we are going to be signing today, a national emergency and it is a great thing today. he ran away from her home in london, aged 15, to be with militants, said she wanted to come home to have her baby. thousands of pupils skip school and ta ke to thousands of pupils skip school and take to the streets in protest against time to change. award—winning author andrea levy, his work chronicled the windrush generation, has died aged 62. we getan

we get an insight into what the situation is like on that us mexico border. also, black holes and neutron stars, some of the great mysteries of space. now british and us governments are spending than £20 million upgrading machine that first made history by detecting gravitational waves three years ago. we will be speaking to the royal astronomical society about what all this means the space discovery. then later we will be taking our first look at tomorrow's front pages with me. i have john look at tomorrow's front pages with me. i havejohn stapleton in the uk correspondent for france 24. all coming up on bbc news. but now it

is for sportsday. hello and welcome to sportsday. i'mjohn watson. it's fa cup fifth round weekend — qpr get us underway tonight against watford. it's a repeat of last year's final as chelsea and arsenal meet in the women's fa cup. fighting her corner — caster semenya receives backing from the south african governemnt in her battle with the iaaf. also coming up in the programme. 0lympic sprinter james ellington on the unlikely comeback after a life changing accident. the next thing, i'm back. hello and welcome to sportsday.

we've been treated to plenty of surprises in this seasons fa cup. will we see some more this weekend. eight ties are being played over the coming days — the fifth round getting under way in a little over an hour's time with watford up against qpr. and with no replays in the fifth round for the first time, it's all or nothing under the lights at loftus road tonight. which is where we can find chris slegg. never mind trimming about a place in the fa cup final, for qpr fans, it is dreamland just being in the last 16. they have not made it this far since 1997. they could start preparing for their place in the fourth—round when they beat portsmouth 2—0 in that replay nine days ago. the calibre of the opposition is a step up tonight. qpr will have to put their championship struggles to one side and take on a

watford team who are safely ensconced in the premier league table. they were able to make 11 changes against newcastle and you do wonder if the manager is so minded, just how far his team could go in this competition. three of the so—called big six have already been knocked out. number one of them will go out on monday night. we might question how much this competition still means to the managers but i think every fan coming along for what is a sold—out performance tonight is still very much in love with the famous old fa cup. here's the full list of fixtures, chelsea up against manchester united at stamford bridge, live on bbc one on monday night. what a tie that is. as is newport‘s draw, the reward for their cup heroics, that tie against the premier league champions at rodney parade tomorrow. they've already knocked out premier league opponents in teh shape of leicester. tomos dafydd met up with manager mike flynn this week who's hoping to pull off the biggest fa

cup shock of all time. we've been here before but this is an altogether different proposition. of course it is, you're playing against the premier league champions, the team with the record amount of points from last season and the best manager in the world right now. he is a class act and he's somebody that everybody wants to learn from. in recent weeks they've scored nine goals against burton albion, six against chelsea. had he changed your game plan? we've got to hope that we play to the best of our abilities and manchester city, three or four of them have an off day. do you think the pitch will have any party play and how it will pan out on saturday? it is as fluent

as there used to but we've played some really good football on it recently, even last night we played so recently, even last night we played so many good football so i am sure manchester city will not struggle to much because that's what they are renowned for, the way they play the game. we could see an upset in the women's fa cup as well. i'm joined by our reporter to look ahead at the standout ties invest round of the women's fa this weekend. it needs no introduction, chelsea against arsenal, a repeat of the final last year, what again this will be mike both teams are relatively uninformed, secondly arsenal are still flying high. not quite top of that super league but the ladies in their own hands and there is still fighting on all fronts so i think they are the first to be reckoned with in any competition this time

round. but chelsea are a wounded animal at the moment so absolutely, that tie, i think, no team will go down without some kicking or screaming. you mentioned the title is still very much an arsenal's hands, any dangerof is still very much an arsenal's hands, any danger of them not taking it seriously and focusing on the league instead? absolutely not. they wa nt to league instead? absolutely not. they want to when everything. i think what the manager has developed in this team is a real sense of confidence. the key is having him little informant to supply and feed the inform prolific striker. one of the inform prolific striker. one of the other games that stands out, manchester united against london bees. the manchester united be prioritising the fa cup debbie season prioritising the fa cup debbie season for them. they could finish with some silverware? they have a

