he lied to investigators, he lied the judge who sentenced him, he lied to the united states congress and he committed these lies for his own benefit. the defence continues their attack against michael cohen, of course, because he is the star witness, the one on which the outcome of this trial really hinges, because he is the only one who directly ties donald trump to the business falsification alleged scheme. it doesn't appear that the defence i attorneys are doing an effective job of destroying his credibility. the facts about his past, | including his convictions, have already been brought out on direct examination. - michael cohen returns for a third day of testimony at the donald trump trail in new york. he has faced a day of tough questioning from trump's lawyers, who worked several different angles to attack cohen's credibility. it could be the final day of evidence. we will assess the prosecutions

case and what the jury will need to decide. russia and china agree to tighten military ties and deepen their economic partnership after talks in beijing. what will washington's response to that be? and police in slovakia have charged a man with the attempted murder of the prime minister, robert fico. the prime minister remains in a serious but stable condition. good evening. michael cohen once said he would take a bullet for donald trump. the prosection is hoping that in this case he is their silver bullet, but he has faced a withering day of cross examination as trump's lawyers worked hard this afternoon to demolish his credibility. questioned the notion that michael cohen is a reformed man interested in justice. putting to him the many lies he had told in defence of his former employer. he testified he lied out of "loyalty" and to "protect" the former presient

when he was his personal counsel. at the heart of the case is a payment trump made to cohen in 2016 — a reimbursement, say the prosecution, for a $130,000 payoff to the former adult film star stormy daniels. they allege trump bought her silence to prevent damaging headlines ahead of the election and then orchestrated a scheme to falsify the records. the crime is that they're doing this case. this was a case that wasn't going to be done and then when i announced i was running, they could have done it seven years ago. it could have been brought seven years ago. but they wanted it right smack in the middle of elections. these are very dishonest people that we are dealing with. but outside, it is like fort knox. you can't get within three blocks of this place. and it is a shame what they're doing, what they're doing in terms of suppression, and election interference, there has never been anything like that. the polls are through the roof. you may have noticed the republican

congressman matt gates over the former president's right shoulder. north america correspondentjohn sudworth joins us from new york. lots of questions ahead of this evidence about how michael cohen would stand up on the cross examination, how do you think he did and how did the fair? the examination, how do you think he did and how did the fair?— and how did the fair? the evidence we have heard _ and how did the fair? the evidence we have heard today _ and how did the fair? the evidence we have heard today has _ and how did the fair? the evidence| we have heard today has once again been all about trying to undermine michael cohen's integrity in front of the jury. to some extent, they have a fair wind behind them. the prosecution did much of thatjob for them. it really hinges on the alternate views of michael cohen's character and his motivations. he is crucial, as you say, because he is the man able to tie donald trump directly to knowledge that those

payments were improperly disguised as legal fees as an attempt to buy the silence of stormy daniels. in the silence of stormy daniels. in the defence today we hurt them hammer away at the idea that he is a liar and motivated by the idea of range in simply not want to trust. the prosecution's case seems to be based on the idea that, yes, michael cohen himself went to jail in 2018 for many of these actions, but that is precisely the point. his criminality and his lying was all donein criminality and his lying was all done in the service of donald trump, to protect donald trump. in the end it will be down to which of the two versions thejury it will be down to which of the two versions the jury is swayed by. but don't forget, in terms of landing those blows on michael cohen's integrity, the defence only need one juror. in new york criminal trials you need a unanimous verdict to convict. i

