with those outbreaks of current with those outbreaks of rain, but ahead of it here in the south—east and maybe in east anglia, lincolnshire, the skies may clear for a little bit, some sunshine and temperatures could get up to 17 celsius. not unheard of this time of the year and we get it most years now with this changing climate. and why is it so mild? if we track back the air mass, the air over us, the temperature of the atmosphere is coming all the way from iberia, the canary islands and stretching the air current almost into the subtropics, so will it stay with us? it is going to stay mild for sure and double figure temperatures across the board, plenty of cloud, rain at times but the peak in this mild spell if we could call it that will be on thursday, may be 17 degrees and one or two spots but then i think it gets to about 12 by then i think it gets to about 12 by the time we get to monday, so warm and wet if i were to exaggerate a little. and that's bbc news at six.

we'll be back with the latest at ten. hello and welcome to sportsday. i'm hugh ferris. our headlines this evening: mid—february has arrived — that means football gets back on the european train. we're in denmark to look ahead to the holders' last 16 first leg. the lionesses welcome back leah. after nearly a year out of international football, she returns to the england squad. billed as a fourth major, a new saudi snooker tournament will have a prize pot only bettered by the world championship. also coming up on sportsday: this is women's football new most expensive star. racheal kundananji is costing an american club more than £600,000.

hello again. welcome along to sportsday this evening. there are lots of scientific reasons for determining the date when spring has officially sprung. in the world of football, rather than the weather, it's now. the european competitions resume this week, and after a group stage in which managers talked about securing continental football in the spring, well, here we are. the champions league is the first to embark on its knockout phase. these 16 teams are still standing — and the big names are all there. the first legs of the last 16 ties are spread over the next two weeks. arsenal don't play at porto until next wednesday. bayern munich are tomorrow. real madrid, without the injured jude bellingham, are tonight, as are the holders. manchester city won all six of their group games and take on fc copenhagen, one of the teams that ensured that manchester united weren't in that

list of clubs a moment ago. 0ur football correspondent john murray and former liverpool defender stephen warnock are in denmark for radio 5 live. it is the start of the champions league knockout stage here in wonderful copenhagen, and for manchester city, if they don't get through this tie, that is a monday mental surprise, through this tie, that is a monday mentalsurprise, isn't through this tie, that is a monday mental surprise, isn't it? through this tie, that is a monday mentalsurprise, isn't it? because copenhagen are the rank outsiders left in the competition.— left in the competition. yeah, and manchester _ left in the competition. yeah, and manchester city _ left in the competition. yeah, and manchester city are _ left in the competition. yeah, and manchester city are the _ left in the competition. yeah, and | manchester city are the favourites, so when _ manchester city are the favourites, so when you look at the quality of players _ so when you look at the quality of players manchester city have, they should _ players manchester city have, they should win — players manchester city have, they should win comfortably. however, it's never— should win comfortably. however, it's never straightforward. i know they came — it's never straightforward. i know they came here last year were they won last _ they came here last year were they won last year at copenhagen convincingly, they came out here, iher- _ drew in the group stages, so they know_ drew in the group stages, so they know what— drew in the group stages, so they know what they're gone them against emma _ know what they're gone them against emma but_ know what they're gone them against emma but if you a very organised manchester city will come — a very organised manchester city will come here.— a very organised manchester city

will come here. they're such strong favourites. — will come here. they're such strong favourites, but _ will come here. they're such strong favourites, but copenhagen - will come here. they're such strong favourites, but copenhagen have i will come here. they're such strong i favourites, but copenhagen have done work with things in this competition?— work with things in this competition? work with things in this com etition? . , ., work with things in this cometition? . , ., ., competition? yeah, they have and auoin in competition? yeah, they have and going in the _ competition? yeah, they have and going in the grouo _ competition? yeah, they have and going in the group stages - competition? yeah, they have and going in the group stages againstl going in the group stages against galatasaray and manchester united and going away to bayern munich and drawing _ and going away to bayern munich and drawing 0—0, that is no easy feat, it is not— drawing 0—0, that is no easy feat, it is not easy— drawing 0—0, that is no easy feat, it is not easy to do that, to be manchester united and then the final .ame manchester united and then the final game to— manchester united and then the final game to qualify against galatasaray, when he _ game to qualify against galatasaray, when he needs you get that win. that is not _ when he needs you get that win. that is not easy, _ when he needs you get that win. that is not easy, that is pressure on the team _ is not easy, that is pressure on the team and _ is not easy, that is pressure on the team and they have shown they can play under — team and they have shown they can play under that pressure. the favourites to retain the trophy, again. — favourites to retain the trophy, again. the _ favourites to retain the trophy, again, the champions, and a team that usually— into gear this time of season. it into gear this time of season. should be a into gear this time of season. it should be a good night, and the staging where this match has been played, the parken, they do would welcome us to join us on bbc five live and bbc sounds! thanks tojohn and steven. manchester city are not only facing

