this is bbc news. i'm james menendez. our top stories: changing his story. president trump says he decided to fire the fbi boss even before getting advice from the justice department. emmanuel macron unveils his party's parliamentary candidates. more than half have never held office before. europe's gaudiest song competition is this weekend. but what impact will brexit have on eurovision? zooming exports. crumbling classrooms. the paradox of germany's lopsided economy. plus, will iran stay open for business? conservatives pledge to roll back rouhani's reforms as companies nervously await next week's presidential election. president trump has insisted there was no collusion with russia

during his election campaign last year. in his first interview since firing the fbi director, james comey, mr trump also told nbc news that his dismissal was about his performance as head of the bureau and not about his investigation into alleged russian meddling. he described mr comey as a "grandstander. " he again called the investigation a "made—up story" but also said he wanted it to be speeded up. from washington, laura bicker. he has become more famous than me. famous, infamous? when did donald trump decide to sack the figure from the fbi? this presidential handshake was not an act of friendship but the beginning of the end forjames comey. he is a grandstander. it wasn't on advice from the deputy

director general, as the white house stated, it came directly from the president. i was going to fire him. you made the decision before that? and in another contradiction, they claimed that he had little support in the fbi. the rank and file of the fbi lost confidence in their director. not so, said the act in director, who sat in for his boss at the committee hearing.” director, who sat in for his boss at the committee hearing. i hold him in the committee hearing. i hold him in the highest regard and have the highest respect for his considerable abilities and integrity. i can can also tell you that james comey had broad support and still does in the fbi. at the height of this row is the alleged collusion between donald trump and president putin. regardless of recommendation, i was

going to fire james comey, knowing there was no good time to do it. and, in fact, there was no good time to do it. and, infact, when there was no good time to do it. and, in fact, when i decided tojust do it, i said to myself, i said, you know, with russia and putin, it is a made—up things from the democrats after having lost the election. he denies any collusion with russia, and insists that despite sacking the head of the fbi, he wants any enquiry done quickly and properly. laura bicker, bbc news, washington. and we'll have more on that story a little later in the programme. as france gears up for the inauguration of emmanuel macron this weekend, the president—elect‘s party has unveiled more than 400 candidates for next months parliamentary elections. it's also changed its name to "la republique en marche," or "republic on the move." greg dawson takes a look at who the candidates are. these are the faces hoping to transform french democracy. and they come from a wide range of

backgrounds, including marie, a former bullfighter, and cedric, winner of the fields medal, one of the highest honours in mathematics. more than 400 names were unveiled, with political inexperience the selling point. translation: you can go and look in the history books. never has a 13 —month—old political movement in france been so courageous as to have 50% of people selected to be members of parliament representing the nation without a political job representing the nation without a politicaljob on their cv or a job in political activism. in this search for candidates, emmanuel macron‘s party received more than 90,000 applications. they were whittled down by 1700 interviews. half of them are women. securing a

majority in the parliament will be crucial for emmanuel macron‘s ability to push through reforms without seeking an alliance with other parties. after decisive victory against marine le pen, the pro—eu centrist wants to tackle labour laws and mass unemployment. but he is still almost 150 names short if you want is a candidate for each constituency. he is attempting to grab defectors from the rival parties. medal cv has sworn to unite his country. —— mr macron. the elections in june will his country. —— mr macron. the elections injune will make that even tougher. bbc news. let's take a look at some of the other stories making the news. the us will consider its own interests first as it reviews its climate change policy, that's according to secretary of state, rex tillerson. he told a meeting of the eight arctic nations in alaska that america would not rush

to make a decision. president trump has expressed doubts over man's role in climate change and has said he may pull the us out of the paris accord to fight it. brazil says its national emergency over the zika virus is now officially over. the threat from zika, which is linked to the birth of babies with abnormally small heads, was at its peak last year, as brazil prepared to host the olympic games. the government says the number of cases dropped by 95% between january and april, compared to the same period last year. pope francis is making a high—profile pilgrimage to the shrine at fatima in central portugal, where he plans to make two shepherd children saints. it's 100 years since they reported seeing the virgin mary while tending their flock. portugal has stepped up security and re—imposed border controls, suspending the schengen open borders pact. more than a million pilgrims are expected. chancellor merkel will be hoping to win a fourth term when germany goes to the polls this september. a regional election on sunday could give some indication about how likely that is.

