this mp was cast out by robert mugabe, now his faction is triumphant. the country's pleased. it's all about the people. if the people are happy, i'm happy. we did this for the people, the people did this. but there were reminders of mr mnangagwa's more sinister legacy. this is air marshal perence shiri, who led the notorious fifth brigade during massacres in matabeleland soon after independence. how do you feel today, general shiri? do you have anything to say? are you happy? he's a close ally of the new president. what's very clear to me is that this is a welcoming party, not made up of old zimbabweans, but very much hardcore ruling party supporters. they celebrate together, but the ruling party is no longer a momolith, there are factions within factions and loyalty to the new leader will be dependent on him delivering change. well, let me ask you, if this president doesn't meet your needs, will you challenge him? everyone now is very awake. if he doesn't do what we want, we're going to take him down again. these are days of questions. what will happen to the deposed robert mugabe and his wife grace, the military isn't saying. will the new leader bring the opposition into a unity government? one leading activist told me

the international community now had to engage with zimbabwe. well, we expect the international community to be our underwriters and guarantors, to make sure that there is the holding of credible, legitimate, free and fair elections. tonight's speech was an appeal to a divided party, not a wounded nation. zimbabweans are waiting for mr mnangagwa to outline a vision that breaks with the repressive politics of his past. fergal keane, bbc news, harare. in just under two hours‘ time in brisbane, the england cricket team will walk out to face australia, at the ground called the gabba, in the first test match of the ashes series. it can be an intimidating venue, where australia haven't lost to england since the 1980s. live to brisbane and our sports correspondent, andy swiss. yes, huw, welcome to brisbane where

it's very nearly the moment that cricket fans have been waiting for. 40,000 supporters deaccepteding on the gabba for the late latest chap term of one of sports most famous sagas. england are the holders, australia the favourites, the ashes are at stake. reporter: up a bit higher, guys. for now they both have their hands on the ashes. steve smith and joe root, but which captain's grip will prove the stronger? england's preparations have been overshadowed by memories of a thrashing on their last trip here and by the absence of their star player ben stokes, but for all that there is a quiet confidence. i'm sure there'll be a few nerves flying around underneath the surface, but as a whole there's a really calm atmosphere in the dressing room. i think that's a really good place for us to be as a side. but brisbane is a picture of australian bullishness. their familiar weapon, pace. mitchell starc testing the speed gun before he tests england's courage.

and if australia need any extra confidence, well, they only have to look around them. this is the gabba, nicknamed the gabbatoir because australia haven't lost a test match here for nearly 30 years. and without their talisman, even england's optimists are worried. ben stokes is the best cricketer in the world full—stop at the moment. i think with him in the side undoubtedly they'd be favourites, even away from home, but i think it's evened it up a lot. it's a shame ben's not here, i personally think he should be, but there we go. i think the aussies will be delighted that he's not in the team. the travelling fans, though, remain hopeful. england's barmy army winning the pre—ashes supporters‘ match. but as every one of them knows, it's now down to serious business. andy swiss, bbc news, brisbane. that's it. here on bbc one, it's time for the news where you are.

hello and welcome to sportsday — i'm katherine downes. an 89th minute goal — and manchester united will have to wait — if they're to progress to the champions league knock—out stages. no such worries for chelsea — they're through, after victory in azerbaijan. and it's nearly here — the talking's over — joe root says england are ready to go — the first ashes test starts in around an hour and a half's time. good evening.

the first ashes test starts at midnight tonight — we'll be live in brisbane in a bit — but first lets focus on tonight's champions league action — and it comes down to the last group game for manchester united. they still need a point to qualify for the last 16, after they were beaten by a last—minute goal from basel in switzerland. patrick gearey reports. so much for swiss neutrality. also like to make clear that this is their turf. they have patched up the pitch and spent much of the first half keeping running repairs to keep manchester united out. marouane fellaini close, and marcos rojo came closer still. watching and hoping wasn't working, so after the break, basel tried attacking and seemed to

surprise united, made to feel uncomfortable. basel were then gambling, not always fairly. this attempt to call the referee's bluff failed. no penalty. basel‘s position in the group is precarious. in the 89th minute, the urgency finally produced the telling quality. michael lang sealed the famous win. manchester united were only looking for a point to progress tonight, and will still be wondering where they left it. chelsea were the early kick off — they did book their place in the last 16 with a 4—0 win against qarabag in azerbaijan. olly foster reports. two and a half thousand miles separate stamford bridge and bacuna. the difference between the english and asa the difference between the english and as a buying azerbaijani champions was six goals when they

started in september. this is azerbaijan's most experienced player, sadiqov. rash and off. 111 caps for his country, you should have known better. eden hazzard scored the first of the night. willian made it 2—0. he was involved in every chelsea goal. manhandled again, he won another penalty, which fabregas converted. chelsea pushed for a fourth, and that was the best of them. their champions league travels will continue in 2018. celtic were given a masterclass in france — beaten 7—1 by paris saint—germain. that's 24 goals for them in this group stage — a new champions league record. for celtic, their only prospect now is the europa league. stuart pollit reports. after a 5—0 defeat in glasgow, many