a team that performed impressively in the group stage but also one that has had a couple of months off because of the danish league's winter break. that's why pep guardiola's not taking anything for granted. what i saw what they have done this group stage against these opponents, i say, wow. i said to the players this morning, you have to prepare mentally. the game plan will be as it has always been, but mentally we have to be ready. so we are faced, you can say, big power— so we are faced, you can say, big power before come in really strong belief— power before come in really strong belief in— power before come in really strong belief in herself and in parken, so i belief in herself and in parken, so i really— belief in herself and in parken, so i really don't care how good they are _ i really don't care how good they are they— i really don't care how good they are. they are a good team, but i trust my— are. they are a good team, but i trust my players and i trust this team _ trust my players and i trust this team so— trust my players and i trust this team so much, and i have a big belief— team so much, and i have a big belief that _ team so much, and i have a big belief that we can create, first of all, belief that we can create, first of all. good — belief that we can create, first of all, good performance tomorrow and, from there. _ all, good performance tomorrow and, from there, and even game as possible _ well, while city prepare for their champions league tie,

their rivals manchester united are one step closer to their takeover being finalised. sirjim ratcliffe's bid to buy 25% of the club. it has been approved by the premier league. but it subject to an fa agreement. it's worth just over a billion pounds and will give ratcliffe control of football operations at old trafford. after a serious knee injury kept her out for nine months — including a women's world cup — england captain leah williamson is back in the lionesses squad. williamson has been selected for the warm weather training camp and friendlies with austria and italy after returning to football at the end of last month. millie bright, who led the team in williamson's absence, misses out with an injury of her own. 0ur reporterjo currie was at st georges park to hear from england boss sarina wiegman. with england missing out on 0lympic qualification knockout games, it means manager sarina wiegman can use this international window to take a squad to spain for a warm weather training camp and play a couple

of friendly fixtures. the seniors will be there alongside the under 23 squad, and the manager said there will be plenty of opportunity for players to impress her, especially those who haven't played many minutes under her recently. leah williamson has been recalled, since rupturing his acl ten months ago. it is nice to have her back because she is a very good player. we have seen that too. even though she has been out for months, coming back, and her decision—making is really good. her decision—making is really good. yes, she is still building. i think the team picked up last year very well, players stepped up, but it is really nice to have her back. sarina wiegman talked about her concerns when players would have rest periods this year in what looks like another congested calendar. and then we got down to the important subject of pancake day. last one from me, slightly away from football — it is pancake day. yeah, i learned that this morning. i've never heard of that. what kind of pancake are you going to eat? i was going to ask, what is your

pancake topping of choice? i don't very many pancakes, but very simple, with a little bit of apple on it. and cinnamon? sugar? little bit sugar, yes. yes, the players named in the england squad will play with their wsl clubs this week before jetting off to spain. there, they will face austria in a friendly next friday followed by another friendly against italy the following tuesday. scotland have also announced their squad for the upcoming pinatar cup, a four—team invitational competition held annually in spain.

