Through the challenges facing the worlds second biggest economy. A warm welcome to the programme, briefing you on all you need to know in global news, business, and sport. And you can be part of the conversation. Tell us what you think of the stories we are covering. Just use the hashtag bbcthebriefing. Britain will commit to taking more migrants from calais, especially unaccompanied children, at an anglo french summit today. The uk is to boost its contribution towards border controls in france by 50 million euros. Theresa may will conclude a series of agreements with frances president Emmanuel Macron. Todays summit of the two leaders is being seen as the most important for several years, as our diplomatic correspondent, james robbins, reports. This summit is very deliberately being held at sandhurst, britains military academy of officer cadets. The venue underlined the fact that britain and france are the key military powers in europe, used to working together and today committing to greater co operation, evenif committing to greater co operation, even if the background to all of this is, of course, brexit. And in other ways britain and france are heading into very different directions. Under pressure from president macron, theresa may will ta ke president macron, theresa may will take in some migrant stuck in calais and desperate across the channel. So expect more unaccompanied children to be allowed into britain, as well as adults who successfully argued that their ad mission will reunite families. But the longer term deals will focus on defence. Britain is sending three british Chinook Helicopters to mali, they sending three british Chinook Helicopters to wetrffiey the. ,w sending three british Chinook Helicopters to wetrffiey the met z. its that gessibls izieg a possible russian threat estonia. Months Winter Olympics. The two countries, still, technically at war, will also field their first joint team for the womens ice hockey. Theyve just held their first diplomatic talks in two years. But some of the major world powers, meeting in canada, have questioned the norths motives. From there, laura bicker reports. After over two years of silence and attention, it has taken under two weeks of talks for north and south korea to agree on a few things, at least. The two sides will walk together under one flag at the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympics. The womens hockey team will be made up of athletes from both koreas, the first and they have competed together at an Olympic Games. This is bobsled diplomacy. The two sides have come to an agreement surprisingly quickly. But some fear it may come at a cost. Is this just propaganda from the north, while kim jong un continues to build weapons will stop it seems the south korean government is prepared to ta ke korean government is prepared to take that chance. There are obviously calculations going on in the north korean Decision Makers as to their actions, bus, the north korean Decision Makers as to theiractions, bus, i the north korean Decision Makers as to their actions, bus, i think, the north korean Decision Makers as to theiractions, bus, ithink, in the end, we have to make the most of it. The problem is that north korea still wont talk about ending its Nuclear Weapons programme. Another reason some doubt kim jong uns intent in these talks. The Nuclear Issueis intent in these talks. The Nuclear Issue is not just intent in these talks. The Nuclear Issue is notjust a south korean issue, it is a global issue, which issue, it is a global issue, which is why you had 20 ministers from all over the world here discussing precisely this issue. So yes, we all wa nt precisely this issue. So yes, we all want that discussion to take place. As the olympic torch makes its way through the republic of korea, its neighbours to the north are the subject of some of the toughest International Sanctions to date will stop the us believes this could be white yeong yang has come to the table. We are getting a loss of evidence that these sanctions are really starting. It is believed the Winter Olympics will be a peaceful one. Against me have brought the north to the negotiating table, but will be south be able to keep in there . Let us brief you on other stories that are making the news today. The Northern Ireland secretary Karen Bradley is expected to announce a new round of talks to try to restore devolved government in the country. Power sharing between the democratic unionists and sinn fein collapsed more than a year ago. Its believed shell announce plans to begin a short, intense phase of talks in a weeks time. Police in portugal and spain have broken up an International Drug smuggling ring that used boxes of fruit to bring in cocaine from south america. Authorities found more than 700 kilogrammes of the drug hidden in pineapples packed in shipping containers. Nine people have been arrested. Questions have been raised in venezuela about the governments account of the killing of a dissident former Police Officer and movie actor, oscar perez, and six others on monday. While the operation against them was under way, mr perez used social media to say they were unable to surrender because the police would not stop shooting. Former Us Senate Majority leader, bob dole, has received one of the countrys highest civilian awards. The 94 year old was awarded the congressional gold medal in recognition of his service to the nation. President trump said the former president ial candidate as a patriot, a leader and a hero. Lets turn to our top business story on todays briefing. We are in china, where in a couple of hours we get annual growth figures for the worlds number two economy. We are expecting growth to come in at 6. 