's newsday. hello and welcome to the programme. china's foreign ministry has condemned a meeting between tsai ing—wen and the us speaker of the house in california. it vowed a resolute response. mr mccarthy as the most senior american politician to meet a

taiwanese leader on us soil since 1979. the meeting took place at the ronald reagan presidential library during a stopover on president tsai journey home from latin america. climate —— china claims it as part of its own territory. here is what was said at a press conference. the friendship _ said at a press conference. tue: friendship between said at a press conference. tte: friendship between the people of taiwan and america is a matter of profound importance to the free world and it is critical to maintain economic freedom, peace, and regional stability. we will honour our obligations and reiterate our commitment to our shared values behind which all americans are united. t behind which all americans are united. ., ., ., ~ united. i want to thank speaker mccarthy for— united. i want to thank speaker mccarthy for his _ united. i want to thank speaker mccarthy for his warm - mccarthy for his warm hospitality and for his invitation to bipartisan congressional leaders who have taken _ congressional leaders who have taken time—out of the busy schedules tojoin us

taken time—out of the busy schedules to join us today. there _ schedules to join us today. there presence and unwavering support — there presence and unwavering support reassures the people of taiwan— support reassures the people of taiwan that we are not isolated and we — taiwan that we are not isolated and we are not alone.— and we are not alone. earlier i soke and we are not alone. earlier i spoke with _ and we are not alone. earlier i spoke with david _ and we are not alone. earlier i spoke with david willis - and we are not alone. earlier i spoke with david willis who i and we are not alone. earlier i l spoke with david willis who has been following this story for us and he gave me the highlights of that meeting. well, karishma, the backdrop could hardly have been more american, could it? the ronald reagan presidential library in simi valley, california, and the two speaking there against the backdrop of the blue—and—white boeing aeroplane that ronald reagan used to fly on when he was president back in the 1980s. as far as president tsai is concerned, well, i would have thought she would be very pleased with the mood music, with the pleasantries that were exchanged between these two leaders — she basically saying that this was proof that taiwan was not isolated, it was not alone.

kevin mccarthy telling reporters that the two nations held a shared belief, as he put it, in democracy and freedom, and that their friendship was "a matter of profound importance to the free world." china, of course, will not be relishing that sort of exchange of pleasantries. it had warned earlier that the us was "playing with fire," as it put it, by welcoming president tsai in this way. yeah, david, in the last few minutes, there have been some comments coming through from beijing, according to the reuters and afp newswares. just tell our audiences what has been said. china says it will take resolute and effective measures to safeguard national sovereignty, territorial integrity. we've heard this sort of thing before, david, in the lead—up to this visit.

beijing was very unhappy that it was taking place and i imagine even more unhappy that it's gone ahead. yes, i think so, karishma, although, having said that, this is seen as less provocative than perhaps nancy pelosi's visit to taiwan was perceived by the chinese last year. that was met with a flurry of indignation on the part of the chinese leadership, and of course, the white house is doing its best to try to play down what's happened with this visit, making the point that president tsai is in transit on her way back from a visit to latin america and that these meetings are private and unofficial. but as far as china is concerned, of course, there should be no dealings between the united states and taiwan directly because it believes that taiwan is a part of china. david willis speaking to me a little earlier.

meanwhile in beijing emmanuel macron is preparing to meet his chinese counterpart. he is on a state visit to china in a bid to try to get president xi jinping to play a bigger role in ending the war in ukraine. ursula von der leyen has also joined him on the trip. the french president says china could use its close links with russia to resolve the conflict. translation:— russia to resolve the conflict. translation: ., ., , , ., translation: china has proposed a eace translation: china has proposed a peace plan _ translation: china has proposed a peace plan and — translation: china has proposed a peace plan and we _ translation: china has proposed a peace plan and we have - a peace plan and we have welcomed it, but do we agree with it in its entirety? no. but it is interesting. shows willingness to commit to resolving the conflict and so if it is not a peace plan, it is a desire to have responsibility to try build a path towards peace and a hope to be able to participate in initiatives that are useful to the ukrainian population. let's cross live _ the ukrainian population. let's cross live to _ the ukrainian population. let's cross live to asian _ the ukrainian population. let's cross live to asian now - the ukrainian population. let's cross live to asian now and - cross live to asian now and speak to the new york times