you need a unanimous verdict to convict. ., ., a, you need a unanimous verdict to convict. ., ., convict. i mentioned that matt gaetz was there. convict. i mentioned that matt gaetz was there- a — convict. i mentioned that matt gaetz was there. a number _ convict. i mentioned that matt gaetz was there. a number of _ convict. i mentioned that matt gaetz. was there. a number of congressional figures from the so—called freedom caucus there to support the president's case today. it is it a badge of loyalty to be there alongside the former president? yes. alongside the former president? yes, clearl it alongside the former president? yes, clearly it is- — alongside the former president? yes, clearly it is. there _ alongside the former president? yes, clearly it is. there are _ alongside the former president? 1&1: clearly it is. there are no shortage of candidates willing to come here to new york and to show that loyalty. sometimes you need to stand back a little and reflect again on just how remarkable what we are seeing here is. this is the first ever criminal prosecution of a former president. it is a case that undoubtably has major implications for the election this year and arguably, therefore, for the future of american democracy. at the heart of american democracy. at the heart of it all, you have donald trump, a man, himself accused in 2021 of having try to improperly hang onto

power, turning the accusation on its head. suggesting that this trial itself is corrupt with no evidence to substantiate that claim of course. in the middle of all of that you have this entourage, groups of republican politicians turning up here to lend their support, to sit in the courtroom with him. in such numbers that actually it is beginning to affect the scheduling of business in congress. 0nce beginning to affect the scheduling of business in congress. once again you want to say, you could not make it up. although, in american politics, that phrase began to lose its meaning a good few years ago. indeed so. 0utside its meaning a good few years ago. indeed so. outside of the new york courthouse for that, thank you. so what have we learnt so far in this trial? let's go back and look at the key prosecution witnesses in this case and the evidence they have given. first up was the tabloid publisher the national enquirer�*s david pecker, who told the jury there was a secret plan with donald trump to suppress negative stories about the former president — an "agreement among friends", he said.

the former trump aide hope hicks testified about the panic within trump's inner circle after the access hollywood tape became publicjust weeks before the election. the stormy daniels story, she said, would have compounded the damage. keith davidson, the lawyer who brokered a hush—money deal to the adult film star stormy daniels, said the payment was designed to keep her quiet about the alleged sexual excounter with the former president in 2006. and then there was stormy daniels herself. it's her allegations about that encounter that are at the heart of the trial. she testified for more than seven hours across two days, providing salacious details about the affair. but it is not the affair — it's the payment to hide the affair and whether it was made to conceal the story from the voting public and later covered up as a legal expense in the business records. a misdemeanor that becomes a felony, if there is evidence of a campaign finance violation. let's cross over to new york and speak to shira a scheindlin, former united states districtjudge.

lovely to have you back on the programme. isuppose lovely to have you back on the programme. i suppose what we learn through three days of michael cohen's testimony is that he is here to own his lies, admit to them and express contrition. the big question is, will thejury express contrition. the big question is, will the jury believe express contrition. the big question is, will thejury believe him. h0 is, will the “ury believe him. no one can is, willthejury believe him. i157 one can answer that question because we are not the jurors and we are not sitting in the courtroom, day in and day out, watching the witnesses, watching the examinations and we don't know what those jurors have brought to this trial. what they think of each and every witness. it is very hard to say what the jury feels. we can only tell you in a sense of what we think has been happening but it is very hard to say what a particularjuror or for that matter 12 will think of the case. donald trump's strongest defence to these charges is that there is insufficient evidence that he knew his people were false and following

the bigness —— business records. what problems does the defence have and sticking to that line? the what problems does the defence have and sticking to that line?— and sticking to that line? the first roblem is and sticking to that line? the first problem is that _ and sticking to that line? the first problem is that the _ and sticking to that line? the first problem is that the jury _ and sticking to that line? the first problem is that the jury just - and sticking to that line? the first| problem is that the jury just might problem is that the juryjust might believe michael cohen. if they believe michael cohen. if they believe michael cohen. if they believe michael cohen, it is over. michael cohen has given testimony, if believed, that trump very well new what the payments were for. but there is also circumstantial evidence that he knew after the access hollywood tape that any bombshell or revelation from these women would be the end of it. so he was very worried and upset and that is what hope hicks testified to, that the whole campaign was in crisis at that point. so we can try the inference that he very well knew that there was going to be an effort to suppress that story, those stories, the two women. and that he knew the effort would involve payments made and that he would be reimbursing those payments down the road particularly when michael cohen himself laid out the money. this

