tonight at six: the home secretary pledges to do everything he can to give police the resources they need to fight knife crime. today at five... the young victims from across the country — sajid javid held emergency talks with chief constables from england and wales. a muslim convert, who planned we've got to do everything we can. a terror attack in central london is sentenced to life. lewis ludlow plotted to kill i'm absolutely committed to working 100 people in oxford street with the police in doing this. and pledged allegiance and we have to listen to them to the islamic state group. when they talk about resources. we'll have the full details but are these new commitments from government any different to previous initiatives? of the case in a moment. also tonight: the other main stories on bbc news at 5... there's to be a downing street sentenced to life in prison — the muslim convert who drew up list summit on knife crime, as the home secretary says of places he'd attack, he is committed to ensuring police have what they need from st paul's to oxford street. to deal with the crisis. a matter of life and death for some we have got to do everything we can. — if you live in the countryside it i am absolutely committed to working could take more than 20 minutes with the police in doing this and we have to listen to them for an ambulance to reach you. when they talk about resources. a father is convicted picture perfect, the coastal marshes of plotting an acid attack around the world that could be part on his own three—year—old son. of the solution to climate change. five other men are also found guilty of being involved. heading for a cashless society.

the government's urged to step in to ensure that millions of people who want to can still use coins and notes. it's bbc young reporters day. we'll hear from two of finalists and ask them about the issues in the news that matter to them. and andy murray after hip surgery puts his chances of playing at wimbledon at "less than 50%." i feel good. i am walking around pain—free, which hasn't been the case for pretty much 18 months, two years. it's 5 o'clock. our main story. a muslim convert who'd sworn allegiance to the islamic state group has beenjailed for life for plotting a van bomb attack

in oxford street in london. lewis ludlow, who's 27, had hoped to kill up to 100 people. our home affairs correspondent, daniel sandford, reports. this video is an introduction. i am the eagle and i pledge allegiance to islam... the moment when white convert lewis ludlow swore loyalty to the islamic state group. we love death as much you love life. i have nothing for this country of britain. i spit on your citizenship, your passport. his islamic state controller was this man, eyadzhemar abdusalam, now in prison in the philippines. together, they were planning the murder of up to 100 people in central london. it was the end of a ten—yearjourney of radicalisation for the awkward, vulnerable young man who had never left home. ludlow was often seen with anjem choudhary, the convicted terrorist who played a big role in drawing

him into extremism. i used to hate black people and asians and arabs. i admired hitlerfor his extermination of thejews because i thought he did something good. in this video he made, aged 19, he described his path from neo—nazism to radical islamism. it's always been, like, an adventure. he's been watched by counterterrorism detectives for years. he attended 17 de—radicalisation sessions under the government's prevent programme, but nothing had worked. last february, police stopped him going to the philippines, where the is controller he'd contacted online was based. then, in march, he was seen by an undercover team, taking pictures in central london. here's a man that's gone from spending the vast majority of his time in his bedroom at home online, to somebody who is travelling into london, taking

photographs of iconic locations. that started to get their hairs on the back of our necks standing up. counterterrorism detectives found the pictures he'd taken on his reconnaissance trip on a phone he dumped in a storm drain, including this picture, taken outside the flagship disney store. police also recovered a chilling, handwritten note ludlow had made. in it, he proposed using a truck, perhaps with a home—made bomb on board to ram into pedestrians here on oxford street. he said, that way, nearly 100 people could be killed. in another note, he listed more potential attack sites, including madame tussauds and st paul's cathedral. the plan fell apart because the man his is controller was using encrypted messaging to team him up with, was in fact an undercover police officer and ludlow was arrested. tell me about your involvement

in any terrorist activities. no comment. at first, he denied everything, but then police showed him the video they'd recovered of his oath of allegiance to the islamic state group. we love death as much as you love life. and lewis ludlow eventually admitted in court that he was plotting a terrorist attack. daniel sandford, bbc news, central london. theresa may has told mps that there will be a knife crime summit in the next few days to try to find solutions to what she called the "cycle of violence that has shocked us all". the labour leader, jeremy corbyn, said the increasing levels of violence are due, in part, to government spending cuts and austerity. today senior police officers said they'd been given until the end of the week to draw up bids for more resources, after a meeting with the home secretary about the surge in knife crime. sajid javid said that serious violence on britain's streets should

