live from london. this is bbc news. america's top diplomat tells the bbc he's prepared to take steps against china if it continues to support russia's war effort. for china, if it wants to have better relations but 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. the world's first personalised vaccine for melanoma skin cancer is being tested on british patients — it's been hailed as a potential "gamechanger" for treatment. a former senior post office executive faces questions about the suicide of a sub postmaster who was being pursued for apparent losses at his branch. scotland's first minister humza yousaf weighs up his future — as he faces a vote of no confidence after his power—sharing deal with the greens collapsed and two of the most valuable items ever to be

salvaged from the titanic — which go under the hammer this weekend hello, i'm geeta guru—murthy, welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. the us top diplomat, antony blinken, has told the bbc that he is prepared to take steps against china if beijing continues to send key supplies to russia which are used to aid its invasion of ukraine. the secretary of state has been holding talks with the chinese leader, xijinping, during a trip to beijing. in an interview with the bbc, mr blinken said that he'd made it clear to his chinese counterparts that they had to stop sending key components to russia or there would be consequences. (sot thank you forjoining us. what were the biggest points of contention for you and your chinese counterparts? what's really important is i was last here ten months ago and that really kicked off much

greater engagement between our countries, diplomatic engagement with a number of my colleagues coming to china after my trip and president biden and xi meeting in san francisco last year. they agreed it was very important to sustain this diplomatic dialogue and communication because we have an obligation to manage the relationship between our countries sustainably given the importance it has notjust for our people but around the world. that has two aspects. one is making sure we communicate clearly in areas where we have differences, to avoid miscalculations and misunderstandings. the other is to see if we can build greater co—operation in areas where we have mutual interest in doing that. that is exactly what i was focused on here, carrying that agenda forward. and clearly there are areas where we have

profound differences but we are talking about it and making our intentions clear but also is in progress and areas of co—operation on military to military communications. now a dialogue in al. and we also to build up people to people exchanges. what you need to walk away with to make this trip a success for you? we've seen ready that this is a process and is not like flicking a switch. the presidents agreed we'd co—operate on countering narcotics, opioids, the biggest cause of death for young people and though it is made with chemicals, precursors that get synthesised into this opioid. those chemicals are often manufactured in china for totally appropriate legal purposes but they get diverted to illegal organisations that turn interventional and are sent to

the us. we have seen a real change from china trying to deal with that but in our conversations today we focus on how to carry that forward to have a real impact and make sure we have results, looking for steps china can take to counter that. as you mentioned, we announced we would have a dialogue on artificial intelligence, the risks and safety concerns because it important we talk about it. you important we talk about it. are speeding to stop sc russia you are speeding to stop supplying russia with components is using its invasion of ukraine. you asked this before. what makes you think people will listen to this time? 70% of the equipment russia is receiving is from china. this is doing two

things, helping russia perpetuate its aggression against ukraine and also presenting a growing threat to europe because of the growing aggression. what i'm hearing from europeans is deeply concerning. for china, everyone's better relations with us and with the countries in europe, it can't do that while at the same time helping fuel the biggest threat to european security since the cold war. we've taken action against chinese entities engaged in this and were made clear today as if china won't act, we will. against the background of this trip, both sides want to stabilise the relationship while each is taking actions that they know it's going to raise the threat perceptions of the

other. china will be welcoming vladimir putin in may, supplying not only machine tools and semiconductors and russian gas and oil, they are providing missile engines to russia and have been very aggressive, in the south china sea, really threatening american treaty ally in the philippines, and the us for its part is taking a number of actions, drawing closer to japan and taiwan and to philippines that increase china's threat perceptions. neither side has changed its view of the others or sense of its own interests or strategies. haw the others or sense of its own interests or strategies. how would ou interests or strategies. how would you describe _ interests or strategies. how would you describe it _ interests or strategies. how would you describe it in _ interests or strategies. how would you describe it in terms _ interests or strategies. how would you describe it in terms of - interests or strategies. how would you describe it in terms of historic| you describe it in terms of historic us relations with china and other nations that has had tensions with? how serious is it in terms of global flashpoints? i how serious is it in terms of global flashpoints?— flashpoints? i think the best