ms merkel‘s party aims to win the state of north rhine—westphalia from the main opposition party. jenny hill reports from there. not a vote cast yet, but there is something of the victory march in angela merkel‘s step. it is actually years since her party won here. polls suggest that might be about to change. it is not often a german regional election is considered so important. angela merkel knows, if her party can take back this state, then she has a very strong chance of taking the country come the autumn. but first she must persuade this town, this country. translation: i think she really will be chancellor again. she's very self—assured, reliable and calm, and because she's a woman, i like that. translation: she promised too much, and invited too many people without thinking, and too many of the wrong people came into the country.

one man stands between angela merkel and victory. martin schulz‘s arrival on the german political scene gave his social democrat party a boost in the polls. but even here, in spd country, the so—called schulz effect is wearing off. translation: his approval ratings will only stabilise once he says very clearly what he wants to do. in the eyes of the voters, that hasn't happened yet. we need a clear programme, clear policies, on topics which matter to the electorate. and that includes a powerful industrial lobby. germany's next chancellor will need the support of the mittelstand, the country's family firms. translation: we need to cut bureaucracy. we need a modern education system. we need support for businesses in the digitalfuture. and we need better infrastructure in this region. angela merkel may seem reluctant

to take the baton here, but make no mistake. this woman wants german voters to dance to her tune. jenny hill, bbc news, germany. tanya beckett is here with all the business news. you are also talking germany. we start in europe's economic powerhouse, because, in a couple of hours' time, germany will release its latest gdp figures. growth is expected to have accelerated in the first three months of the year, fuelled by global demand for the country's exports, like cars and machinery. but it's not all cause for celebration. let me show you why. last year, germany clocked up its biggest ever trade surplus. that's how much more it exports than it imports. at $275 billion, germany has one of the biggest trade surpluses in the world. it's a source of tension with its neighbours and allies. look at how much more germany sells to these top economies than it

buys from them. the us in particular has accused germany of exploiting an undervalued euro to get an unfair trade advantage. an over—reliance on exports isn't the only problem. the european commission says germany just too frugal. it is saving too much, and investing too little. it wants to see some of that cash invested in the region's struggling economies. but many germans think the spending should start closer to home. we'll have a report from berlin. they feel that the success does not stack up with the infrastructure at home. we are also looking at iran, which holds its presidential election next week.

it will be closely watched by hundreds of companies worldwide who are keen to do business there. the current president, hassan rouhani, has opened up iran to foreign investment and has attracted some of the world's biggest firms. but conservative challengers have said they would reverse his policy. later today the candidates hold the last in a series of presidential debates, which will focus on business and the economy. we'll be hearing from an iranian businessman. don't forget, you can get in touch with me and some of the team on twitter. thank you. see you later. eurovision reaches its climax on saturday. what will brexit due to

it? -- saturday. what will brexit due to it? —— do. loveit love it or hate it. this is one institution in the uk is remaining injune institution in the uk is remaining in june europe. institution in the uk is remaining injune europe. the eurovision song contest. it is the final this saturday in kiev. the uk flag is being flown by lucy saturday in kiev. the uk flag is being flown by luchones. but will britain meet its waterloo? it has been hard enough for the uk to get points from european neighbours even when on speaking terms. but now that we are leaving the eu, will that condemn us to lose eternally? theresa may has warned brexit could

scupper the uk's eurovision party. is the prime minister a fan of eurovision? i cannot imagine her watching with her little flag. brexit is out of my control, whatever happens. for the eu, brexit strikes a bum note, but the signs are that europe has not fallen out of love with britain. we have discovered that even the french love having the uk in eurovision, so long as france does not come last. being happy is what eurovision is all about. it is not the winning that counts. just as well, the uk has not w011 counts. just as well, the uk has not won the contest for 20 years. steve rosenberg, bbc news, kiev. stay with us on rosenberg, bbc news, kiev. stay with us on bbc news. still to come. the love locks of paris. thousands have been auctioned to raise money for