be treated like a disease. sophie long reports. two teenagers have been stabbed... four young men have been stabbed to death in london... 285 deaths due to knife crime last year, the highest number since records began. top police officers say it is now a national emergency that requires emergency funding and, today, they asked the home secretary for that. we know what tactics work, we know what to do to surge operational capacity to deal with these crimes, but we haven't always got that capacity, we haven't got the officers. we have agreed that by the end of the week, we will set out the scale of the investment required. the home secretary says he is listening. police resources are very important to deal with this. we have got to do everything we can, i am absolutely committed to working with the police in doing this. we have to listen to them when they talk about resources. the recent spate of knife crime has sparked a debate about whether the reduction in the number of police officers

is at least in part to blame. today, that debate continued in parliament. the responsibility for these crimes lies with the perpetrators of them. but we must all do more to ensure justice is served and tackle the root causes of this violence so we can bring it to an end and ensure the safety of our young people. does the prime minister now regret the cuts in police numbers and will she undertake that, under this review, they will be restored to the level they were formerly at? as i havejust indicated, we are putting more resources into the police. this year... it's no good members on the opposition benches standing up and saying, "no, you are not." it is a fact that more money is being put into the police this year. since 2010, the number of police officers in england and wales has fallen from around 140,000 down

to 117,000 last year. at the same time, the number of violent crimes causing injury has gone down, from about a million incidents a year at the beginning of the decade, to around 600,000 in recent years. the figures alone don't offer compelling evidence that more officers means less crime. but some youth workers say cuts have meant a reduced police presence before young people turn to crime. here we used to do fantastic work with police officers. they used to come and do talks with young people and we did many activities and projects and we were involved with the police. young people were getting to know their community police officers and formulating good relationships with them. so, they were not fearful of them. sajid javid said it was the killings of two teenagers in two separate stabbing incidents last weekend that focused minds.

joseph markey and jodie chesney, both just 17, were the latest young people to pay with their lives. sophie long, bbc news. 0ur chief political correspondent, vicki young is at the central lobby in the houses of parliament. the problem of knife crime rising rapidly up the political agenda. some disquiet at the reaction from the prime minister to what has been going on. the problem for harris that she was home secretary for many yea rs. that she was home secretary for many years. any problems they might seem to be, people will put at her door. they include cuts to policing, there has been some serious complaints about her reaction. we have had the former met commissioner saying she never used to listen to ideas for solutions. but theresa may has stuck to the idea that there is not a large correlation between the number

of police and a rise in knife crime. she says she cannot simply arrest your way out of this problem. downing street says she will hold this summit with a range of people attending. they want to do that as $0011 attending. they want to do that as 50011 as attending. they want to do that as soon as possible. they also say that she will have a separate meeting with the families of victims of this crime as well. enter the fray boris johnson, the former london mayor. he says that when he was london mayor there was a surge in knife crime but they were able to deal with it. he has been speaking to our political editor. if you ask someone to allow themselves to be searched and it is a very personal thing. it is an invasion of privacy. people are understandably reluctant to do it. what the police need a strong, political support that this is the right way forward. top cover from politicians that there is nothing

discriminatory about stop and search, there is nothing wrong with it, it is something actually that i find is overwhelmingly supported by the parents of the very kids who are stop and searched. what does it mean for a tougher line from the prime minister? it is important for everyone involved. the mayor of london has an importantjob. the police must feel we back them up. when politicians... we are there to represent the public but when we lead great public services like the police, they had to feel we are on their side. when we ask them to do something difficult, embarrassing, like stopping kids and searching then, they have to fear they will get political support when they do it. many criticising theresa may for when she was home secretary making it clear that she did not feel that it clear that she did not feel that it was necessarily the right way

forward. she said today it was important that stop and search was done lawfully and it is part of the whole picture. the government is going to look to glasgow at what is being done now with knife crime where it is treated as a health issue, bringing in other agencies, other parts of the public sector, so it is not just other parts of the public sector, so it is notjust about policing. neighbourfeels the it is notjust about policing. neighbour feels the major problem here is cuts in policing but also cuts in other things like youth services, sure start schemes. it is a problem for a government that has risen to the top of the agenda. sajid javid saying that he will be asking for more funding and the police who met him today sounded quite about that. thank you very much indeed. very much indeed. a father has been convicted of plotting an acid attack on his three—year—old son. five other men were also convicted of being involved in the attack, in which sulphuric acid was squirted onto the little boy's arm and face.