framework _ flashpoints? i think the best framework for _ flashpoints? i think the best| framework for understanding flashpoints? i think the best - framework for understanding the massive data and stories about china, the way to make sense of it is understand that the us and china and other nations are already engaged in a new kind of cold war. it will be different from the old one but will be very long and protracted and dangerous and involves mutually assured destruction and nuclear arms race and it will involve in delicate, long—term balance but each side is determined to prevail over the other in a global competition by all means short of war. they very sincere about that which is what makes this the cold war and this trip, both sides are trying to figure out how to manage the cold war competition is such that they don't descend into conflict. i5 is such that they don't descend into conflict. , ., ., is such that they don't descend into conflict. , . . ., , conflict. is taiwan the most dangerous _ conflict. is taiwan the most dangerous potential - conflict. is taiwan the most - dangerous potential flashpoint? we need dangerous potentialflashpoint? we need a starting in may. or is it

difficult to say because of the existing tensions between ukraine and middle east?— and middle east? certainly in ukraine, should _ and middle east? certainly in ukraine, should china - and middle east? certainly in ukraine, should china decide i and middle east? certainly in i ukraine, should china decide to supply large amounts of lethal aid to russia, becomes the first proxy war of this new cold war. china does not want to do that, as anything wanted this what they have good relations with ukraine but it's committed to supporting russia. taiwan is the biggest potential flashpoint with the right combinations of deterrence and diplomacy, is possible to avoid war. but the likelihood of war, whilst still low, increasing. there are increasing the capabilities in the region. a ground—breaking vaccine for melanoma skin cancer is being trialled in the uk. the jab, which is personalised,

uses the same technology as that in some covid vaccines.early studies show that when used with another cancer drug — it almost halved the risk of recurrence or death after three years. melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer and can spread to other areas of the body. experts say 86% of these cases could be prevented by taking the right precautions. here's our health correspondentjim reed. could a jab like this change the way cancer is treated? last month, steve young became the first person in the uk to be given this personalised vaccine, not to prevent the disease, but to try to stop a skin cancer returning. at least by being on a trial, i'm actively doing something that, you know, i'm having a fight, basically, i'm having a fight with whatever it was that gave me a melanoma. last summer, steve had this tumour removed from his scalp.

those same cancer cells were flown to the united states and used to make the new experimental treatment. by priming, or preparing, his immune system, the hope is that steve's own body can better find and attack any cancer cells left over after his surgery. the trials being run at this hospital in london and others are based on the same technology used in some covid jab called mrna, combined with a second treatment. early research suggests it significantly reduced the risk of this specific skin cancer called melanoma returning three years after surgery. researchers hope the same approach could work more widely. the real potential here, of course, is expanding this into other cancers because it's not a technology that just works in one cancer. if it works in melanoma, it could work across a number of different cancers, lung cancer, bowel cancer,

kidney cancer etc. so there's a potential here for a really transformative change in how we treat patients with cancer. for patients like steve, a musician from hertfordshire, the hope is this personalised approach will one day sit alongside proven treatments like radiotherapy and chemotherapy. weeks on from his treatment, he is thinking about his future. ifeel like i have this new lease of life and i'm actually really loving life at the moment, and ijust really hope that what's happening with the trial and the results they get are going to be good news and it's going to go on to do amazing things. the uk arm of this global trial is taking place at this hospital and seven other sites across the country. but this is still very early stage research, with full results not expected before the end of the decade. to get a better understanding of how

it feels to experience melanoma and just how significant an effective vaccine could be — i spoke to jamie cundy, who has been in and out of hospital for many years with recurring melanoma. he's also a sunguard ambassador for the melanoma fund. he told us about his experience: i have been a professional golfer most of my working life, a golf professional since 18. so i've been actively coaching golf in the last 35 years and unfortunately diagnosed with some sort of skin cancer about six years ago which has been recurring, i have had three separate occasions which have been removed through surgery but i certainly think this new ground—breaking trail is amazing news for everybody suffering with skin cancer over the last few decades. pare suffering with skin cancer over the last few decades.— last few decades. are you still havin: last few decades. are you still having treatment? _ last few decades. are you still having treatment? i'm - last few decades. are you still having treatment? i'm on - last few decades. are you still. having treatment? i'm on regular