evidence. _ himself laid out the money. this evidence. we — himself laid out the money. this evidence, we presume, will be over later this afternoon and then there is a big outstanding question. first of all, we'll donald trump himself testified what she has set outside of court he would be very happy to do and then, whether they would be any witnesses at all for the defence. i wonder howjuries look at that. if there is the bold claim from the defence that the state has not provided evidence beyond reasonable doubt and they don't provide a witness, how do courts tend to react?— provide a witness, how do courts tend to react? before i answer that auestion i tend to react? before i answer that question i think _ tend to react? before i answer that question i think you _ tend to react? before i answer that question i think you missed - tend to react? before i answer that question i think you missed one - tend to react? before i answer that. question i think you missed one very important step. after the cross—examination of michael cohen is finished, the people have the right to do what is called redirect its emanation and that could be significant they could spend a lot of time rehabilitating him and giving him a chance to explain to them all of the things that he said to before and reiterate them and to impress the jury once again and that is the last thing the jury may hear.

there can be recross but in the and people will get the last word. so i think that will be significant that after the defence can finish its pummeling of him, the people have a chance to rehabilitate. under other question, thejudge will chance to rehabilitate. under other question, the judge will charge, everyjudge charges a jury it says the defence has no verdict to produce —— prove anything and see you cannot infer anything from the fact that don't choose to call witnesses. it is the people's burden to prove its case and either they have or have not beyond a reasonable doubt. so i thinkjurors do listen hard to thejudge's doubt. so i thinkjurors do listen hard to the judge's charge. when they sit in thatjury room, i don't think they will say gee, they didn't put on any evidence because the court says they have no burden to do so. so even if the people's case holds up on its own or not. —— either. holds up on its own or not. -- either. . ., ., . .,, either. once we have had the closing ara uments either. once we have had the closing arguments to — either. once we have had the closing arguments to the _ either. once we have had the closing arguments to the jury _ either. once we have had the closing arguments to the jury from _ either. once we have had the closing arguments to the jury from the - arguments to the jury from the prosecution and defence, they go out, they make their decision, what happens? let's presume a contact.

you skip this step again. after the summations thejudge you skip this step again. after the summations the judge will give the charge. that is a critical point in the trial. when the judge explains the trial. when the judge explains the law to the jury, explains their job to thejury. the law to the jury, explains their job to the jury. these days, judges often give thejury job to the jury. these days, judges often give the jury a paper copy of the charge that they can refer back to as the deliberate. so the summations are not the last word. the charge is and the jury will follow that. so getting to your question. let's assume for the moment that there is a conviction. the next step will be, what is the sentence going to be. now, we note here that the court could impose a sentence of incarceration, but i don't think the court will do it. because this is a first defence of a person who is 77 years old and if he was anyone else named john doe, we never sentence a first offender of that age group to jail when we have a choice of probationary sentence. so i think it would look very

improper to send him to jail, even if convicted of these felonies. i need to go back and watch law and order so i get all of the steps right will stop i am missing big important chunks but you've put us right. thank you for coming onto the programme and i appreciate that. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's take a look at some of the other stories in the headlines. a five—year—old boy has died after falling from a block of flats in east london. emergency services were called at around six o'clock this morning — the boy died at the scene. police say the death is being treated as unexpected but not suspicious, and say they are working to �*establish the full circumstances'. tens of thousands of people living in south devon have been told not to drink tap water without boiling it first after the outbreak of a waterborne disease. around 16,000 homes and businesses in the brixham area are affected. they've been warned the outbreak of crypto—sporidium could last for at least a week.

