you are watching bbc news. let's look at the headlines. julian assange has appeared in public for the first time since swedish prosecutors said they would no longer pursue a rape allegation against him. julian assange, who remains inside the ecuadorian embassy in london said he was prepared for dialogue with british and us authorities. seven yea rs and us authorities. seven years without charge while my children grew up without me. that is not something that i can forgive. it is not something that i can forget. labour has criticised conservative plans to means test winter fuel payment. the shadow chancellor said the change could affect io payment. the shadow chancellor said the change could affect 10 million older people. theresa may defended the policy saying it was based on fairness. families of victims of the serial killer steven duport tell the bbc they are appalled at the progress of

an enquiry into police failings surrounding the case. president trump is starting the first foreign trip of his presidency. he leaves the night for his eight—day trip of the far east. he starts in saudi arabia. more from me at the top of the hour, but now bbc news, it's time for sportsday. hello and welcome to sportsday, i'm hugh woozencroft. here's what's coming up this evening. the race for the champions league goes right down to the wire with key matches for arsenal, manchester city and liverpool on the way. things have been far clearer in the scottish premiership — but can champions celtic go the full season unbeaten? and maria sharapova will need a winning run if she's to reach wimbledon this year. there'll be no wild card as the former winner opts for qualifying. plenty to come, as we start

the sporting weekend right here but we begin with football and what will be the final matches of the season in the premier league and scottish premiership. lots has already been decided but we often talk about the top four and the race for a spot in the champions league. the former everton and sunderland midfielder joins the former everton and sunderland midfielderjoins me now. these are the games that could make or break a season. the games that could make or break a season. let's look at the table. manchester city in third place on 75 points. liverpool just manchester city in third place on 75 points. liverpooljust behind on 73 and arsenal on 72. and the goal

difference very tight. we will start talking about arsenal, they has everton this weekend, is it too little too late? it does seem it this time. they pick up these points at the end of the season continuously and find their way into the top four. you cannot rule it out. but with the other fixtures, the one manchester city and liverpool have, they will get the job done with those games. it has been an incredible run for arsenal. after their defeats against west and crystal palace it looked dead and buried for them, so it has been an amazing turnaround. we saw arsene wenger, the lack of clarity over his future. he was asked today if that game against everton would be his last at the emirates stadium, this is what he had to say. for this season, yes. ever. icannot is what he had to say. for this season, yes. ever. i cannot tell you that. what is important to us is to

play the football game and win it on sunday. after that, what happens to me is less important. i am here to serve the club and the best way to do that is to win the next game. arsene wenger talking about his future. has that lack of clarity affected their season?” future. has that lack of clarity affected their season? i think so. they have had a great run of form, but the lack of clarity has created uncertainty to rock the cler. the players are uncertain about who the manager is going to be. particularly the players out of contract, but more the supporters. i don't think it has helped the club the way the arsene wenger has left everyone wanting. we certainly feel it would help arsenal going forward if they had but clarity going forward. liverpool will be hosting middlesbrough who already relegated at anfield. the champions league

could be so important for them and theirfans. could be so important for them and their fans. what have you made of their fans. what have you made of their first full season under juergen klopp? up to christmas, excellent. they fell away badly. maybe losing mane to the africans cup, not having a fully fit squad. the depth of the squad is another thing that has hindered them. if they get champions league football, it is progression. i think that is whatjuergen klopp wanted and what liverpool expected. you expect them to go on again next season with investment and challenge. it has been a satisfactory season. juergen klopp is another manager who has spoken to the media today and he was askedif spoken to the media today and he was asked if reaching the champions league would motivate new signings to come to landfill? the champions league would be the icing on the cake. but no more. it should not

sound negative, but if the champions league is the only reason why a player has come, because it makes no sense for them or us. we are powerful in a lot are part of the game and we will be successful in the future. we need the players of course, the future. we need the players of course , we the future. we need the players of course, we have very good players, we will bring in a few more. juergen kl°pp, we will bring in a few more. juergen klopp, the prospect of new signings at anfield, and some at manchester city who travelled to watford. pep guardiola say it is a fairly they haven't won any trophies so far. what do you think about his reputation dwindling? it certainly is, whether he thought the premier league would have been easier, he can motivate the players, get the best out of them. it hasn't been that way. i think he underestimated the premier league and how difficult it is going to be. i think we expect him to go on next season. i believe