checku-s having treatment? i'm on regular checkups now. — having treatment? i'm on regular checkups now, i _ having treatment? i'm on regular checkups now, i had _ having treatment? i'm on regular checkups now, i had a _ having treatment? i'm on regular checkups now, i had a melanomaj checkups now, i had a melanoma removed at the beginning of this year which was successfully removed which was an ongoing process of being checked and constant worry of it recurring any time. i think the surgery is quite invasive so anything non—surgery would be an amazing result for people. idietitian anything non-surgery would be an amazing result for people. when you first find out — amazing result for people. when you first find out you _ amazing result for people. when you first find out you had _ amazing result for people. when you first find out you had it, _ amazing result for people. when you first find out you had it, what - amazing result for people. when you first find out you had it, what was . first find out you had it, what was that moment like?— first find out you had it, what was that moment like? complete shock, i had to no that moment like? complete shock, i had to go home _ that moment like? complete shock, i had to go home and _ that moment like? complete shock, i had to go home and google _ that moment like? complete shock, i had to go home and google what - that moment like? complete shock, i j had to go home and google what skin cancer and melanoma was. i had absolutely no idea of the potential risks of working outside and being outside and dangers of the sun. it's been a learning process over the last six years and part of my role as a golf professional is educating other golf professionals and golfers

forsake guarding themselves when they're on the golf course. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

a former senior post office executive has been facing questions at the horizon it inquiry about the suicide of a sub postmaster who was being pursued for apparent losses at his branch. angela van den bogerd has been shown a letter from 2013 in which a sub—postmaster�*s daughter said she "solely" blamed the post office for her father, martin griffiths' death. we can speak now to azadeh moshiri who is at the inquiry in central london. this is incredibly distressing to hear, isn't it? what evidence has been heard today?—

hear, isn't it? what evidence has been heard today? absolutely, and articularl been heard today? absolutely, and particularly upsetting _ been heard today? absolutely, and particularly upsetting to _ been heard today? absolutely, and particularly upsetting to the - particularly upsetting to the victims attending today. several of them said this was a most difficult parts listen to, when the case of martin griffiths was being laid out because it's one of the most devastating stories to come out of the scandal. he was a sub—postmaster in 2013 when he took his own life by stepping in front of a bus and that was after his family accused the post office of having hounded him for tens of thousands of pounds. his daughter that you mentioned there wrote a year later to the post office saying she was disgusted by the way they were handling his case. angela van den bogerd was someone in charge of overseeing this complaints in that case in particular. what the inquiry has heard is how the post office went about compensating the family for the entire episode. let's

listen to the exchange. did family for the entire episode. let's listen to the exchange.— family for the entire episode. let's listen to the exchange. did you see an hinu listen to the exchange. did you see anything unsavoury _ listen to the exchange. did you see anything unsavoury in _ listen to the exchange. did you see anything unsavoury in using - listen to the exchange. did you see anything unsavoury in using money| listen to the exchange. did you see i anything unsavoury in using money as anything unsavoury in using money as a way— anything unsavoury in using money as a way of— anything unsavoury in using money as a way of ensuring mr griffiths's case _ a way of ensuring mr griffiths's case was — a way of ensuring mr griffiths's case was hushed up? it a way of ensuring mr griffiths's case was hushed up?— a way of ensuring mr griffiths's case was hushed up? it was nothing i discussed and — case was hushed up? it was nothing i discussed and didn't _ case was hushed up? it was nothing i discussed and didn't leave _ case was hushed up? it was nothing i discussed and didn't leave my - case was hushed up? it was nothing i discussed and didn't leave my head l discussed and didn't leave my head that does— discussed and didn't leave my head that does make _ discussed and didn't leave my head that does make enter— discussed and didn't leave my head that does make enter my— discussed and didn't leave my head that does make enter my head - discussed and didn't leave my head that does make enter my head that discussed and didn't leave my head . that does make enter my head that we will he _ that does make enter my head that we will he going _ that does make enter my head that we will he going down— that does make enter my head that we will be going down that _ that does make enter my head that we will be going down that road. - that does make enter my head that we will be going down that road. this - will be going down that road. this is the _ will be going down that road. this is the first— will be going down that road. this is the first we _ will be going down that road. this is the first we had _ will be going down that road. this is the first we had a _ will be going down that road. this is the first we had a bit _ will be going down that road. this is the first we had a bit from - is the first we had a bit from r0derick— is the first we had a bit from roderick and _ is the first we had a bit from roderick and the _ is the first we had a bit from roderick and the fact - is the first we had a bit from roderick and the fact he - is the first we had a bit from| roderick and the fact he said is the first we had a bit from . roderick and the fact he said it is the first we had a bit from - roderick and the fact he said it was accepted, _ roderick and the fact he said it was accepted, i— roderick and the fact he said it was accepted, i allowed _ roderick and the fact he said it was accepted, i allowed it— roderick and the fact he said it was accepted, i allowed it to _ roderick and the fact he said it was accepted, i allowed it to continue. i accepted, i allowed it to continue. so accepted, i allowed it to continue. 50 you _ accepted, i allowed it to continue. 50 you agreed _ accepted, i allowed it to continue. so you agreed with _ accepted, i allowed it to continue. so you agreed with the _ accepted, i allowed it to continue. so you agreed with the idea - accepted, i allowed it to continue. so you agreed with the idea that l accepted, i allowed it to continue. i so you agreed with the idea that we should _ so you agreed with the idea that we should use — so you agreed with the idea that we should use the drip feeding of money to the _ should use the drip feeding of money to the widow as a means of ensuring that she _ to the widow as a means of ensuring that she kept it hushed up. | to the widow as a means of ensuring that she kept it hushed up.— that she kept it hushed up. i went with what he _ that she kept it hushed up. i went with what he suggested, - that she kept it hushed up. i went with what he suggested, yes. - that she kept it hushed up. i went| with what he suggested, yes. that drip feeding _ with what he suggested, yes. that drip feeding the _ with what he suggested, yes. drip feeding the inquiry counsel with what he suggested, yes.- drip feeding the inquiry counsel was talking about this because they