bureau columnist. wonderful to get you on the programme, we werejust get you on the programme, we were just listening get you on the programme, we werejust listening to get you on the programme, we were just listening to what the french president had to say, this idea that he is going to convince xijinping to this idea that he is going to convince xi jinping to help out when it comes ukraine, is that pets likely to be successful? thank you for having me on the show. it is a long shot but you have to hand it to the french that when president macron says that when president macron says that china is really the only power that could conceivably be a game changer in terms of pushing russia towards some sort of compromise, they do have a point. there is no indication on anything china has done up to now that they would be ready to do that. they have not condemned the russian invasion, they have not even called for but president macron is determined to try to do something. he has repeated several times here that he believes china is committed to

united nations principles in the charter like the territorial integrity of states and china has made clear to president putin that these mention of conceivable nuclear conflict are out of place, that china does not want that, but it is a long shot. this china does not want that, but it is a long shot.— it is a long shot. as you point out, it it is a long shot. as you point out. it is _ it is a long shot. as you point out. it is a — it is a long shot. as you point out, it is a long _ it is a long shot. as you point out, it is a long shot - it is a long shot. as you point out, it is a long shot so - it is a long shot. as you point out, it is a long shot so what| out, it is a long shot so what exactly would be useful here, you think roger, in terms of what president macron is trying to achieve in china? t what president macron is trying to achieve in china?— to achieve in china? i think he believes. _ to achieve in china? i think he believes, first _ to achieve in china? i think he believes, first of _ to achieve in china? i think he believes, first of all, - to achieve in china? i think he believes, first of all, that - believes, first of all, that president xi should have a conversation with president zelensky of ukraine. mr zelensky, of course, said that he is open to china being a partner in some kind of process. what exactly partner means i have no idea but for president macron i think the first step would be that

conversation and yesterday he spoke to journalists travelling with him about that being the possible starting point of a deeper dialogue. i think he feels that there is some minimal daylight between china and russia's positions on the wall, even if they have complained this no limits friendship and the dawning of a new era and the unite had in the strong ante western push so i think he is trying to exploit that daylight on these questions of territorial integrity, the sanctity of international borders and so on. tt international borders and so on. ., ~' international borders and so on, ., " ., , , international borders and so on, ., , , on. if we take a step back in all of this, _ on. if we take a step back in all of this, the _ on. if we take a step back in all of this, the us _ on. if we take a step back in all of this, the us is - on. if we take a step back in all of this, the us is clearly | all of this, the us is clearly not a fan of this approach. it doesn't think that asian well or wants to help with ukraine so how much of an issue is that? given what the americans have already said about this? yes, the united states was utterly dismissive of the 12

point plan for some kind of overcoming of the crisis that china put forward in february. it has been a little uneasy about president macron�*s repeated talk of the strategic autonomy of europe. president macron did speak to president biden on the eve of his departure and the statement from the french presidency said that there was agreement on trying to draw china into some kind of role. obviously the united states like any other kind of major power would like to see an end to the war and would like to see some gap emerging between the russian and chinese positions, so to that extent, the united states would be supportive of what president macron is doing even if some uneasiness about his getting too post—to china or cosying up to china, would upset the biden administration.

the people travelling with, officials travelling with president macron have made clear that france is an ally of the united states, that this is not a question of equidistance but they have also said very direct believe that france's interest with regard to china and the united states' interest do not align at all points and that france will pursue its national interests.- that france will pursue its national interests. how much do ou think national interests. how much do you think this — national interests. how much do you think this is _ national interests. how much do you think this is about _ you think this is about president macron and european leaders trying to flex their muscles on the international stage, briefly if you don't mind? ~ , ., , mind? well, the question is what muscles _ mind? well, the question is what muscles out _ mind? well, the question is what muscles out there. - mind? well, the question is what muscles out there. as | mind? well, the question is - what muscles out there. as you know, the european union does not have an army. however, president macron does speak a lot about europe as a power and i think given the state of the european economy, given the huge dependence of the german