8 . Marginally better than the previous year, which was the weakest in 25 years. It is above the chinese governments target. James hughes is chief market analyst at axi trader. Good to see you. Chinas growth numbers, we have a big focus on it. How important is it when it comes to the likes of yourjob and what people do around the world in terms of markets . It is really important. Because china is such a massive economy, we need their growth figures and we need them to be strong for them to spend the money elsewhere around the world to boost other economies. Their numbers have been particularly poor of recent years. 6. 8 is been particularly poor of recent years. 6. 896 is not bad. Compared to the rest of the world you are right. They had this magical 7 number they always focus on. Their government number this year is 6. 5 . So they will spin this as a positive number. It is above their target and better than last year. But there are spiralling levels of debt in china. Enormous problems with the economy in general. As well, there are questions about how reliable the figures are anyway. There are always those reports that come out that theyin those reports that come out that they in real terms it is about 4 . It is one of those cases as well. You do have to take some of the figures with a pinch of salt. You have to look at some of the figures that go with it. 6. 896 will be seen asa that go with it. 6. 896 will be seen as a good thing. We will let you go and geta as a good thing. We will let you go and get a strong copy. You will be in the green room looking at the stories we will look at in the news briefing. Plus we will be live in shanghai permaul on china. In the meantime. Fighting is intensifying in idlib, the last syrian province still in rebel hands. But as this devastating conflict enters its eighth year, all the main cities are in the hands of president assads forces including the city of aleppo. The battle in syrias former industrial heartland ended just over a year ago, when all of eastern aleppo was recaptured from a range of rebel forces. Our chief International Correspondent lyse doucet reported from the ancient city in the last days of the fighting. Shes returned to see whats changed since then. Dawn holds little fear now for the city of aleppo. Gone are the warplanes, at least from here, and a train now runs from east to west. Aleppo is back in government hands, its tallest building leaves you in no doubt. Nor do the songs School Children sing in praise of their president , in the area once held by rebels. Notjust education, re education. A daily rhythm returns for 12 year old rayan, her school was controlled by hard line islamist groups. Translation i didnt go to school during the war because of the shelling and there were men in the building. We didnt learn anything at all. This is what with we saw here in the last days of battle. The smell of explosives still in the air, buildings flattened by syrian air strikes, now safe enough for people to start coming back. This woman is one of the first on her street to bring herfamily home. Like many others, shes returning from a government area to this small flat with no electricity, no running water. It was so hard to see the damage, she tells me. Were rebuilding bit by bit whenever we earn a little money. Her husbands face says it all, the life he knew is gone, that they all knew. Life is slowly returning to these streets, you see the signs of it everywhere, but the destruction here is overwhelming. With time, money, some of this will be rebuilt, but so many lives have been shattered too, and possibly beyond repair. This is all thats left of the Industrial Zone at the edge of the city, once syrias economic heartland. Theres still fighting here, the front line only a few 100 meters away. Bassel nasris factory was damaged and looted by rebel forces. My factory is destroyed. Its terrible. All the factories here were, more than 1,000, all except a very few still lie silent. It will take many billions to rebuild syria. How can a broken country do that . It will take a lot of money. We must say we need all the countries release the sanctions. You want the sanctions lifted on syria . Yes, lifted on syria. The west says that wont happen until the war is over. Now we are going to finish it. We are going to finish it. The end of battle in this ancient city turned the tide of war in president assads favour. One year on, its not over yet and so many lost so much. This great city may never be the same. Lyse doucet, bbc news, aleppo. Stay with us on the briefing. Also on the programme Maria Sharapova wins her second round match at the australian open, Butjohanna Konta is knocked out. Day one of Operation Desert Storm to force the iraqis out of kuwait has seen the most intense air attacks since the second world war. Tobacco is americas oldest industry, and its one of its biggest, but the industry is nervous of this report. This may tend to make people want to stop smoking cigarettes. There is not a street that is unaffected. Huge parts of kobe were simply demolished as buildings crashed into one another. This woman said shed been given no help and no advice by the authorities. She stood outside the ruins of her business. Tens of thousands of black children in south africa have taken advantage of laws, passed by the countrys new multiracial government, and enrolled at formerly white schools. Tonight sees the 9,610th performance of her long running play, the mousetrap. When they heard of her death today, the management considered whether to cancel tonights performance, but Agatha Christie would have been the last person to want such a thing. Hello. Youre watching the briefing. Our headlines britains set to boost its border controls in france. Theresa may will pledge an extra £41; million at a summit with Emmanuel Macron and agree to take more migrants. North and south korea have agreed to march under the same flag at the seoul Winter Olympics. At the same time, 20 countries say they want to step up pressure on pyongyang. Lets stay with that now. Our correspondent, laura bicker, is in vancouver where the talks on korea have