decided to pay martin griffiths's widow in stage payments in order to incentivise, the word we saw in the document today, her confidentiality. they also accused angela van den bogerd of having an ice cold demeanour throughout the exchange, the way one of the postmasters put it. , the way one of the postmasters put it. y ., ., ., it. they do have legal representation - it. they do have legal - representation themselves. it. they do have legal _ representation themselves. what questions are getting those lawyers? when the lawyers of the victims ask questions, it's quite a different approach. it's far more impassioned and less clinical like that we saw from the councils and they dealt accusation after accusation and henry started the questioning,

cruising herflat henry started the questioning, cruising her flat out of lying under oath. he asked if she knew the questions between right and wrong. once again saying their approach to the communications machine at the post office was orwellian. we also had him press her in what she knew about the issue of remote access because this is really key to the scandal. fujitsu employees were found to be able to tamper with the branch accounts without the sub pass master even knowing and that information, even with the shortfalls in their accounts, was denied in the investigation as well as their wrongful prosecutions. at the heart of the matter is trying to understand what angela van den bogerd and other senior executives at the post office new and when they knew it. pro—palestinian protests among students at universities are continuing to spread internationally. in the us, police have clashed with student demonstrators who set

up tents on dozens of campuses. more than 200 have been arrested at universities in los angeles, boston and at austin in texas. the university of southern california has cancelled its graduation ceremony, on what it says are safety grounds. in australia, students have set up camp at the university of sydney, with some staffjoining students at a rally and march through the campus. and in france, students have today blocked access to paris's prestigious sciences po university, demanding that the institution condemn israel's actions, that comes after police broke up a similar protest earlier this week. let's speak to our correspondent hugh schofield, who is in paris. what have we seen? what we have seen

are some quite — what have we seen? what we have seen are some quite tense _ what have we seen? what we have seen are some quite tense scenes _ what have we seen? what we have seen are some quite tense scenes over - what have we seen? what we have seen are some quite tense scenes over the i are some quite tense scenes over the past hour or so outside the headquarters or campus of sciences po in paris. there's been a sit in by palestinian demonstrators, huge numbers but some tens of people, who are trying to protest as we've seen in america elsewhere. they were blocking access to other students to amphitheatres and lecture rooms. and in the last hour or so, things got more tense because a counter—demonstration began with people who are holding posters of the hostages held by hamas, people from the pro—israeli side in other words. and there was half an hour