rangers strikerjane ross returns to the team, also after a lengthy absence with a knee injury. she'll be looking to add to her 146 caps. this is one of the best professionals i have ever met in my career. going through process of injuries, she is now looking in good form. we have had continuous conversation with jade and rangers, the manager, she was in the best position so we both agreed, the player in the club, and asked that she was ready, and i think it is good news for us. she knows the game very well. she is the one who knows what role she needs to play in every moment for the team, on the pitch and off the pitch, and that's always and off the pitch, and that's always a pleasure to work with her. it turns out chelsea held the record for a transfer fee in the women's game for only about two weeks. this is the player who has broken the mark set by the wsl leaders — zambia international racheal kundananji has swapped spanish football for san jose, signing for newly—created us team bay fc. kundananji, who scored for her country in the world cup last summer, will be a part of the bay fc squad for their inaugural season in the nwsl, which starts next month. the team say she cost around £625,000 from madrid cff, more than chelsea spent on mayra ramirez last month.

the new record signing hopes she can be an inspiration to future generations. there are so many girls who test me, try to get advice from me, how they can get the best out of themselves. they're even some young, young girls, maybe the age of six, seven, eight, there looking up to me, and some, they will be like, i want to be like racheal! most of them, this is what they have been waiting for, they have been talking about this for a long time. every time i am playing football, some, if you text me and tell me, encourage me to continue working hard, maybe one day you will break some records which nobody

has ever done before, and i am sure now this is the first one and there are more coming. racheal kundana nji talking racheal kundananji talking to the bbc world service. one of the stadiums planned for use in the 2028 european championship in great britain and ireland is said to need "significant funding" to be ready in time to host games at the tournament. northern ireland's casement park was named as a venue, despite not being built, and must be complete for the summer of 2027. but the stormont minister in charge of the redevelopment of the west belfast stadium isn't certain it'll be ready for that date. that is going to be a challenge, you'll be aware of the agreement that was made in 2011 to provide that was made in 2011 to provide that six or e2 that was made in 2011 to provide that six or £2 million for casement and additionalfunds for that six or £2 million for casement and additional funds for windsor and ravenhill. those developments have gone ahead. the difficulty we face with casement is going to be the issue of funding, because the money that was made available is not going to be enough to cover the expected cost, and that does have

consequences. the euros is a contested opportunity. i think there will be an economic benefit from that, but the real potential is to get a sporting, and in particular footballing, legacy from that. hagar footballing, legacy from that. how much is going _ footballing, legacy from that. how much is going to — footballing, legacy from that. how much is going to cost to redevelop casement part? you've had a look at the paperwork in this department. look, that number is not finalised, but even if it was, obviously can understand, for commercial reasons, i can't go into the details of what that might be, but i did it is fair to say — and most people recognise — thatis to say — and most people recognise — that is going to be considerably more than the was originally envisioned back in 2011. it looks like sven goran eriksson is going to get his wish. after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, the former england manager revealed he was a liverpool fan and that he'd always dreamt of managing the club. well, he will. liverpool have announced eriksson will be a part of the management team for their charity legends match at anfield next month against ajax.

he's been added to a dugout that will also include ian rush, john barnes and john aldridge. last month, the swede said his best case was only to live a year after his diagnosis. one man who also has aspirations to manage liverpool one day is xabi alonso. the current bayer leverkusen coach is arguably the most in—demand manager in europe right now and has been heavily linked with replacing jurgen klopp at anfield at the end of the season — although leverkusen, who have a five—point lead at the top of the bundesliga, say they are sure he won't leave this summer. alonso is the topic of today's football news show. here's host ben croucher with more. is this the most wanted man in football right now? he has taken barely recused from second bottom of the bundesliga to title favourites in 16 months, he has won an ion two thirds of his matches in charge —— buyer leverage fusion. remarkably has not lost a game all season.

and when you do this you get links to topjobs elsewhere. and when you do this you get links to top jobs elsewhere. we chatted to the spanish football 0racle on the day today, who spilt the beans on alonso's grand plan... he day today, who spilt the beans on alonso's grand plan. . ._ day today, who spilt the beans on alonso's grand plan... he has been elite for so — alonso's grand plan... he has been elite for so long _ alonso's grand plan... he has been elite for so long and _ alonso's grand plan... he has been elite for so long and he _ alonso's grand plan... he has been elite for so long and he knows - alonso's grand plan... he has beenj elite for so long and he knows what elite for so long and he knows what elite smells like stop what he has to directly that, and all that has been put in practice at leverkusen. i will tell you little secret for when he went there, he told his agent, do you know what? i am thinking that if it does not go well at bayer leverkusen, i will go back, but if it goes well, from here, it is liverpool, real madrid, bayern munich. let me add manchester city to the equation. that is where xabi alonso could go next. when is a different matter.— alonso could go next. when is a different matter. excellent value on toda 's different matter. excellent value on today's show- _ different matter. excellent value on today's show. the _ different matter. excellent value on today's show. the german - different matter. excellent value on today's show. the german view- different matter. excellent value on