been taking place. Laura, youve been talking to south koreas Foreign Affairs minister. South korea has a very difficult diplomatic line to take. They have been meeting with leaders from 20 otherforeign been meeting with leaders from 20 other foreign countries, they have been discussing how to condemn the north Korean Nuclear programme but also bring kim jong un to the table. That, really, at the moment, is falling to south korea. We have seen the breakthrough, the fact they have got a delegation from north korea to come to the Olympic Games as talks continue. That news was met here with welcome arms. They say, however, that perhaps they suspect kim jong uns motives are not honest. The Japanese Foreign minister, for example, said he was worried kim jong un was going to the negotiating table without thinking of giving up the programme. He said he was aware that he may be out to drive a wedge between seoul and allies. I asked the foreign secretary who was here about this, how they feel being in the middle of Donald Trumps tweets and kim as well. We track everything from north korea and allies carefully. The daily management is a big part of foreign policy. Again, we have to focus on the longer term. And i think the longer term is that the denuclearisation goal is the same as america, but as well as the international community. It is written to Un Security Council resolutions. All members are working towards that goal. The one thing we have heard here is that they want to push for continued sanctions. They do not want to lessen those sanctions in any way because they think that may force pyongyang to the table. However, south korea wa nts to the table. However, south korea wants to push for humanitarian aid. They fear a humanitarian crisis with these sanctions on north korea. That is where they stand alone. This is a small step, the olympics, but it is a very long way to go. Thank you very much indeed, laura bicker, in vancouver for us. Heres our briefing on some of the other events happening later today. The funeral of prominent kosovo serb politician, oliver ivanovic, who was shot dead outside his office on tuesday is being held in belgrade later today. A festival of light featuring more than 50 artists returns to london. Lumiere london will run for four days and installations are in place on regents street and westminster abbey. And the sundance film festival, which over the years has become a platform for independent filmmakers and has launched oscars hopes for many movies and actors, opens in utah in park city. Huge disappointment for british tennis fans at the australian open. With andy murray not competing, many were hoping Johanna Konta would cheer them up. But shes out. The number nine seed was beaten in the second round. Better news, though, for fans of Maria Sharapova. She beat the 14th seed Anastasija Sevastova in straight sets. Sharapova, competing here for the First Time Since her drug ban ended, played well in scorching temperatures in melbourne. Now its time to get all the latest from the bbc sport centre. Hello. Im sarah mulkerrins, and this is your sport briefing for thursday. Theres a cup tie later for real madrid, and it may be a chance to get their season back on track. And, after 100 days out, rory mcilroy returns to competitive golf in abu dhabi. So, real madrid play levante later on thursday, and they know this copa del rey quarter final tie has a lot more importance than they would have expected. 19 points behind league leaders, barcelona, and without a win in their last four games, the spanish giants are in need of a morale boosting win, especially with a Difficult Champions League tie against psg on the horizon. Translation we are going to play in a knockout stage. It is not a final, but we are where that every match ahead of us has enormous importance. Are aware. It is an away match in a cup match, which means you have to give your best from the very beginning. Golfs European Tour is in abu dhabi this weekend, with some of the players already out early on the course. The former world number one rory mcilroy is amongst the field. And its his first tournament back after a three month sabatical. Martin kaymer is yet to tee off. The german won his first tour title on this course, and says its the perfect way to start the year. This has become bigger and bigger, and even more difficult to win, but you get more satisfaction if you do. I have good success here and it is a good way to start the season. For me, practising in phoenix, coming here, similar conditions. So i feel very comfortable. In case you missed it, chelsea needed a penalty shoot out to finally see off norwich, after a 1 1 draw in their fa cup third round replay. Antonio contes side finished extra time down to nine men after late red cards for pedro and Alvaro Morata for diving. And there was some criticism for var not being used, when willian went down in the area and was booked for simulation. Conte was furious on the sidelines, but chelsea eventually went through after winning the shoot out 5 3. You know, we give everything. At the end of the game, we played nine against 11. We will come back at the end of the time, after the draw, and we are happy, but also sad that we lost two players today. But we are ready for the next one. Barcelona saw their 29 game unbeaten run in all competitions snapped by espanyol, in the first leg of the copa del rey quarter final. On a bad night for barca, lionel messi missed a penalty. That was after 63 minutes with the match still scoreless. The only goal of the game was scored by Oscar Melendo two minutes from time. The second leg is at camp nou next thursday. England cricketer, ben stokes, is available for selection again. The all rounder was suspended for the ashes tour while he was the subject of a police investigation, following an incident in bristol in england last year. But after being charged with affray, the english cricket board have said it