very proud history with the fa cup, one it numerous times with arsenal. she will be, i'm sure, emphasising to some girls who have maybe not been at this stage of the fa cup or have not been in contention to win the fa cup previously, as to how special this trophy is so absolutely not, no danger of them taking their foot off the pedal. away from manchester united, betting against birmingham, two big hitting teams. what will that be like? bedding went through the last round, most convincingly of all teams to go through in the last round. they really need a bit of a springboard the season. their form has been stuttering, they've picked up the eye catching result but i think they have failed to carry any momentum through the season but birmingham are a very confident outfit. they did the same thing week in, week out, and that has biggest results. gotta ask you both, the fa cup

wouldn't be the fa cup without an upset, we did? huddersfield, the lowest ranked team, left in the competition, busy and upset when they face west ham? west ham will when that one but huddersfield, they did well in the last round, they beat a woman championship side but it will be tough work if they do. you're coming up against a fully professional internationally loaded team in west ham who are getting better and better. ithink team in west ham who are getting better and better. i think that will better and better. i think that will be one hurdle to match huddersfield. many thanks. and the full list of fixtures are on the website. and don't forget if you're feeling inspired to get out and play football. monday is your last chance to sign up for teh fa people's cup. it is free to sign up, men, women's and disability teams

across 15 different categories — more this year than ever before — entry closes monday night. one of the new categories walking football, has even seen phil neville the england women's coach giving it a go. some other headlines tonight: leigh halfpenny is set to miss wales's match with england in the six nations next weekend, after suffereing a concussion setback. he's been out since november the big bash final will be a melbourne derby following today s thrilling win for the renegades against the sydney sixers. commentary on the renegades v melbourne the stars will be on 5 live sports extra from 3.30am sunday morning. england's jodie ewart shadoff could only manage a second round 73 at the lpga australian open leaving her four shorts off the pace the lead is still held by taiwan's wei—ling hsu who's on 10 under alongside madelene sagstrom of sweden. now, scottish footballers

are calling for a complete ban john higgins has been put out of smokers quarterfinal. now, scottish footballers are calling for a complete ban on artificial pitches. it follows a petition organised by the players' union, which says every one of its members is against them. but one club director has accused the union of behaving like dinosaurs. here's our sports news correspondent, chris mclaughlin. you will find synthetic services like this one all across scottish football. when the snow comes, when the rain comes, when the frost comes, they always remain playable. they are also easy to maintain and because they are open to the

community, they make sense financially. but there is one big problem, the players simply don't like them. many believe they need to more injuries and now over 201 change. it is a strong message, a powerful message and when we go round the dressing rooms from full—time to part—time clubs, sometimes you don't get much of a response but every time you brought up response but every time you brought up standard of services, people very animated. non-grass is not quite the norm but it is certainly not unusual. 0f norm but it is certainly not unusual. of the 42 senior clubs in scotland, 14 have artificial services. they are also on the rise across europe. those who have bought into them think others need to get real. if you look at the leadership, in my view, they are dinosaurs. it doesn't seem to go anywhere everyone would love to play on grass, absolutely, but it is not visible in

this country and if you look at the countries with similar climates in norway and sweden and finland, i think there's a very high proportion of these clubs that are playing on synthetic surfaces. let us be honest, it's what most children learn on and are used to, but this argument is all about professionalism. i signed the petition to hopefully get rid of them. i think playing in top—flight football, especially in scottish league, to move forward, grass pitches are the favourites. favoured maybe but a change seems unlikely. the league said this is a matter for spl clubs but we have had no approaches from any such club to change the current rules or arrangements. we look forward to further dialogue on this important issue. so, is plastic really polluting scottish football? the

players have spoken. will the clubs now listen? also coming up in the programme: from the speedway circuits to the velodrome — we hear from from ricky ashworth on his remarkable recovery. the south african governemnet have backed caster semenya in her iaaf challenge — they're trying to reduce the amount of testosterone in her body. they believe the levels in her body give her an unfair advantage against other female competitors and that she must take medication to suppress the amount she naturally produces. the south african governmnet say she's being targetted and her human rights violated ahead of her case which is being heard by the court of arbitration for sport on monday — in what could be landmark case for the sport. speaking to us earlier the bbc‘s south africa correspondent

milton nkosi outlined the stance of the south african sports minister and the iaaf. the minister of sport held a press conference this morning on friday, calling on the nation to support her. she says she is being targeted and that the eye aaf is being sexist against the golden girl. they believe that south africa fighting for human right is very much in line with what is happening here and they wa nt to with what is happening here and they want to support her on the basis that her human rights watch being violated. it is very clear, it is saying that it once to stop this coronation. the south african government is saying that is exactly