they can get better and better. the one thing is the additions. several additions going into the side. not least because they have a lot of players out of contract. they will be better and i expect them to seriously challenge or make a better challenge out of the premier league race neck season. they have the best man at the helm. this is his view on what will be a massive game for manchester city. 96 minutes to fight and it is so important for the club, for the future is, be and it is so important for the club, forthe future is, be in and it is so important for the club, for the future is, be in the champions league for the last three or four years champions league for the last three orfouryears ina champions league for the last three or four years in a row. it is a crucial game for us, absolute final for us. it is in our hands, it depends on us. just look at what we have to do, win the game. make a good result, at watford. we will

travel for that. pep guardiola, we have spoken about the three teams that need to win to get the final champions league spots, who do you think will make it? i cannot see manchester city slipping up that badly. the goal tally will have to favour them as well. dropping serious goals and then arsenal scoring, i think manchester city are safe, i think he comes down to liverpool or arsenal. i think liverpool or arsenal. i think liverpool should have enough to see thejob through. liverpool should have enough to see the job through. liverpool are a that haven't necessarily been always been able to beat the sides at the bottom half of the table this season. but i think it will be manchester city and liverpool. manchester city and liverpool. manchester united, out of the conversation when it comes to the top four places, disappointing for them but they can reach the champions league. huge game against ajax in the europa league final and

they play crystal palace this weekend. lots of people have opinions aboutjose mourinho and manchester united, what is yours? put me on the spot! i have been disappointed with the way he has conducted his press conferences in the last month two. the constant excuses, i don't think i am seeing any positivity coming from him. he might be filling that himself, but the strength of the united squad, the strength of the united squad, the strength of the united squad, the strength and depth, they have a huge squad, huge budget and they have one of the biggest budget in the premier league. they should be able to cope with the demands of challenging on a few fronts. that is what managers demand, that is what owners demand. to throw everything at the europa league, it will come down to that one game, i would imagine he will play a weakened side against crystal palace. i imagine they will beat ajax. liverpool, when they will beat ajax. liverpool, when they have backed game against sevilla, one win away from the champions league and it did not work

out. but i have doubts about manchester united in my head, just because of liverpool last season. new reforms at the football association, one of them, the new offence of successful deception of a match official official, what do you think about that? i agree with that. i cannot see any other way around this. it has been a curse of the game. a lot of players are getting away with it quite often. no video technology in place that would be the ideal way to sort it out. with that not being in place, this is the ideal solution. the fa and the premier league had to act on this and going forward, it is the best way to do it. kevin, thank you very much forjoining us. it's also the end of the regular season in the scottish premiership. celtic of course are already champions, and if brendan rodgers' side can avoid defeat at home to hearts on sunday it means they will have gone the full league campaign unbeaten and will set a new record points tally

for a 38 game season. it will be a remarkable end to what has been a great season. the focus and the quality that players have shown and to arrive at this point, have them play 33 league games and have them play 33 league games and have drawn four, it is a huge testa m e nt to have drawn four, it is a huge testament to the quality and the mentality of the squad. we want to finish thejob well, mentality of the squad. we want to finish the job well, we will be playing in front of a packed out stadium and we have become consolidated with the 34th victory. it doesn't matter what country it is m, it doesn't matter what country it is in, what league it is in, it is all relative. it is really, really difficult not to have an off day. especially on the back of a champions league campaign, which we had with some really difficult games. the players have continued to refocus. they have got over any difficult moments we have had and