today's show. the german view as i today's show. the german view as well, liverpool fans tell us why they want him at anfield and we were joined in copenhagen, talking about the differences betweenjurgen klopp and xabi alonso. join me after sportsday. i reckon 11 minutes, if you can wait that long. you can watch the full episode on the iplayer — "xabi alonso: world's most wanted manager?" i? , —— a question mark seck, i imagine, will suggest there will be a answer coming from the team. scottish rugby have called on the sport's governing body, the world rugby union, to publicly acknowledge that a game—defining mistake was made in the last seconds of scotland's six nations loss to france. scottish rugby say the integrity of the tournament was compromised, when sam skinner's try wasn't given by the officials, which would have put them ahead with minutes left. scotland head coach gregor townsend has written to the head of referees at world rugby as part

of the process. both suggested at one point they might allow the score. scottish rugby say the integrity of the torment was compromised as a result. archie griffin and tom rogers have been released griffin suffered a knee injury during his international debut against england on saturday. they say a replacement we —— will be named in due course. england could play two fast bowlers for the first time in the india test series for the third match in rajkot on thursday. with a couple of days to go, the pitch had a bit of grass on it, and so both james anderson and mark wood may play. that could mean rehan ahmed misses out, although he nearly didn't get back into india after the england squad spent their week off in abu dhabi. the leg spinner had to be

given a temporary visa after a "discrepancy" with his original documentation was found. it's after another spinner, shoaib bashir, was prevented from entering india before the first test because of a separate visa issue. i think we are getting around, rehan was in good spirits training today. i think it was sorted fairly quickly yesterday. it is all going on behind—the—scenes, and hopefully within the next day or so, hopefully it is all sorted. no, he is in good spirits, boys are getting around him, and he is happy to be out here training. this is england's squad for the third test from which they'll pick their 11. mark wood has been added to the team that lost the last test. captain ben stokes is in line to become the 16th england man to play a 100th test. you're watching sportsday. time for some of the other stories making the headlines today. west indies won the final t20 of their three—game series with australia by 37 runs, in what was david warner's final innings on australian soil before his retirement. he scored 81 in their losing effort and was named player of the series, which was won 2—1 by the aussies.

south africa had ruan de swardt to thank after he hit an unbeaten 55 on the opening day of the second test with new zealand in hamilton. the hosts were 101—5 but ended on 220—6 at stumps, thanks to de swardt�*s partnership with shaun von berg. there's been an upset at the qatar 0pen, where number two seed coco gauff is out after being beaten in straight sets by katerina siniakova. it was gauff�*s first match since losing in the semi—finals of the australian open last month. neil robertson is through to the third round of the welsh 0pen. the australian came through a deciding frame to beat stuart carrington li—3 in llandudno. elsewhere, the former champion ding junhui suffered a surprise defeat to robbie williams. so as the welsh 0pen continues, the top snooker players in the world now know their future tournaments will not only be in

llandudno, but also riyadh. the world snooker tour have announced a major new event, the saudi arabia masters, will take place for the first time later this year — with a lot of prestige and money attached. shabnam younusjewell explained more to me. it's that price part of £2 million that puts itjust behind the world championship, which is about £2.1i championship, which is about £2.4 million in prize money, with the top prize being half £1 million. that just you the investments in this tournament, we have got that first event, the invitational, with the golden ball, that is going to happen next month, not to be confused with this one. that was announced recently as well, but this one is going to be a ranking event, so you get ranking points, and it isjust another tournament on this calendar that players can go and compete in for big, big money. you're going to see the big players like ronnie 0'sullivan and judd trump and mark selby going out to this tournament, and that is what people want to see, and that is what people want to see, and these players are going to go out there and compete for the big money, so in that way, it is a huge