would not be fair to eliminate him from selection. Now, just before we go, one video in particular has caught our eye on social media. It seems england did at least score one victory in the recent ashes series. Australia batsman, david warner, has posted a video of his daughter singing her favourite cricket song, only it isnt one that he might have expected. Jimmy,jimmy jimmy, jimmy anderson. Jimmy, jimmy anderson. Jimmy, jimmy anderson. Jimmy,jimmy anderson. Jimmy, jimmy anderson. Jimmy, jimmy anderson. Jimmy, jimmy anderson. Jimmy, jimmy anderson. Jimmy,jimmy anderson. Jimmy, jimmy anderson. Jimmy, jimmy anderson. Iam sure i am sure that did not go down well. And that is your sport briefing for thursday. Its saxophones are considered among the best in the world, and have been played by jazz legends. But now, french company, henri selmer paris, is selling a majority stake to an Investment Fund because of growing competition from china. The move brings to an end more than 130 years of family control over the firm, although the founders great grandson with still be involved with the company. Sarah corker reports. Selmer saxophones are so famous, they have been spent into space. French astronaut Thomas Pesquet played one on the International Space station last year. It is a brand steeped in history, founded by henri selmer back in 1885, in a parisian suburb. Still to this day, the instruments made up of 700 pieces are finished and tested by hand. But, with growing competition from chinese manufacturers, they need to modernise, and the decision to sell a majority stake of the family firm is designed to do just that. Translation this change will bring a new momentum, a new dynamic for the company. Well have a shareholder who is strong financially, and who will be able to guarantee our investments. So, thanks to that, we will be able to calmly carry on with developing our company. On the music scene, the selmer sound has shaped several generations of world renowned musicians, and standing the test of time, theyre still played by the most famous jazz stars. Today, top of the range selmer saxes can set you back as much as 20,000 euros. The firms new investor, argos soditic, says more than a century of know how wont be lost, but some parts of the production line can be automated, and this marks a new chapter in the compa nys long history. Sarah corker, bbc news. Stay with me on bbc news. Ill be back with the Business Briefing in just a few moments. We will look at the chinese economy and the outlook for growth. I will see you soon. Hi there. The weather looks set to cause a few problems for commuters first thing thursday morning, thanks to this rapidly deepening area of low pressure. Now, the isobars really squeeze together across eastern counties of england. Thats where the winds are going to be at their strongest, particular across parts of east anglia, maybe the south east. Now, coastal areas could get wind gusts potentially up to 75 mph. Not far off that from inland areas, so we could well bring down one or two trees, with the winds that strong. Power cuts a possibility, transport disruption a possibility, as well, due to that windy weather. Whereas, across the far north of england, southern areas of scotland, its snow thats going to be causing problems. With another 5 10 centimetres of fresh snow around, we could well have some disruption across some of those higher level routes first thing in the morning, as well. So its one of those days where you might want to leave a little bit of extra time for your commute. Across scotland, icy conditions first thing in the morning. Plenty of snow showers working in across western areas, and weve got a number of snow showers, as well, piling their way in across Northern Ireland, across the high ground, the pennines, the peak district, as well, of northern england. Very strong winds, remember, across parts of east anglia and south east england. Even towards the south coast, winds will be very gusty for a time, and there will be a few showers working into southern parts of wales and across south west england. So, as i say, it is going to be one of those mornings. Whether its due to the snow locally, or those strong winds, either way, we could see one or two problems out and about. Now, through the rest of the day, the weather becomes a little bit more straightforward as those fierce winds work across the netherlands. And by the way, that could bring disruption at schiphol airport, for example. If youre flying there, check before travelling. Through the rest of the day, it stays quite windy. Well have a number of wintry showers across the north and west, with temperatures again struggling across northern areas. Feeling cold here, but even colder when you factor in the strength of the wind. Now, as we go through thursday evening and overnight, those snow showers, if anything, could get a bit heavier again across parts of scotland and Northern Ireland, with further significant accumulations of snow building up. Elsewhere, as temperatures take a dive, again ice could be a problem as we head on into the first part of friday morning. And friday, a similar kind of look to the weather, to be honest. Its a day of fairly brisk winds, plenty of wintry showers across the north west of the uk. Yes, there will be some sunshine, but even across parts of england, we could see one or two wintry showers pushing in from time to time. Now, the weekend looks like this a ridge of high pressure, followed by this atlantic weather front. This is Business Briefing. Im sally bundock. China faces the weakest growth rate in decades, but are its soaring levels of debt a bigger worry for the World Economy . Plus, antisocial media. Facebook, twitter and google face the senate over extremist content and fake news. And on the markets, the dow surges more than 300 points to close above 26,000 for the first time. And in asia, most of the markets are following suit