that has led them to come into the games with the most positive mindset that there could possibly could be. throughout the season, we have fostered a strong mind to win games and they have shown that and it is there for everyone to see. well dundee united and falkirk are vying for a place back in scottish top flight. the second leg of their play—off semi final is this evening, and it's "finely poised" after a 2—2 draw in the first game at dundee united's home tannadice are hoping to manke an immediate return to the scottish premiership after relegation last season. promotion is a step closer for both bradford and millwall who meet in the league one play—off final at wembley tomorrow. bradford are trying to reach the second tier for the first time since their relegation in 2004, while millwall are hoping to erase memories of defeat in last year's final. emma jones reports. m illwa ll millwall are preparing for yet another trip to wembley. this will be their fourth

another trip to wembley. this will be theirfourth leaguei play—off final in nine years. the team going to this one, hoping to raise last yea r‘s to this one, hoping to raise last year's memories of being beaten by barnsley. it is a difficult place to lose a game out, wembley. so many people come and there is so much love for the players and the team and then you get beat and it is disappointing. but we have no god—given right to succeed. we need a bit of luck on the occasion better than last year and certainly need to perform with the best of our ability. tony craig down the left—hand side. whips it in at the far post. steve morison knows the highs and lows of the play—offs and what it would mean for the club to go up. we'll be massive for the gaffer, his second season in charge, taking the team to two play—off finals and getting promoted. it will mean everything for everybody and we will do everything in our power to make it happen. opponents of m illwa ll make it happen. opponents of millwall and their fans will note

the kind of atmosphere they can expect here at the den. the question is, can the fans take some of that to what has become their second home recently, wembley, to help in their final push for promotion. the m illwa ll final push for promotion. the m illwall fa ns final push for promotion. the millwall fans celebrate the fact no one likes them, but they don't care. what they do care about is a win and promotion at wembley. there is silverware at stake in the fa trophy final at wembley on sunday. york city will use the game against macclesfield to recover from the disappointments of relegation to the disappointments of relegation to the national league this season. we have to move on. it has been a difficult time. i don't want to say that any more because we got to wembley because we deserve to. it is a fantastic place to go and play in a fantastic place to go and play in a competition. prestigious competition and i want to bring it back again. i have won it here before and i want to bring it back

again and use it for a group of players i want to work with neck season going forward. whether people think it is daft or not, i don't wa nt to think it is daft or not, i don't want to use it as the end of the season, i want to use it as the start going forward. breaking news from arsenal and the ownership of the club. there has been a bit to buy the majority share for £1 billion. it has been rejected, although there has been no official written dismissal of it. away from football... maria sharapova has said she won't seek a wild card into the main draw at wimbledon. instead, she'll play the qualifying rounds to secure her place. earlier this week officials at roland garros decided against offering her a wild card to the french open. here's our tennis correspondent russell fuller. it was exceptionally unlikely the all—england club or going to give

her a wild card into the main draw. i always felt they were unlikely to do so, particularly after the french federation decided this week they would not be offering her a wild ca rd into would not be offering her a wild card into the main draw for qualifying. i think she realised it was a battle she had tried to win. i think she accepted it was a battle she was not going to be able to win. i think it is logical, a smart move on her behalf to withdraw and say i will play the wta wild card one week, then i will go to the qualifying competition at roehampton and try to get into the main draw. now, it's notjust football where the hunt for silverware is reaching ‘crunch time.‘ rugby union's aviva premiership semi—finals take place this weekend with two simply mouth—watering semi—finals as table toppers wasps host leicester and exeter take on the champions cup winners saracens. both matches are live across bbc radio 5 live and sports xtra tomorrow. let's speak now to our rugby reporter chrisjones. chris, so much to look forward to,

but will wasp ‘s star—studded team be too much for leicester? good question and very likely. wasps have been setting the pace all season long in the premiership, cutting new scoring tries, it is as good as it gets. danny cipriani, elliot daly, christian wade, willie larue, the australian kurtley beale. if they get enough of the ball, it is hard to bet against wasps tomorrow. but, you cannot write off leicester, the tigers will relish their underdog status. they have not had a great season, turbulent season, but lost ‘s going on and they are one win away from twickenham. to add to that there will be an emotional angle. theircaptain, there will be an emotional angle. their captain, tom youngs has been going through a tragedy in his personal life, so no doubt his players will be desperate to perform for their skipper. he is a highly