announcement, and it is in saudi arabia, it is in another country, something, again, the world snooker torquing to do to expand out to as many places as they can do —— the world snooker tour. many places as they can do -- the world snooker tour.— many places as they can do -- the world snooker tour. snooker's triple crown is famous, _ world snooker tour. snooker's triple crown is famous, revered _ world snooker tour. snooker's triple crown is famous, revered - - world snooker tour. snooker's triple crown is famous, revered - the - world snooker tour. snooker's triple | crown is famous, revered - the world crown is famous, revered — the world championship, uk championship in the masters — so how will this traditionalfans masters — so how will this traditional fans who have masters — so how will this traditionalfans who have been masters — so how will this traditional fans who have been for so long looking to those three events think about the world snooker tour calling this so enthusiastically a fourth major? i enthusiastically a fourth major? i have had a quick look on social media just to see what the reaction has been to this, and at the moment it's not that positive, to be honest with you, people are saying, how can you call this a fourth major wind the other three have such history? been going on for such a long time? the also the fact it is calming happening in saudi arabia, controversial, the human rights record of the country.— record of the country. ronnie 0'sullivan — record of the country. ronnie o'sullivan talked _ record of the country. ronnie

o'sullivan talked about - record of the country. ronnie o'sullivan talked about the l record of the country. ronnie l o'sullivan talked about the fact record of the country. ronnie - o'sullivan talked about the fact you 0'sullivan talked about the fact you prefer to play in sometimes exhibition events abroad, if you like, not in the uk, because of the amount of money and prestige she has held in those parts of the world. this is a further diluting, is it not, of the uk dominance, the traditional uk dominance of snooker events? ., traditional uk dominance of snooker events? . , , events? yeah, it is it is called the world snooker _ events? yeah, it is it is called the world snooker tour, _ events? yeah, it is it is called the world snooker tour, and - events? yeah, it is it is called the world snooker tour, and i - events? yeah, it is it is called the world snooker tour, and i think l events? yeah, it is it is called the world snooker tour, and i think a j world snooker tour, and i think a very keen to expand to different parts of the world. most of the tournaments we have on the snooker calendar are in the uk, but on the act, there is a massive appetite out there to see those big names like ronnie 0'sullivan and, as i mentioned before, these players want to go out there and compete for that big money, and that adulation that they get, the adoration they get from fans around the world, so i think that is part of the reason why the world snooker tour are keen on putting these big—money events on in places like china and saudi arabia, because it works.

shabnam younus jewell on a shabnam younusjewell on a big event on world snooker's calendar. formula 0ne's big transfer came to most people's surprise — including to the driver lewis hamilton is replacing at ferrari next year. carlos sainz was told before everyone else at least but admits he needed time to "prepare and digest" the shock news that hamilton will move from mercedes to 2025. sainz and charles leclerc, who revealed he's already spoken to his future team—mate, will be driving this ferrari in 202a. they were the only team not called red bull to win a grand prix last season. and with the new campaign to begin in bahrain next month, leclerc is hoping they'll be able to be even more competitive. it is always impossible to predict whether we will be closer to our main competitors or not. formula 1 is obviously a relative sport, but at the same time we are focusing on ourselves, and from one year to the other we always try to look at what we can do better as a team without focusing too much on the others stop we don't know where the others are at in terms of developments, so we

will have to wait the real first lapse before to judge where exactly we are. like those who sit behind the wheel of a ferrari... throughout his career, tiger woods has made wearing red famous. it's the colour in which he's won everything, accompanying him on every final round. well, now you could say he's made the relationship official. after ending a 27—year assocaition with nike, woods has now launched a new apparel line with taylormade and will tee off in his first tournament since the genesis invitational wearing his new sun day red brand. that tiger, you can see, has 15 stripes — one for every major he's won. sunday read — it kind of says it. it's me, right? i have worn red on sundays. mum thought being a capricorn my power colour was red, and so i wore red as a junior golfer and so i wore red as a junior golfer and i won some tournaments, and lo