charity. the pope was shot, the pope will live. that was the essence of the appalling news from rome this afternoon, that, as an italian television commentator put it, terrorism has come to the vatican. the man they called the butcher of lyon, klaus barbie, went on trial today in the french town where he was the gestapo chief in the second world war. winnie mandela never looked like a woman just sentenced to six years injail. the judge told mrs mandela there was no indication she felt even the slightest remorse. the chinese government has called for an all—out effort to help the victims of a powerful earthquake, the worst to hit the country for 30 years. the computer deep blue has tonight triumphed over the world chess champion, gary kasparov. it is the first time a machine has defeated a reigning world champion in a classical chess match. america's first legal same—sex marriages have been taking place in massachusetts. god bless america! labour

of this is bbc news. the latest headlines: president trump has changed his explanation about why he fired the director of the fbi, james comey. he said he'd already decided to sack him before receiving advice from thejustice department. let's stay with that story. thomas mann is resident scholar with the institute of governmental studies at the university of california, berkeley and he joins james komi sergei us from there now. —— us from there now. what you make of president trump's explanation? perfectly in character. you should never be surprised by anything he says. the initial

reactions to his stated explanation we re reactions to his stated explanation were so disbelieving that eventually, he got around to saying what was on his mind. this is not a man who thinks through deeply decisions or presentations of decisions. he may have thought the sacking of james komi decisions. he may have thought the sacking ofjames komi would make this issue go away? but it has stirred the pot and made this front page news for the last few days. why any sane person would believe that would help? mr trump has zero experience in government or anything outside of his family business and celebrity tv at just really doesn't

understand the constitution, the separation of powers, the nature of how a president and other high—ranking public officials are accountable for what they say and do. it is their case to be made to say that director comey could have handled this investigation and the hillary clinton email investigation better? i'm not sure about the russia investigation. there is not enough that has been revealed about it to enough that has been revealed about ittoa enough that has been revealed about it to a bushel, other than the possibility he could have said more during the election. i think he badly mishandled the hillary clinton email matter. but i do believe he is a man of integrity. he thought he

was doing the right thing to protect the reputation of the fbi but it backfired on him. is it also possible that president trump acted out of frustration because there was no collusion with russia. it could be frustrated this is dominating the early months of his administration. it is possible but there is quite a bit of evidence on the table already. the failure of mr trump to release his tax returns. to see if there was any financial arrangements. that might lead him to

be more sympathetic. and more sympathetic to him. it's hard to be believing anything the president says now. he is barely 113 days into his presidency and this is not a pretty sight. thank you very much indeed forjoining us. is somalia on the cusp of a new era of prosperity and opportunity? the un secretary general says that after decades of conflict and instability, the conditions are now in place for it to become a success story. he was speaking at an international gathering here in london. somalia's president was also there, and said his country has a golden opportunity to put its troubled past behind it. the bbc‘s mary harper has this report. the great and the good assembled for

the third london conference, the latest in a long string of high—level gatherings which have tried to sort somalia out since it collapsed into chaos 30 years ago. delegates promised that this conference would be different, more than a talking shop, that somalia would never again return to its terrible past. i see the international conference as a process , international conference as a process, not a product, where you deliver something right away. we have agreed on a set of procedures and steps and policies and an agreement to be implemented over a period of time. the conference pledged to help somalia take responsibility for its own security, more resorts ‘s and morejoined up training for the army and police. now, somalia has outsourced its security to more than 20,000 african union troops, us drones, foreign

advisers and private security companies. this conference has made ambitious commitments. a new security plan, one person, one elections in 2021, and a new deal for the economy. but delivery will be difficult, not impossible. the worst drought in living memory didn't feature as a headline topic at the meeting but delegates called for more international help and said they were fully mobilised to avert widespread famine. mary harper, bbc news. sport now and the europa league final will be between manchester united and ajax. the dutch side were comfortable winners against lyon while manchester united held on to win their tie against celta vigo 2—1 on aggregate. andy swiss was at old trafford. the manchester united fans at old trafford will be breathing a huge sigh of relief. they approved the