industry on the chinese market, given this desire for europe to be more of a geostrategic presence, i think all that contributes to this push from europe to make sure that the revived trans— atlantis that we have seen with ukraine war does not mean that europe loses china and that is why ursula von der leyen, the president of the european commission has accompanied president macron on this journey. accompanied president macron on thisjourney. it is accompanied president macron on this journey. it is an attempted display of european heft on the world stage. roger cohen, heft on the world stage. roger cohen. new — heft on the world stage. roger cohen, new york _ heft on the world stage. roger cohen, new york times - heft on the world stage. roger cohen, new york times paris i cohen, new york times paris bureau chief and former columnist, thank you so much forjoining us on the programme with your thought. we have been talking about ukraine and volodymyr zelensky says poland will help form a coalition of countries to help supply warplanes to ukraine. he delivered a speech on the main square in the capital warsaw. president zelensky said russia would not win a war against

europe when ukraine and poland stand shoulder to shoulder. translation: iwould like to say and convey | to our partners who are constantly looking for compromises from ukraine on our session to nato that ukraine will be uncompromising on this question as well, and i am grateful that poland will be with us on this path. an important point in our relations is the reconstruction of ukraine. it will bring closer our businesses and our nations. it is important for us. poland will be one of the main partners in the reconstruction of ukraine. let's ta ke let's take you to the us now and donald trump has called on his fellow republicans in congress to slash funding for the justice department and the fbi. that is in response to his court appearance on tuesday where he has been accused of falsifying business records. sarah smith has the story. trump supporters lined the streets

to welcome him back to florida, and you can see he's clearly loving it after what must have felt like a humiliating courtroom ordeal in new york. the former president used a prime—time speech from his mar—a—lago residence to attack a prosecutor who has charged him with 3a felony crimes. and i never thought anything like this could happen in america. never thought it could happen. the only crime that i have committed is to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it. cheering. donald trump looked much less combative when he appeared in court earlier. but now that his lawyers have seen the detailed charges, they are more confident mr trump can win this case. this is not a game. you're charging the president of the united states with crimes, crimes that will never be

sustained in a court of law because they don't exist. donald trump believes this prosecution could help his election prospects. he is now centre stage again, and his party, including his rivals, support his claim that he's being targeted unfairly for political reasons. we are a nation in decline, and now these radical left lunatics want to interfere with our elections by using law enforcement. we can't let that happen. things have certainly calmed down outside manhattan's criminal court today, and donald trump will not be back here again before december, when the next hearing is scheduled. but remember, he is facing several other legal investigations over the january the 6th riots, over declassified documents found at his home in florida, and over alleged election interference in the state of georgia. next year, donald trump may be having to defend himself in several different legal cases at the same

time is running his third presidential election campaign. sarah smith, bbc news, new york. you're live with bbc news. chairman of the black contaminated blood enquiry has recommended further action. people receive contaminated blood. tony farrugia was 1a when he lost his father to infected load.— when he lost his father to infected load. the impact has been devastating, _ infected load. the impact has been devastating, my - infected load. the impact has been devastating, my fatherl been devastating, my father died in 1986. he was one of the earliest haemophiliacs to die from hiv. we been losing family members right up until the last death in 2012. it's been affecting our family for the best part of 30 years, every time a campaign advisor another

victim dies, it's a constant memory of what we've been through and i'm sure it's the same, so notjust myself. i would hope the government will respond. you're live with bbc news. china strongly condemning the meeting in california between the speaker of the us house of representatives kevin mccarthy and the leader of taiwan, tsai ing—wen. our next guest has carried out comprehensive polling. he told me about the kind of public support the visit is getting.— kind of public support the visit is getting. the public in reneral visit is getting. the public in general supports _ visit is getting. the public in general supports these - visit is getting. the public in | general supports these kinds visit is getting. the public in i general supports these kinds of visits and people find this to be a reassuring signal of us support for taiwan. but it does tend to be a partisan breakdown in that the opposition tends to