it happened in a shop in worcester lastjuly. 0ur correspondent, phil mackie, is at worcester crown court. we had just had sentencing. that has just happened in the last few minutes. thejudge described just happened in the last few minutes. the judge described this as a monstrous breach of trust. the father of the boy and listed the five others to help him with a plot to attack the young child because he felt that that would discredit his estranged wife, the mother of the boy, in the forthcoming custody proceedings. there is a bitter separation going on. he felt he had been dishonoured by her. we saw cctv footage during the trial showing the attack. another man he was jailed, adam cech and at the a bottle containing a sulphuric acid solution and spraying out onto the face and arm of the little boy. he suffered serious burns but thanks to the swift action of passers—by and

paramedics he has made a good recovery but his mother has said he will be scarred for life that we have just had statements from various people including west murcia police who said it was an unbelievable crime. it was someone he was supposed to be looking after the child he was responsible for the attack. afterwards i spoke to the superintendent and put it to him that it was perhaps more than a custody battle, it was more to do with ideas about honour attacks within a culture of the afghan nation from which the father came. as part of a thorough police investigation we tested a number of hypotheses and motives which may have existed as to why the three—year—old child ultimately got hard. 0verand three—year—old child ultimately got hard. over and above everything else what it stands down to his chronic domestic abuse leading onto child abuse. was on a factor? it is difficult to fully label. honour and the beliefs and values of the family unit may have had a part to play but

it is not something we are overtly saying. how is the child? with any attack of any magnitude, particularly in this case, the child will take some time to physically re cover will take some time to physically recover and is recovering well is my understanding. initially it is hard to tell and the impact will no doubt play out for years to come. we also had a statement read out on behalf of the mother of the boy. she was not here today. he gave evidence by video link. she said she was devastated and did not know what is happening. she could not believe her child had been sprayed with acid. it had become hard to accept the father was behind it. how can i explain this to my son when he grows up? she also said, in terms of domestic abuse and suffering and that kind of abusive relationship, she would like to reach out to anyone experiencing that. you do not have to suffer alone. you can talk to other people. she said her son is ok and they

hope to move forward. the headlines on bbc news... a muslim convert, who'd sworn allegiance to the islamic state group, has beenjailed for life for plotting a terror attack in central london. there's to be a downing street summit on knife crime as the home secretary says he is committed to ensuring have what they need to deal with the crisis. a father is convicted of plotting an acid attack on his own three—year—old son. he is jailed for 16 years. five other men are also found guilty of being involved. andy murray says he is finally pain free but is not sure if he can play at the top level again. peter beardsley has left his role at newcastle united after an investigation into racism and bullying allegations was launched last year. any planned merger

between scarlets and ospreys is off the table. i will be back with more on this tour is at 5:30pm. see you then. —— on those stories. counter—terror police are continuing efforts to identify a motive or suspect who sent suspicious packages to a number of locations in the past two days. glasgow and essex universities had to be evacuated today after receiving suspect packages. and yesterday, waterloo station and offices at heathrow and london city airports received packages with dublin as the return address, prompting irish police to join the investigation. we are — increasingly — moving towards a cashless society, with debit cards used far more than notes and coins. high street banks are closing both cashpoints and branches. well, now a new report says the government should step in to ensure that cash can still be used in future to buy things. simon gompertz reports.

just outside ipswich — a cashless pub. you have to pay by card or smartphone. they save 15 hours a week not having to count the takings and drive them to the bank. we have greatly reduced the management time spent handling cash and dealing with cashing up, also getting to the banks to get change has been eradicated, security issues, so we have no, or zero theft from either staff and or robbers coming in, and the insurance premiums are a lot lower. the nearest cash machine to this village is nearly half an hour away. so it's hard to get cash and it's impossible to spend it here. which is where the whole country could be going. that's why the report today says that people who like cash need to be protected. in ipswich itself, there's still the opposite, a pub which only takes cash, and plenty of people who don't

want to do without it. i do window cleaning, so you're dealing with a lot of cash. so, i would say it would definitely be a problem. perhaps maybe if they are housebound and they need someone to get something, to give them cash, because i don't think it is safe these days to give your card out. kev, who was homeless over the winter, says many in his refuge depend on cash. a lot of people there haven't got a bank account. so, they only carry cash. and if you can't spend cash in a shop, then it's going to be difficult for them. they won't be able to survive. to keep cash available, there is a huge infrastructure of sorting centres and vans which the report says must be cut back to deliver lower bank charges for businesses handling cash. there's no plan to force shops to take cash by law, but there should be a guaranteed right to withdraw cash in your local

area from cash machines or shops. we are already seeing that the cash infrastructure is showing signs of collapse. i don't think we have more than a couple of years before something that's really important to the uk, our ability to get cash and spend cash, is in serious jeopardy. this is about smoothing the transition to a world with hardly any notes or coins. the boot pub is showing the way. the only cash you see here is the tips. with me in the studio is james lowman, chief executive of the association of convenience stores. thank you for being with us. why a convenience store particularly affected. three quarters of transactions in convenience stores are still with cash. there is a growing proportion of sales through debit cards and credit cards and declining cash in our sector there