of the 4000 celtic fans travelled in trepidation rather than expectation. psg hadn't conceived a goal in the group, but in the opening minute, a deflection turned in by moussa dembele. a start to write home about four brendan rodgers. but the lead didn't last lumb. neymar only needed two touches to equalise, and his brilliant open celtic up again. 2—1. cavani then caught the scots defence static, and it looked like a lumb night ahead, even longer when mbappe fired ina night ahead, even longer when mbappe fired in a fourth. second half was shooting practice for psg. three more goals and a record—breaking 24 in their champions league group with one match to go. celtic fans were right to be fearful. now, its almost here — we're just over an hour away

from the start of the ashes series. at midnight ourtime, joe root‘s england will begin the defence of that famous urn as the first test gets under way in brisbane. england have been already written off by large sections of the australian media, but root and his team appear to be quietly confident. we can go live now to brisbane and speak to our sports correspondent, andy swiss. i think they have been somewhat under the radar here in australia. quite a settled build—up and no great dramas. they seemed calm and composed going into this first test match at the gabba. they are the underdogs for many reasons, not least the absence of one of their best players, ben stokes, one of the best players, ben stokes, one of the best all—rounders in the world. he

is back in the uk under police investigation. there will also be memories of what happened last time they were here in australia, when they were here in australia, when they were here in australia, when they were thrashed and lost here at they were thrashed and lost here at the gabba. there are a number of inexperienced players, an untried and untested to a certain degree. australia have this formidable pace attack led by mitchell starc. he has been described as nasty, which shows what england make of them. both ca pta i ns what england make of them. both captains were in a composed mood ahead of the test. what a start to the series. if we can go up here, it could really upset the apple cart. we have built momentum over three games, and everyone has put momentum in. every series is different, and we cannot play this game on what

happened in the past. there is always pressure going into an ashes series, particularly when you are playing at home. we don't need to put any more pressure on ourselves, if that makes sense. it's another game of cricket, and we have to make sure we play well from the first ball, that first session, and make sure we are in the contest. spectators flooding into the gabba behind you. what is the weather like, because conditions are crucial in test cricket? people here in brisbane keep telling us how unusual the weather is for this time of year. normally it's very, very hot, very humid. much cooler than usual. there is a bit of rain around and a bit of a breeze. much more english conditions than you would expect, which may help england's bowlers, jimmy anderson and stuart broad. australia have an incredible record

here at the gabba. they haven't lost a test match here for nearly 30 yea rs. a test match here for nearly 30 years. england haven't won a test match here since way back in 1986 and mike gatting. it is a huge challenge for england. a huge uphill climb for them. and with his team just about to do battle — ben stokes has posted a message of support this evening. the all—rounder is at home while police investigate an incident outside a bristol nightclub and his subsequent arrest. he may stilljoin his team—mates later in the series. with the ashes starting very soon, i wa nted with the ashes starting very soon, i wanted to get a message out to the boysin wanted to get a message out to the boys in australia and wish them all the best for the first test match. all the coaches and the backroom staff as well. i know how much preparation has gone into making sure they were ready to go, and by the looks of it, everyone is. just wa nt to the looks of it, everyone is. just want to wish all the fans hom have

travelled out to australia all the best as well. i hope we can give you a good result in the first test match. i will be sat home watching and hoping they do really well. so not long to go now and there will be ball—by—ball test match special commentary from the gabba on bbc radio five live sports extra and the bbc sport website. there is also live text commentary on the bbc sport website and app. that's all from sportsday. coming up in a moment, the papers. hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are caroline wheeler,

deputy political editor at the sunday times, and ben chu, economics editor of the independent. tomorrow's front pages — starting with. .. the financial times leads with the chancellor's budget, writing that it's been overshadowed by the biggest downgrade in economic growth since the financial crisis. the telegraph headlines with the budget‘s abolishing of stamp duty for some first—time buyers. the metro says that philip hammond has tried to help millions get onto the housing ladder, but that experts believe it will just raise prices. the express writes that number 11 have unveiled a £3 billion package for brexit, which the paper says, shows the uk is ready to leave the eu without a deal. the times says the chancellor has eased off austerity with a £25 billion giveaway to counter political and economic pressures.

the guardian claims mr hammond is trying to mask britain's deteriorating economic situation by pledging to revive the homeowning dream. and the mail takes back it's nickname for the chancellor — eeyore — which he was given for his gloomy outlook on brexit. they have all taken slightly different takes. let's start with the financial times. a grim outlook overs ha d ows the financial times. a grim outlook overshadows housing drive. that kind of sums up the budget. some positive headlines for some people, but things not looking too good on the economic front. that's right, and that's happened with a few announcements and economic words, where he basically described the fa ct where he basically described the fact that the growth forecast had