worry about the impact of these visits on relations with china. in the current administration is more supportive of these kinds of interactions and visits. generally speaking, the public supports these kinds of visits but we do see a partisan difference. visits but we do see a partisan difference-— difference. james, how do eo - le difference. james, how do peeple in _ difference. james, how do people in taiwan - difference. james, how do people in taiwan feel- difference. james, how do | people in taiwan feel about difference. james, how do - people in taiwan feel about the united states? is it as simple as a feeling that china bad, the united states good? are they looking closer ties with washington? tt’s they looking closer ties with washington?— they looking closer ties with washinrton? �* , ., ., washington? it's not quite that simle. washington? it's not quite that simple- in _ washington? it's not quite that simple. in our— washington? it's not quite that simple. in our survey, - washington? it's not quite that simple. in our survey, we - washington? it's not quite that| simple. in our survey, we found that if you poled respondents on how much relations with the united states should develop onair1— ten scale, most people say five stop there are mixed feelings about developing closer ties with the united states. we also asked the question, do you find the united states be a credible country? only about 30% said

yes. country? only about 3096 said es. , ., , ., �* country? only about 3096 said es. , ., ., ~ yes. given what you've talked about there, _ yes. given what you've talked about there, the _ yes. given what you've talked about there, the division - yes. given what you've talked about there, the division in i about there, the division in taiwanese society, i just want to get your thoughts on the upcoming elections as well. which way do you think public sentiment is lying in terms of candidates like president tsai ing—wen who are looking for closer ties with the united states and others who are perhaps not? t states and others who are perhaps not?— perhaps not? i think it's difficult _ perhaps not? i think it's difficult to _ perhaps not? i think it's difficult to say - perhaps not? i think it's difficult to say this - perhaps not? i think it'sl difficult to say this point. there is a knees on both sides. looking at the president's highest, and the candidate for the presidency, if elected, there is concern about whether or not about taking a stronger line on sovereignty. he said in the past that he is a political worker for taiwan the past that he is a political workerfor taiwan independence and that has raised some concern. forthe and that has raised some concern. for the opposition kmp, they are also concerned the position on relations with

china maybe too close to beijing and a certain distance with china. beijing and a certain distance with china-— beijing and a certain distance with china. indeed, 'ust going forward, with china. indeed, 'ust going forward. do h with china. indeed, 'ust going forward, do you _ with china. indeed, just going forward, do you see _ with china. indeed, just going forward, do you see more - with china. indeed, just going forward, do you see more of i forward, do you see more of these sorts of visits happening? do you see the relationship between the us and taiwan getting even closer, based on what we've seen today? relations between taiwan and the united states will grow closer, especially as china applies diplomatic pressure on taiwan. if there is a further loss of recognition, those will be offset by deepening relations with the united states. generally speaking, the united states is taiwan's most important international partner in the united states is willing to deepen relations with taiwan. one of the world's biggest criminal marketplaces used by online fraudsters to buy passwords has been shut down after a global police investigation.

known as genesis market, the site sold login details and other personal data, allowing criminals to log into people's bank accounts and other services. two mllion people may have fallen victim to the fraudsters around the world. tens of thousands of them in the uk. daniel sandford has the story. come to the door! police! come to the door! a dawn raid in grimsby at the home of a suspected fraudster. the start of an international operation against alleged hackers who steal from online bank accounts and shopping sites. here, officers from the national crime agency and the police arrested a man in his 30s on suspicion of fraud and computer misuse — one of 2a people arrested in the uk. the target of the raids was the genesis market website, a one—stop shop for hackers who could log in and buy stolen passwords for bank accounts, paypal accounts and accounts

for services like amazon, uber and netflix. what was particularly dangerous about the data being sold on the genesis market website was that it wasn't just log—in details. the hackers could purchase all of what's known as your digital fingerprints, your browser information, your ip address and your physical location, so that when the hackers logged in to a bank account or shopping website, it really did look as if they were the original user. hackers trying to use genesis market today didn't get the usual login page. rather, they got this message from the fbi saying the website had been seized as part of operation cookie monster — a reference to the fact that one of the things that genesis market was selling was computer cookies to help hackers impersonate genuine users. for too long, criminals have stolen credentials from innocent members of the public. we now want criminals to be afraid that we have their credentials, and they should be.