is still a very high proportion of sales. we need to continue to provide access to cash. we come in from the other angle because a lot of cash machines which consumers are using are housed in convenience stores. 46% a re using are housed in convenience stores. 46% are convenience stores offer them free and 16% off a charging cash machines. having wide availability of free access to cash is really important, really important to us, notjust for convenience stores backpack phase, using taxis, all sorts business markets where people want to have cash in hand. it does not mean cash is unimportant. is the concern cash machines are starting to disappear? there is pressure on them. the report notes are declining cash machines over the past few years. has been driven by a reduction in fees banks are paying to the operators of the cash machines to provide a service for making those facilities available to bank

customers. banks are shutting branches in their own atms and we wa nt branches in their own atms and we want them to pay a reasonable fee to keep the rest of the atm network to be viable and give access to customers. we are seeing our members and are much more pressure with atm provider saying we will not be able to offer this atm facility in this anymore and a of difficult decision decisions —— in this location anymore and there are a lot of difficult to make. what is it about the decline of notes and coins customer —— notes and coins. the decline of notes and coins customer -- notes and coins. there isa customer -- notes and coins. there is a movement towards cards but also payments by phone and online shopping. a lot of movement in that direction. there will be a long—term

need for availability cash and we have to have infrastructure to make it cost—effective to fund that availability of cash. that is about clearing houses and things like that. from our perspective, it is important in the roles that shops play make it is important for people to be able to access cash machines. i'll older people affected by this he want to use cash rather than debit cards? —— are older people affected ? debit cards? —— are older people affected? more people manage their cash flow through using cash rather than racking up credit card bills or paying on a card. particularly in rural areas. there is generally less access to cash. there are some issues with connectivity of stores and businesses. it may be harderfor them to offer card payments and other facilities in those stores. there is a direction to more card payments unless cash payment as a proportion. cash will be a very

important part of society for a long time. thank you for coming in. downing street has said the latest meeting in brussels between the attorney general, geoffrey cox, and the eu's brexit negotiator, michel barnier were "d ifficult" and the european commission say there's still "no solution" to the impasse over the irish backstop. speaking on his return to the uk, the attorney general said talks would be resuming soon. well, as we've already said, this is a moment where we are in the midst of the very heart of discussion. we've made very reasonable, very coherent and very detailed proposals. we're resuming talks soon and we shall have to see where they go, but we're having a good dialogue and a good exchange of views, so that's where we're at. i don't think we can say any more. confident you will get a solution? we will have to see. we are certainly constructively engaging at the moment.

0ur correspondent, adam fleming, is in brussels. is the attorney general putting on a brave face? he is. that is a much more racy situation and the one given by the european commission, the organisation running the brexit talks on daily basis. they had dinner with michelle barnier last night. the ministers went home on the train this morning and then we heard from eu officials and private and then backed up by the ee commission chief spokesman at lunchtime today that progress that had been made is zero. —— the eu commission. there has been no solution found to match the expectations of the uk to get legal guarantees that the irish backstop, if it ever comes in, if there is no trade deal to solve the problem of the irish border, but it would only be temporary and the position of the year that they cannot be a time

limit on the backstop because it ceases to be an insurance policy it is designed to be in there will not bea is designed to be in there will not be a mechanism whether the uk can unilaterally withdraw from the backstop because it will cease to be an insurance policy. talks have not broken down. 0fficials an insurance policy. talks have not broken down. officials are still speaking and there is lots of speculation that the brexit secretary and the attorney general will be back in brussels in a few days' time and i will be input by the prime minister to get it over the prime minister to get it over the line. it is not really a meeting of minds. 0fficials the line. it is not really a meeting of minds. officials are worried that talking uk about an extension to article 50 and staying beyond the 29th of march means the eu might get the impression that they do not need to move and everything will be fine in the end and they do not have to do anything dramatic before this vote of mps next week. michel barnier got to visit from the king and queen of sweden today. if things get really bad, maybe the uk can bring out the big guns. thank you

very much indeed. lorry queues at the eurotunnel terminal in calais are stretching back some 15 miles, as customs officials continue a third day of industrial action. their aim is to win improved pay and increased staff numbers ahead of the uk s departure from the eu. there are also delays at eurostar in paris, with delays of up to an hour. 0ur europe correspondent, gavin lee, is in calais. just paint a picture of what is going on and what form is this industrial action taking?|j going on and what form is this industrial action taking? i have not seen it to this extent. in years. we drove from belgium today. the two ports and eurotunnel as well here in calais but dunkirk as well. the queues are starting in belgium, on the belgium side of the border. eight miles of cues to dunkirk, 15 massive queues behind me to the terminal for the eurotunnel at calais and similar for the terminal for the eurotunnel at calais and similarfor the port terminal for the eurotunnel at calais and similar for the port as well. eurotunnel has sent out a note