teenagers may be able to qualify to drive trains — under new proposals aimed at tackling a shortage of drivers. the government is asking for views on reducing the minimum age from 20 to 18, in a consultation running untiljune. the measures have been prompted over concerns of the number of drivers set to retire in the next five years. you are watching bbc news. as the chinese leader xi jinping welcomed the russian president vladimir putin to china on a two—day state visit to the country. the rest of the day was watching. just days after putin was sworn in for a fifth term in office. the two have met 43 times so far. bear in mind thatjoe biden has met putin just once as president and has met xi a handful of times, which reaffirms that if anyone can reign in putin, it must be xi.

there is pressure from washington. they want beijing to stop supporting russia's war in ukraine, with the threat of more sanctions to come. since the full—scale invasion in 2022, trade between china and russia has surged last year — trade between the two countries was up more than 64% on 2021— china has become russia's key supplier of cars, clothing and many other products. in return, china has continued to grow it's imports of russian oil and liquified natural gas — a sector which accounts for almost half the russian government's annual revenues. but it is the supply of the dual—use items, those with both commercial and military application, which most concerns the united states. over 300 million dollars of trade that is being used to produce munitions, tanks and missiles. speaking to the bbc in april — the us secretary of state antony blinken said they are watching what china supplies. 70% of the machine tools that russia is getting from abroad coming from china, 90% of the microelectronics. so for china, if it wants to have better relations not only with us but with countries in europe,

it can't do that while at the same time helping to fuel the biggest threat to european security since the end of the cold war. we've taken action already against chinese entities that are engaged in this. and what i made clear today is that if china won't act, we will. joining me now is rorry daniels, managing director of the asia society policy institute, which focuses on a range of issues affecting the asia—pacific region. welcome to the programme. it all looks very cosy, this. we have warm handshakes of effusive language, they are inspecting the troops together, signing agreements. is it a partnership without limits? that is an interesting _ a partnership without limits? twat is an interesting question. i think there are definitely limits on any partnership in international relations but it does seem to be a partnership that is growing across different sectors of the economy,

the security realm and society. so it certainly seems like a partnership that is deepening and has not yet reached a limit. tap partnership that is deepening and has not yet reached a limit. top of the mind, i _ has not yet reached a limit. top of the mind, i would _ has not yet reached a limit. top of the mind, i would suggest - has not yet reached a limit. top of the mind, i would suggest for- the mind, i would suggest for president putin is reasserts from president putin is reasserts from president xijinping president putin is reasserts from president xi jinping that the chinese support for the industrial base will continue in mind that clip we have played from the country blinken, how will china view that? how will china view the us reaction? yes, the threat of more sanctions. t yes, the threat of more sanctions. i think china sees is very much in the lens of protecting and inflating its own economy. so definitely seized the us and global and western financial sanctions and restrictions on its economy for its invasion on ukraine as indicative of western power being used against the legitimate interests of other states and countries. there are numerous references to route the joint

statement that was issued today by russia and china and also in the media availability about russia and china's position that financial instruments should not be used against them. and that their increasing relationship in trade as part of an effort to insulate themselves from the threat of economic and other force from western countries and particularly from western alliances.— from western alliances. president putin has often _ from western alliances. president putin has often talked _ from western alliances. president putin has often talked about - putin has often talked about restoring the power of the soviet union, but it seems to me for what wejust set out, union, but it seems to me for what we just set out, they are the junior partner in this relationship. i wonder how that dispute at home in russia? . , wonder how that dispute at home in russia? ., , ., , russia? that is it really interesting _ russia? that is it really interesting question. i russia? that is it really. interesting question. i'm russia? that is it really - interesting question. i'm not russia? that is it really _ interesting question. i'm not sure how it is you got home in russia, but i will say there are points in the statement that suggested that there was pushback against this idea that this relationship is transactional and 0ort opportunistic and i think in thejoint transactional and 0ort opportunistic and i think in the joint statement they very much that this is not a