and people today are getting a knock on their door, very early in the morning. the national crime agency advised members of the public that, to avoid fraud, they should always take software updates on their phones and computers, they should use strong passwords and, where possible, use two—factor authentication. that's when a text message with a one use password is sent as part of the login process. daniel sandford, bbc news, at the national crime agency. let's take a look at some of the stories in the headlines around the world. all young children have been killed in an attack on a preschool in southern brazil, a man entering the nursery and attacking the children before turning himself in. a tornado struck is already in the early morning, killing at least five people. local authorities report widespread damage to the area. the storm is one of need to devastate the us south and midwest. when commenting on the storm, an officer called it heartbreaking to see. the un chief is strongly condemned the

taliban for barring afghan women from working for the organisation in the country. the secretary general says female staff are essential and that this move will harm afghans. afghan employees, men and women, have been told not to report to work the next 48 hours there is more clarity on the situation. former new zealand prime ministerjacinda 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". ido i do hope i've demonstrated something else entirely, that

you can be anxious, sensitive, kind and where 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 cryer, a hugger, you can be all of these things but not only can you be here, you can lead just like me. making a farewell speech, jacinda ardern. let's turn to pakistan now — where i want to tell you about how an elephant in karachi zoo — suffering from multiple issues including arthritis — has received further treatment. 17—year—old noorjehan had been barely able to walk around her enclosure due to a huge growth between her back legs, sparking concern from keepers and visitors. but that changed when a team

of veterinarians and wildlife experts from a foreign animal welfare group intervened. the easter weekend just around the corner, a heads—up for what to expect coming shortly, but first of all, let's take a look at wednesday's weather. best of the sunshine was certainly across eastern england. yes, it clouded over into the afternoon, but most of us had skies like this — fairly grey with outbreaks of rain at times. now, that rain is pushing its way east and it will clear over the next few hours and allow this ridge of high pressure to build and quieten things down. so, first thing thursday, it's a rather grey, damp, dreary start across the east, but it's a mild one with the cloud around, temperatures holding up above freezing, so that early rain will ease away. mist and fog patches lift to sunny spells and scattered showers into the afternoon. maybe some of those showers filtering down through the cheshire gap could be quite heavy, maybe with the odd rumble of thunder mixed in there as well.

so, by the middle part of the afternoon, it's sunny spells and scattered showers. highs of 11—14 degrees, slightly drier, brighter skies into northern ireland and western scotland as that ridge of high pressure takes over. but there will be some showers across the northeast of england and eastern scotland here, highs of 9—12 celsius. so, by the end of thursday, the high pressure is building and quieting things down quite nicely. a spell of really wet weather for a time, moving away through east anglia and southeast england. but under those clearer skies out to the west, once again, those temperatures fall away low enough for a touch of frost to form first thing on friday morning. but good friday is going to be a reasonable day — dry, settled and sunny. these weather fronts trying to push in from the atlantic, but they will take most of the easter weekend before they arrive. so, on the whole, we could just see a little more in the way

of cloud just pushing in off north sea coasts, unfortunately for eastern england. but most of us dry with some sunshine coming through and light winds. it'll be pleasant enough — highs of 10—14 celsius. similar story as we go into saturday, but there's a greater chance of seeing more cloud developing from the north sea with that easterly flow. there's our weather front, trying desperately hard to push in from the atlantic. it takes its time to do so, perhaps not arriving until sunday, with more significant rain for some of us by easter monday. take care.

falsifying business records. sarah smith has the story. china condemns the meeting between cowan�*s president tsai ing—wen and the us house speaker kevin mccarthy in california. and we sit down with the head of sri lankan�*s airlines as they look to privatise to ease the burden on colombo. —— taiwan's president. hello and welcome to asia business report, i'm karishma vaswani. ourtop business report, i'm karishma vaswani. our top story for you this morning, china has vowed a resolute response following a high level meeting between the taiwanese president tsai ing—wen and us house speaker

kevin mccarthy in california.