and i won some tournaments, and lo and behold, this... it is weird. i go to university that is read stanford is red, we always wore red on the final day that we played every sickle tournament. keeping going with the red. the nfl is a sport with a lot of numbers — and the super bowl on sunday generated some pretty big ones. the broadcast was watched by 123.4 million peoplejust in the us. that's the most since records began for any tv show in the country. only the moon landing is thought to have had a bigger audience. while given it took place in las vegas, perhaps it's no surprise that there were also a record amount of bets placed on the game in the city, nearly £150 million worth. one thing that's still the same is the super bowl most valuable player gets a trip to disneyland, and winning kansas city chiefs quarterback patrick mahomes spent the day there for a third time, his dark glasses protecting him from the glare — or perhaps a hangover — after the chiefs won back to back lombardi trophies by beating

the san francisco 49ers. a reminder of our top story on sportsday: it is the return of european football and the champions league tonight. manchester city now just over an hour away from kick—off in copenhagen. team news is out. jack grealish is starting his first match since early january and both kevin de bruyne and erling haaland, given both have had significant injuries this season, start a rare match together. that is the starting 11 for manchester city. —— manchester city. it was six wins out of six for the group stage. listen to live commentary on bbc 5 live and bbc sounds, as well as the bbc sport website. there's plenty more besides and a big night in the championship as well, with the top three playing.

that's all for now on sportsday. hello there. good evening. gone now are those sunny skies across england and wales. instead, today, we've been seeing thickening cloud, showery outbreaks of rain on and off, milder—feeling conditions too, along with a brisk south—westerly wind. but the colder air hung on for much of scotland, also to the far north of northern ireland. some hazy sunshine on and off. but even here, it will be turning milder and more unsettled now as we head through the rest of the week, as that warm front continues to drag the mild air in from the south—west, displacing the colder air to the far north of scotland, where even here, it'll disappear by the time we get to the end of the day tomorrow. but overnight tonight, still some showery outbreaks of rain on and off for much of the night

across england and wales, more cloud being thrown across northern ireland. eventually, a wet start to the day here tomorrow. cloud, too, into the borders of scotland. but for many across scotland, clear skies, temperatures set to drop perhaps as low as —5 or —6 celsius in those sheltered glens. compare those temperatures to the double figures further south, where it's a very mild start to the day indeed. on wednesday, those weather fronts continue to push further northwards and eastwards. it's a wet start to the day across northern ireland, but the heavy rain will eventually clear, pushing into southern, central areas of scotland, where, as it bumps into the cold air, it will turn to snow, i think, across the cairngorms and the northwest highlands. some showers, too, further south across wales and the south coast of england, but in the middle, across northern ireland and perhaps to the far north—west of england, we could possibly see some brighter spells develop to the east of high ground later on through the afternoon. very mild, 1a or 15 degrees celsius for many in the south. now, as we head through wednesday and into thursday, again, that deep area of low pressure will continue to push these fronts towards us. this is a cold front. by the time that sweeps through, temperatures will dip a little, but some particularly mild air on thursday across the south—east of england and east anglia.

also some wet weather mostly towards the north and the west, a line of showers pushing into central, southern england by the time we get to the afternoon. but given any brightness out towards the east, temperatures could possibly rise as high as 16 or maybe 17 degrees celsius. by the time we get to friday, temperatures will drop just a little. there should be some brighter spells around on friday and a lot of dry weather, too. but the heavy rain returns perhaps on saturday night into sunday. bye— bye.

live from london. this is bbc news. as the situation remains desperate to rafah, american, egyptian israeli and qatari officials meet in cairo to discuss a cease—fire and hostage deal. tributes flooding for dj steve wright, who died at the age of 69. more trouble for the labour party

for its handling of remarks by its rochdale by election candidate. hello, i'm samantha simmonds, welcome to the daily global, where we'll bring you the top stories from around the world. the united nations says israel has not provided details of any plan to evacuate palestinians ahead of a possible ground offensive on rafah, the southernmost city in gaza. it comes after an israeli government spokesman called for un agencies to — in his words — co—operate with its efforts to evacuate civilians from a war—zone. meanwhile, egyptian media reoprts that a meeting between senior intelligence officials from the us, egypt and israel — along with the qatari prime minister — is under way in cairo, in a fresh attempt to organise a ceasefire. 0ur correspondent nick beake is following the story from jerusalem — i spoke to him a little earlier for the latest on the talks.