what it is doing by trying to change the regulations. they believe here in south africa, and it is notjust the government, by the way, some africans have come out in huge numbers, particularly on social media, to support her, including opposition parties that have been berating the government on local issues ahead of this years general election. they have also lined up behind the government to support her. they believed she is being u nfa i rly her. they believed she is being unfairly targeted. just over two years ago british sprinterjames ellington was injured in a road accident alongside fellow sprinter nigel levine. the pair were riding on motorbikes when they were involved in a crash in tenerife. reports at the time suggested that ellington's injuries were "career ending", but he's made a remarkable recovery. you can watch a full report on ellington's progress on the one o clock news tomorrow, but here's a taster. all i can really remember is setting

off and seeing headlights and the next thing, a loud bang, like a bomb went off. then i lifted my head and there was blood coming from my head andi there was blood coming from my head and i couldn't breathe because the blood was coming down my face. i couldn't really feel anything at the time but i thought, i need to check my legs because i'm an athlete. i looked down and it was a mess. my foot was one way and the bones were coming out. my tracksuit bottoms we re coming out. my tracksuit bottoms were pretty much ripped off and yeah, it was chaos. i said to myself and a few of my colleagues but as long as i don't lose my leg, a comeback. even if i do is my leg, a comeback. even if i do is my leg, a comeback and elevate the best paralympian in the world. that was how my mindset was. that may sound arrogant but it helped me get through. yes it's a truly remarkable recovery.

as i mentioned more of that on the one o clock news on bbc one tomorrow and on the bbc sports website. he is hopeful of making his return to copmpetition soon. the world indoor grand prix will come a little too soon for ellington, it's being staged in birmingham tomorrow. you can watch it all on bbc one from 1.15. get set to see the best team in australia taking on super league champions wigan at the dw stadium on sunday which stages the annual world club challenge match. the nrl champions the sydney roosters are the visitors. and half back cooper cronk, who's one of the stars of the nrl, joined wigan captain sean 0'loughlin and hugh ferris in the studio to look ahead to the match. we had a lot of success in the history of the club and the fans have experienced it, winning and posing. i think we won it in 2017 so it's there in the memories of the fa ns it's there in the memories of the fans as well as the players. they will buy into itjust as much is as they will be a great supporter of

they will be a great supporter of the weekend. you speak to fans who still speak about the time we won it in it in nine. it goes down in history and being there and experiencing it as part of being a wigan supporter. you know the size of your task because of the gentleman sitting next to you. for those of us in the uk who don't get to watch nrl as much as you do in australia, tell us about cooper. for anyone who does not watch nrl, he has dominated the competition for a number of years. the teams he has played and from my point of view, i know it's going to be a tough task, a tough game, but it's something we're a tough game, but it's something we' re really a tough game, but it's something we're really looking forward to challenging ourselves with. that's a friendly welcome for you! he will not be that friendly at the weekend! we have played a couple of test matches against each other and every timel matches against each other and every time i play against him, i know! have played because it's hard to wa ke have played because it's hard to wake up the next morning because he

is so physical in the way he plays the game. he's also got the subtleties which creates opportunities for other players. there's no doubt, come sunday night, they will be a lot of focus on a lot of the players from wigan but sean will be top of the list. wigan are the most successful club challenge team. both teams have a rich history in the setup and the challenge itself but in terms of both competitions, the best thing about the world club challenge is, it's the world club challenge is, it's the best players in england against the best players in england against the best players in england against the best in australia and you get a trophy up for grabs. the man who set astride these two teams as your new coach. his son is on the roosters squad so i don't know, family could be completely confused and watching this one? yes, he has spoken about his time with the roosters with great fondness, he had a lot of friends there. he has promised to be a big supporter of the club but he

is so focused on the prep for wigan. it is good that he knows the players a little bit more than other coaches might do. his focus has been on wigan and prepping us for the game and i'm sure he would love to see his lad play and hopefully he will not get too caught up in that. it's one of the great sporting comebacks. ricky ashworth was a british champion speedway rider — one of the best — until a devastating crash in 2013. his family feared the worst. but incredibly, after learning to walk and talk again, ricky has got back on two wheels again. mike bushell went to meet him for the latest stage of his recovery. there have been many her wegmans national cycling centre but few can match the emotion and significance of ricky ashworth ‘s that here. a

decade ago, ricky was one of the countries are best paid by riders. premier league champion and riding for the british team. like others at the top, he was riding on the edge and seemingly invincible. undeterred by pull—ups i guess one in 2008. after another crash, five years later, ricky was not so lucky. he spent three months in a, before finally his family's prayers were a nswered finally his family's prayers were answered and he awoke but the toughest journey of answered and he awoke but the toughestjourney of his life was about to begin. looking cool, rick! his sisterfilmed about to begin. looking cool, rick! his sister filmed the journey that followed as he defied the odds and medical prognosis. can you waive? brilliant! look at that balance. ricky ashworth! then this year, what