respected figure across the game. let's hear from the two bosses, first the leicester head coach who knows how tough it will be. they will have home advantage of thatis be. they will have home advantage of that is a huge advantage in knockout by. that is a huge advantage in knockout rugby. they deserve that over 22 rounds and they deserve the privilege. we will have to go and make sure we are accurate early in the game and keep as wide as we can and do the things that make us a good team. if leicester come up with a good performance, you have to put your hand up sometimes. but if we play to our potential unlike we have done for most of the season, the result should be ours. we have worked hard to be top of the table, work hard to get the home draw. so we are determined to go and put a performance in which we believe will be good enough to get the result. saracens will be looking to do a

double this weekend, can anybody stop them? tried and failed, clermont, where the latest to be steam—rolled. they are without brad barritt and misses out. duncan taylor comes in. that is the only change to the 15 who won the champions cup. if any team is going to beat saracens it will be be exeter chiefs. they finished the regular season in sublime form, eight straight bonus point victories. so in front of a passionate crowd, the chiefs have a shot. it's also the semi—finals of the pro 12. with both matches seeing welsh sides travel to ireland. tonight, leinster host the scarlets, while munster, who ended the season top, welcome ospreys tomorrow.

we're going to talk to the former wales and lions flanker martyn williams now. it will be a tough challenge for the two welsh sides, the scarlet will have to containjohnny sexton. he is back in, how do you deal with a player of that much talent?m back in, how do you deal with a player of that much talent? it is a difficult as, no side in pro12 history have won an away semifinal. lei nster history have won an away semifinal. leinster themselves, being the six semifinals and will everyone. big ask for the scarlets but plenty of british lions on show. you have got to stopjohnny sexton, but 1a other very good players for leinster as well. scarlets finished the season well, it the ospreys away in the final game of the season in the derby. they of all of confidence and nothing to lose, in many ways. hopefully there will be an upset the night. alun wyn jones, back in the side for the ospreys and a trip to

munster. how encouraging will that be for them, not only them but for the lions as well, out for nine weeks with a shoulder injury?m the lions as well, out for nine weeks with a shoulder injury? it is huge gum he is a talismanic. you only realise how good he is when he's not there. he is their captain, their main player and a huge influence on the team. the ospreys will be really pleased to have him back. munster is a difficult place to go and win. great news for the ospreys that alun wyn jones is to go and win. great news for the ospreys that alun wynjones is back. around the corner, the lions will be pleased as well. massive, massive task for the ospreys tomorrow. just one more question, qualifying changes next season and one nation will miss out completely, what are your thoughts on that? it is a great decision by the pro12 and european by. decision by the pro12 and european rugby. if you get in the top seven,

regardless of your nationality, you get into the champions cup. seven best teams will get there. it will best teams will get there. it will be tough, it will be a positive move for the competition. thanks for joining us. lots to look forward to this evening. martin will be part of the team presenting coverage of the lei nster the team presenting coverage of the leinster scarlets match on bbc two wales. the final place in next season's champions cup will be decided by a play—off cardiff blues are on their way to a decider against either northampton or connacht. the blues are losing 46—20 one. they won the second tier challenge cup competition this season. just a few minutes left to play, stade francais will play the northampton for a champions cup spot. it's time for a look at some of the other stories in sport today. a former youth team coach at newcastle united football club, has been charged with 29 sexual

offences, alleged to have been committed between 1973 and 1998. george ormond, who's 61, will appear before magistrates in newcastle next month. geraint thomas has pulled out of the giro d'italia, after he was involved in a nasty crash during the race last weekend. thomas had actually been in second place overall at the time but he injured his shoulder and knee and he says that carrying on "would be a case of trying to survive each day, rather than racing". tom dumoulin of the netherlands still holds the leader's pinkjersey at the giro by over two minutes. but it was all about the sprinters on stage 13 — particularly colombia's fernando gaviria. earlier today mark cavendish tweeted he was thankful that gaviria isn't competing at the tour de france injuly, and this is why. his fourth stage win at this year's giro.