transactional or commercial relationship but it is purely strategic and much deeper. so perhaps president putin didn't want that type of language to assuage fears in russia but they are being taken advantage of in this relationship —— did want this type of language. but it is obvious to the rest of the world that one partner is stronger than the other. they are almost on two different tax, yes, they both want to stand against american control in the indo—pacific region, but it almost seems to me that china is put stability at the heart of what it does whereas the russians have sowed instability and chaos to gain the influence that they wants. if there is more instability, how does china start to see this war in ukraine? i'm not sure how china would seek greater instability arising from the war in ukraine beyond the lens through which it is already seen it which is that it is the interaction between a hostile western forces and

legitimate russian interests. but i will say that china really does and has long prioritised stability within russia and before that, the soviet union. i think from china's perspective, what happened to the fall of the soviet union and what is happening to russia now in terms of pressure by the west magnifies fears that it has about its own system and its own ability to pursue a one—party state and authoritarian system in a modern, globalised economy. i system in a modern, globalised econom . . , , system in a modern, globalised econom . ., , , ., system in a modern, globalised econom. , ., economy. i was listening to some american commentary _ economy. i was listening to some american commentary about - economy. i was listening to some american commentary about this | economy. i was listening to some - american commentary about this visit and one of the things that alarms the pentagon is this idea that president putin is going to put a nuclear weapon into space which is obviously would threaten everyone's communications. the american communications. the american communication satellites, but also those of the chinese. so you can see a scenario with the americans would say to be chinese,, hang on a second, we both have an interest in

reining in president putin, i wonder if that is one chink that the americans that they may seek to exploit. i americans that they may seek to exloit. ., , ,., , americans that they may seek to exloit. ., , _, , ., americans that they may seek to exloit. ., , ,., , ~ ., .,, exploit. i absolutely think that has come u- exploit. i absolutely think that has come up in — exploit. i absolutely think that has come up in composition _ exploit. i absolutely think that has come up in composition between i come up in composition between american and chinese officials. it is not a new concern. i will note that in the joint statement which was incredibly conference if, there was incredibly conference if, there was also pushback against the us use of space as a defence area, particularly for missile defence technology that the us is putting into space including missile targeting technology. so i think that space is certainly a area where we need greater dialogue about what the intentions of each country is, when they put the systems into place. i believe the us has offered ample opportunities to have that dialogue with china, opportunities that have yet to be taken up by the chinese aside.— chinese aside. thank you for coming onto the programme. _ the labour leader, sir keir starmer,

has set out the first steps he would take if he becomes prime minister at the next election. his six promises, unveiled at a launch event in essex, include a new border security command to tackle trafficking gangs, and more investment in the nhs and education. the conservatives called the plans yet another relaunch of previously announced policies. 0ur political editor, chris mason reports. flashing red, the morning commute in purfleet in essex today. the commuters — the people who want to run the country before the year is out. they were heading for a film studio of all places — promises, pamphlets, pledges and no shortage of razzmatazz. and this stuff doesn't happen by accident. keir starmer minus a jacket and tie, sleeves rolled up. these are our first steps. they enable us, if you like, to look the public in the eye and say this is our down payment on change. these are the first shoots of the change that you deserve to see. first steps that are ready to go, fully costed and fully funded.

they're making promises on schools, borders, anti—social behaviour, security, energy, the economy and an extra 40,000 appointments in the nhs in england every week. 0ne card, six steps — in your hand, a plan to change the country. thank you all so much. labour are remarkably good, let's put it bluntly, at losing general elections. do you find yourself getting jittery, getting nervous that you might throw it all away? we are never, ever going to be complacent about this coming general election. was this is a launch venue, but for a summer election that's not happened? well, we're going to be ready- for an election whenever it comes. we would've been ready in may if the prime minister had had . the bottle to call it then. is it a bit like being in an anxiety dream for you? an election campaign starting, labour seemingly on a path towards victory... it's a kind of relief that it's not me. it's not him now.