many people thought impossible, the chance for him to get back on a bike. to begin with, a tandem cycle, but the chance to feel the wheels turning beneath him once more. but the chance to feel the wheels turning beneath him once morem but the chance to feel the wheels turning beneath him once more. it is amazing, absolutely, to be here. it means the world to me. 0nce amazing, absolutely, to be here. it means the world to me. once a biker, a lwa ys means the world to me. once a biker, always a biker. it is good to be back on a bike here. i didn't think he would be able to do it, to tell the truth. i thought they would be no way. it is like when you let a child go on a push—bike with no stabilisers with very first time. you're a bit nervous. it is still a huge effort for ricky to coordinate his brain and musclesjust huge effort for ricky to coordinate his brain and muscles just to get onto the bike, let alone peddling. ricky cannot remember anything about the crash, just the wobble before and then nothing for three months but here on the track where world championships have been decided, and

ricky won his battle. back to the field of racing. passing opponents around extreme banked curves of the velodrome. 0n bicycles with no breaks, just like in speedway. it's been a long road. to get here, still along to go. my speech is terrible but other than that, it's just fantastic. i really cannot believe it. it's so good. and if that's not left you feeling inspired this might. 0ne burnley fan has taken to running to every away game this season from burnley‘s stadium — turf moor. and when you consider their last match was against brighton. that was an extradoniary 277 miles. scott cunliffe is with us tonight, we'll be chatting to him in a moment but first here's a taste of his latest journey. number 14, a to brighton. i guess

things and only get better. this is day one to brighton. it's going to be a tough grind for the week, so i'm adopting the legs, heart, mind coach. the final day to brighton, look at that, blue sky, perfect. this week has been about giving but at the amex, it's about winning. let's do it. he still has a smile on his face. that is a tried and tested route because i know your trip to

brighton was your last big effort but you're doing a lot of london clu bs but you're doing a lot of london clubs as well and that is the set read that you like to take? pretty much, down from burnley to rochdale, derby, leicester, leighton buzzard and then into london and the extra bit, doing the two days to brighton, that was pretty spectacular. newcastle that was pretty spectacular. n ewcastle u p that was pretty spectacular. newcastle up next for you? first time going up north. why are you doing it, what's it all in aid of? i've had mental health problems in the past and irony want to do something that involves adventure and running and that has been my escapism, my therapy so yes, i just thought, i will run to one away game andi thought, i will run to one away game and i thought, that is not enough. we figured out there was 19 away games and! we figured out there was 19 away games and i thought, it is doable i get my head into it. yes, wejust set for the start of the season and when dead, really. luckily it has

gone well but it's all about keeping your mind and the game and staying focused and composed and loads of help from people, local businesses who have helped along the way. you are spitting £25,000 across charities. i'd love to go to 50,000 20,000 is the current target. 30% will go to charities in burnley, the other 50% will go to the other clu bs. other 50% will go to the other clubs. the football committees hopefully will rally around. best of luck reaching that target, good luck getting to newcastle and i hope you getting to newcastle and i hope you get favourable weather conditions. you might want to watch this because tonight we were going to bring you some great pictures of a young lad who was sprinting his way, potentially into the record books. it's been across social media today you haven't seen it already. that's all from sportsday.

for now though, good night. it has been another spectacular spring like taper many of us. even though it is only mid—february. northern parts of the uk had extra cloud and here we could see rain at times over the weekend. anymore, it will be dry and mild. through tonight, some rain moves across the north of scotland. elsewhere it will be largely dry but we will see more cloud attending defeat in from the west and as a consequence, temperatures will drop as far as they last night. the vast majority staying above freezing. tomorrow will be a milder start. the price we pay is more in the cloud across the south of england and south wales. some of that extending into the

midlands as well. the odd spot of diesel in western scotland. their sunshine in the north with highs of 14 or 15 degrees. similar temperatures on sunday with most of us temperatures on sunday with most of us being dry but there will be rain in the west. it stays pretty mild as we head into the start of next week. this is bbc news, i'm lukwesa burak. the headlines at seven. president trump confirms he will invoke emergency powers to pay for a border wall with mexico. we're going to be signing, today, and registering national emergency. and... it'sa and registering national emergency. and... it's a great thing to do. the head of m16 has warned governments in europe not to become complacent to the threat from islamic terror groups. it comes after 19—year—old, shamima begum, who ran away from her home in london aged 15 to be with militants, said she wanted to come home to have her baby. thousands of pupils skip school

and take to the streets, in protest against climate change. how our personal data has been manipulated for political influence, sometimes at the highest levels of power.