london 2012 olympic silver medallist gemma gibbons has announced her retirement from professionaljudo. she missed out on a place at the rio olympics and turned down an offer of funding in december, while she took time away from the sport to decide her future. she'll now become a pe teacher. the inaugural scottish marathon takes place in the stirling this weekend, incorporating the beautiful stirlingshire countryside, including doune castle and the bridge of allan. liz mccolgan and zola budd are two of the former olympians who'll be running, lending their support, to the brand new event which includes a 5k and family run. iam from i am from this part of the town and the country. everyone says there is inactivity and obesity in scotland. the general public in scotland do like their sport. this isjust the general public in scotland do like their sport. this is just the fa ct like their sport. this is just the fact they don't get the same opportunities as other areas in the uk to run good quality races and

gives you a different outlookjust to get up and go and run. i am hoping places like this give people the opportunity to have a go. i am 53 andi the opportunity to have a go. i am 53 and i love what i am doing, it is amazing i can still go for a fiver or amazing i can still go for a fiver oran amazing i can still go for a fiver oran eight mile amazing i can still go for a fiver or an eight mile run and get the enjoyment and the benefits of that. i hope this introduces a lot of other people to that. now when you talk about surfing, you might think about sunshine, beaches and palm trees. britain's number one surfer luke dillon can't always rely on such exotic backdrops, he does the bulk of his training in the south west of england. since it was included in the 2020 olympics, the sport has been on the up — and dillon has strong words for those who think the games isn't the direction in which the sport should be heading. we need to have something to aim for, the olympics is the biggest thing there is in sport really. so for surfing to be accepted and go in and everyone is looking forward to it. it is going to be really good and it will be interesting to see

what happens over the next couple of yea rs what happens over the next couple of years because what happens over the next couple of yea rs because we what happens over the next couple of years because we don't know what the format is. surfing is something that people go and do to relax. they do it as people go and do to relax. they do itasa people go and do to relax. they do it as a social thing. it would be stupid to think it shouldn't be in there because it is an action sports. but there's loads of ways around it, and if you do want to be around it, and if you do want to be a part of it, you can go and find your own little corner, so it is not like it is restrictive. i am looking forward to it, i think it will be a good thing. you can hear more from him in the one o'clock news tomorrow. that's all from sportsday for now, more sport on here on bbc news throughout the evening. it has been a mixed day out there. heavy downpours of rain across some parts of the country. in the scottish premiership, falkirk take

on dundee united this evening, the shower should fade away. there could be some drizzle around. this was the scene be some drizzle around. this was the scene earlier in east sussex. we did have some sunshine, some shower clouds around and much of the country had a similar picture. many northern, western and southern parts of the uk with heavy showers. further towards the north—east, cloud and more persistent rain. views like this one in aberdeenshire and grey skies with outbreaks are patchy rain. we will continue to see rain affecting eastern parts of scotla nd rain affecting eastern parts of scotland and north—east england. elsewhere across the country, this evening and overnight, the heavy showers clear away so things become clear and dry across many parts of the country. a fresh start to saturday morning. some showers from the word go and it is set to be showery day. we will keep the more persistent rain across the north—east of scotland. south—west scotland, northern ireland, northwest england will keep showers

in the morning. as we had further south and west for wales down towards devon and cornwall, a few showers interrupting the morning sunshine. clear, dry weatherfor central and south—eastern parts of england and east anglia. as we head through the day, we will see clouds bubbling up bringing heavy showers almost anywhere and thunderstorms around. towards the far south—east we should avoid most of those showers, but keep the brolly on stand—by. 18 degrees at best. the scottish premiership action, there will be some showery rain, inverness could have some heavy rain. through the course of sunday it looks like a better day. showers fading away and still some outbreaks of light rain in the far north—west but temperatures up to around 20 degrees on sunday. solia your weekend summary— saturday, heavy showers and a bit of brightness in between. showers easing on sunday, the better

day of the weekend and it will be feeling warmer. things will continue to warm up into the new working week. on monday, rain and breezy conditions in the north—west. in the south—east and the sunshine we could see 22 degrees. more details on the weather throughout the week ahead on our website.