stand—off with both sides shouting at each other nose—to—nose and then riot police arrived about half an hour ago and have separated the two groups so there's a cordoned off area on this narrow street as the police keep the two groups apart. these are quite small numbers, narrow street and even though it looks quite exciting, we're talking about a few dozen people either side. �* , . ., ., ., ., , side. and is it clear who amongst these groups _ side. and is it clear who amongst these groups is — side. and is it clear who amongst these groups is protesting, - side. and is it clear who amongst| these groups is protesting, where they've come? we've seen people protesting around the world and many unique campuses. protesting around the world and many unique campuses-— unique campuses. originally no doubt it's u-rous

unique campuses. originally no doubt it's groups and _ unique campuses. originally no doubt it's groups and societies _ unique campuses. originally no doubt it's groups and societies among - unique campuses. originally no doubt it's groups and societies among the l it's groups and societies among the student body of sciences po leading this pro—palestinian campaign, they've been doing it for months now. a month or so ago there was an incident in which they staged a sit incident in which they staged a sit in in an amphitheatre and turned away ajewish in in an amphitheatre and turned away a jewish student who came to witness what was going on, which was seen as a worrying development because it meant the student was unable to take part in an activity on campus. that received a lot of media attention. and then another escalation with the same protesters staging more settings. it's quite evident i think that it's not the students involved, the wider left is getting involved. we've seen a succession of leaders from the far—left coming in stating their

public support for what is going on for the... public support for what is going on forthe... i5 public support for what is going on for the. .. , ., ., public support for what is going on for the. .. , ., . , for the. .. is one that we will be watching- _ for the. .. is one that we will be watching. thank _ for the. .. is one that we will be watching. thank you. _ there are strong evidence that global conservation efforts are working. authors say that some extinctions have been prevented and the decline in biodiversity has been slowed. gorilla groans biodiversity is declining at a faster rate than at any other time in human history, driven by climate change and habitat loss. but researchers from the environmental charity re:wild and the universities of oxford and kent found that in two thirds of cases, conservation measures were far more effective at slowing it than doing nothing at all.

the success stories they found included deforestation rates falling 74% in the congo basin following the introduction of management plans, turtle breeding rates increasing because of predator management in florida's barrier islands. if they are working, then they are clearly not being funded at scale, at a sufficient scale, to actually start to reverse global declines in biodiversity, and i think that is the key thing, to say that first of all, conservation is working, secondly, we are just not doing enough of it now. it's estimated that funding levels need to almost double to meet this global biodiversity framework goal, signed by 200 countries and 2022, of halting the decline in nature by the end of the decade. esme stallard, bbc news. stay with us here on bbc news.

hello. thing in short supply this month of sunshine. i'm sure the sunnier scan the sun shines would have been welcome. temperatures as low as minus six celsius in cumbria. we saw some showers develop as you can see here on the radar picture. some showers worked into cornwall, some big thunderclouds here on the horizon. overnight, outbreaks of rain move into southern england, reaching the far south of wales, some showers for northern scotland but temperatures will melt away. clear skies will allow another widespread frost. in the south it's frost—free because of the cloud and rain moving in. this weekend, low pressure moves up from spain, bringing heavy rain. on saturday,

some rain pushes into southern england, reaching across wales and east anglia with a chilly north—easterly wind. a few heavy showers into southern england into the afternoon. for northern ireland, northern england and scotland, showers will be around into the afternoon and another chilly day, temperatures ten to 13 degrees. on sunday, low pressure moves in from spain bringing rain across england to working in the eastern scotland. west is best where we will see the driest weather, not completely dry though so some showers. temperatures ten to 13 celsius, another chilly day. but this is the last of the two days stop into next week, temperatures rise is much milder air gets pulled in from europe but low pressure is no bias in not exactly a dry forecast. on monday, some drier air arrives, outbreaks of rain

extensive for northern ireland and wales. the east side will see the driest weather. the temperatures climb back up to the average for this time of here and there warming trend continues into next week. we could see temperatures reach the high teens are low 20s. some showers are outbreaks of rain around as well.

this is bbc news. the headlines... america's top diplomat tells the bbc he's prepared to take steps against china if it continues to support russia's war effort. 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. a palestinian baby girl who was rescued from her dying mother's womb after an israeli air strike in gaza has died. we've been looking at the us plan to deliver a to gaza. and two of the most valuable items ever to be salvaged from the titanic — which go under the hammer this weekend a united nations official has said the huge amount of rubble, including unexploded ammunition, created in israel's war on gaza

could take 1a years to remove.