it's this man. keir starmer, you want 40,000 more appointments a week in the nhs in england. can you be specific, by when? i think we can start on this straightaway, without getting ahead of ourselves. i do know that we've got to be ready, and that's why we're already having discussions with nhs staff about how we would operate to this model. so i think we can do that pretty swiftly. there are other changes i've set out this morning... pretty swifty�*s quite vague, though, isn't it? isn't it really a promise if you can't actually put a timeframe on it? yes, it is. from day one, minute one, we will be working on this to deliver itjust as quickly as possible. and here's some more evidence an election�*s not far off. i've done a lot of things in this job, but being here is probably on the more intimidating end of things i've had to do. the prime minister spent his lunch time on loose women. i'm focused on that election, right? i focused on the choice at that election because we've been through a lot, but i do think actually the things that we are doing are starting to make a difference. the choice is who can

deliver a secure future for you and your family? so come back and tell usl when the election is over. we'd be delighted to i have you with us then. at the time. and, yes, there will be plenty more appointments on tv sets and film sets, an industry of political persuasion before polling day wanders along. that is it for the moment. we will go to a short break in on the other side we will be with a weekly deep dive into everything artificial intelligence. i hope you will stay with us for that. —— ai decoded. hello. today has brought a real patchwork of weather across the uk. for some, it's been a story of blue sky and sunshine. northern scotland doing

very well for brightness and indeed for warmth, whereas in derbyshire, it was a very different affair — some very heavy rain. and for others, well, it stayed pretty misty and murky for a good part of the day, especially close to north sea coasts. now, the wettest of the weather is sliding away westwards, taken away by this little wiggle on this weather front. so the rain tending to clear away from wales as we head into the night, but a band of cloud left behind across the north of wales, the north midlands, northern england — quite murky and drizzly in places here. some fog patches elsewhere as well. temperatures generally between 7—12 degrees. we mayjust see a few places getting a little bit chillier than that. into friday morning, there will be some areas of mist and murk. this band of cloud sitting in place across parts of northern england, but all of that mist and low cloud and fog tends to lift up and break in most places to give some spells of sunshine. may just stay a bit murky for some north sea coasts, which will suppress the temperatures, but in the best of the sunshine, values up into the low 20s celsius,

maybe 23 in parts of western scotland. now, as we head towards the weekend, it stays pretty mixed — mist and fog at night and early in the morning. some spells of warm sunshine, but also a scattering of heavy showers. in fact, some more persistent rain to start saturday morning across parts of south—east england as this next wriggling weather front just bends its way in, so could be a wet start down towards the south and the south—east. elsewhere, quite a lot of mist and murk and low cloud as we start the day. could be a grey and gloomy start. and for some, it could be a slow process to clear that mist and murk, but most places should see some sunshine by saturday afternoon. small chance for a shower, particularly seeing some showers down towards the south. temperatures in glasgow up to 23 degrees, but i think we will see more cloud generally across scotland on sunday, perhaps into northern ireland, the far north of england as well — could see the odd spell of rain with that. england and wales seeing more sunshine, just the chance for one or two showers,

and temperature—wise, most places into the high teens or low 20s celsius.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. the firm behind chatgpt unveils its latest ai chatbot — which can see, hear

and hold real—time conversations. we will get into that in our weekly segments, ai decoded about here is the sport first. sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's will perry. hello from the bbc sport centre. xander schauffele carded the lowest round ever in a us pga championship with a first round 62 to lead by three shots. the american cae up with nine birdies at valhalla to beat jose maria 0lazabal�*s course record set 2a years ago. rory mcilroy is hoping to end his 10—year major drought, he's in the clubhouse four shots off the lead. world number one scottie scheffler got an eagle on his first hole, he's three under through four. four times winner tiger woods is one over, john rahm two over through four. the fight for premier league promotion continues with leeds taking on norwich in the second leg

of their chaampionship play—off semifinal.