final but only after some scare. they led 1— nil after the first leg and they seemed to be in control when they went up on aggregate during the first half with a headed goal. it stayed that way until five minutes before the end when celta vigo, which had been threatening, responded. one more goalfor celta vigo would take them through on away goals. tension increased when there was a large argument in the middle of the pitch and to players were sent off. then, celta vigo had a glorious chance to snatch it in the dying seconds, pretty much the last kick of the match but they couldn't ta ke kick of the match but they couldn't take that opportunity. united go through to the final in stock on but asi through to the final in stock on but as i say, the fancier will be breathing a huge sigh of relief. —— the fancier. for celta vigo, it was the most

important match in history and it was important for us that we equal that desire and in the end, the game was difficult, when they were better than us, when we were in trouble, when we were not playing well, in the end, i think it was that mentality. it made the voice fight until the end. you probably remember the ‘lovelocks' of paris. the thousands of metal padlocks attached to a bridge near the louvre museum. eventually the authorities decided they were a damaging eyesore and had them removed. now some are going up for sale, for charity. tim allman reports. they call paris the city of love, a place of romance and desire. and one way you could express your passion

was by fixing a padlock to this bridge, throwing the key into the river seine, a public display of love. but the powers that be had little love in their souls and removed them. now they will be auctioned as souvenirs and art. translation: it is both playful and intimate because there are stories behind these locks. personalised messages, names, marriage proposals. it remains personal and beautiful. it is basically street art. some of the smaller pieces are expected to fetch anything up to 200 euros. a whole section of railing could go for 10,000. all of the money will go to charities helping migrants in paris.

translation: we did not exactly know what to do with the locks we did not want to throw them away, not even give them away, because they have important symbolic value. couples from all over the world come to paris. they came to celebrate their love in paris. love and paris, a bond that will never be unlocked. tim allman, bbc news. resident trump has insisted there was no collusion with russia last year. in his first interview since firing james komi, he told nbc news ‘s dismissal was about his performance as head of the bureau and not about the investigation into alleged russian interference.

i haven't used the wet spheres but quite some time in some parts of the british isles and there was no need to use such things at all on thursday. southwest scotland, drive the south—west england, miserable and you had to thank that area of low pressure bringing in a beginning layer of cloud. you may well have noticed yourself that increasingly across the southern half of the british isles, as you get on through friday, there will be the prospect of thick cloud. it is accompanied by 11,12, of thick cloud. it is accompanied by 11, 12, 13. further north, somewhat clearer skies. the cloud, quite extensive. even away from the

western show —— shores. don't be fooled by the dryness. it might not stay that way. as we come up towards northern ireland, extensive cloud. bits and pieces of rain. the western side of scotland, glorious. the eastern side, onshore wind. that is the weight stays the greater part of a day and it does nothing for the temperatures as you will see in a second. as the day goes on, all that humidity. it will spark up some heavy showers and thunderstorms. nowhere near it across the north—east of england. what news of the weekend? north—east of england. what news of the weekend ? sunny north—east of england. what news of the weekend? sunny spells. some heavy showers and a fresh appeal to proceedings is to get on through sunday. here is saturday for you. the most disturbed weather across parts of northern ireland. further south about. isolated showers. it is

still there. as we move out of saturday on into sunday. this weather front in from the atlantic. behind that, that is where we see an end to that rather humid close field. the day itself, a mixture of sunny spells with some pretty heavy showers. this is bbc world news. the headlines. president trump has changed his explanation about why he fired the director of the fbi. he told a television interview he'd already decided to sackjames comey before receiving advice from thejustice department. the party founded by the french president—elect, emmanuel macron, has unveiled most of its candidates for next month's parliamentary elections. more than half of them have never held elected office, and half are women. foreign ministers from the eight arctic circle called for urgent global action to reduce greenhouse gases. however, the us secretary of state, rex tillerson told the ministers, that his country would not

rush to make a decision. in football, manchester united and ajax will contest the final of the europa league.man united beat celta vigo 2—1 on aggregate while the dutch side beat lyon 5—4 over the two legs. the final is in stockholm on the 24th may.