to all freight passengers saying the check—in time is six hours. that is an incredible amount of time. we have spoken to people behind me today. some of these vehicles have not moved in the last half an hour since we spoke to them and they have been waiting here for five hours already. at the heart of this representative for the customs workers at calais and dunkirk say they feel real fear at the prospect ofan they feel real fear at the prospect of an idea brexit that they will be exposed are not able to cope with the pressure and extra facility on them to be inspecting all the vehicles with 300 staff. they say they are working to rule. no overtime. they are doing slow and extensive checks on all the tracks here. they have been going through six tracks an hour. some freight trains had been going back to the uk half empty today. that means the back of this queue, there are still

people just arriving. a short while ago we spoke to a driver, alan, who had just turned up, arriving back from belgium trying to get to glasgow. this is just from belgium trying to get to glasgow. this isjust the from belgium trying to get to glasgow. this is just the start of the queue. you are right at the beginning. eurotunnel is saying for freight it can be six hours. this will be the normal for everybody, every truck driver. plus you have to get an international license. that is more money. i do not know if brexit will mean any worse than the eurotunnel is every day. that action has also extended today with customs staff in paris. the gardai know eurostar, at least an hour of delays for passengers. —— gard du nord. they have said there will be extra staff and they hope and more than

the 65 staff there currently is. the head of the french customs are saying they are a standard they are using this political moment he believes to ask for more conditions and he believes whatever happens with brexit they are well prepared. thank you. now for the latest weather. here's mel coles with the forecast. we can expect anything from the weather at this time of year. the rain is pushing its way into parts of scotland. a rash of showers feeding from the west and tracking eastwards. i have been reports of lightning. still mild in the south of the uk but cooler in scotland where temperatures are back down into single figures. the side of things to come. this evening an area of low pressure will bring rain back into parts of northern ireland and the north west of england. a few showers in the far south—west. there will be a few clear spells and it will be a few clear spells and it

will remain windier the night was that i will stop the temperatures from dropping away too far. into thursday that winds will strengthen. strengthening elsewhere as the day goes on, it is a north or north westerly wind, a co—direction to be coming from. the showers will be wintry over the hills. factoring in the strength of the wind it will feel much cooler. this is bbc news. the headlines... a muslim convert who'd sworn allegiance to the islamic state group is jailed for life for plotting a terror attack in central london. there's to be a downing street summit on knife crime as the home secretary says he is committed to ensuring police have what they need to deal with the crisis. we have got to do everything we can. i am absolutely committed to working with the police in doing this,

and we have to listen to them when they talk about resources. a father is jailed for 16 years, for planning an acid attack on his own three—year—old son. five other men are also jailed for their part in the plot. all the latest sports news for you now. we start with tennis news. britain's former world number one andy murray says he's "pain free" after having hip surgery injanuary but that his chances of playing singles at wimbledon this year are "less than 50%". he's been speaking to our sports editor dan roan. thanks for your time and good to see you. it has only been a few weeks since your hip operation. tell us how it went and how your recovery is going so far. it went well. thank you. he does a pretty big operation. not many 30—year—olds are having that. but i feel good. i am walking

around pain—free, which hasn't been the case for pretty much 18 months, two years. that was the main reason for having it done. i'm really happy with how that is going. just day—to—day things that i am doing area day—to—day things that i am doing are a lot more enjoyable now. i wasn't enjoying tennis, going out for walks and doing basic things. it was painful to tie my laces. ijust to get rid of that. now that that is gone, i want to try and get my hip as best as i can to see what i can continue to do something that i love doing, which is playing tennis. and whether that is competing at the top ten in the world level or not, it is probably unlikely, but could i get to top 50 or top 100? that is may be possible. i will have to wait and see. sitting here now, i know it is ha rd see. sitting here now, i know it is hard at this point, but how realistic is it that you could play at wimbledon this year? to play singles at wimbledon, i would say it

would be less than 50% chance of playing. doubles, may be possibly. 0ne playing. doubles, may be possibly. one of the american doubles players by brian had the same operation i was competing after five and a half months. in australia. so he prayed at the australian open. but there is at the australian open. but there is a vast difference between singles and doubles in terms of the physicality and the load that you put through the body. whether i will be able to get back to playing singles in that period of time, it is really difficult for me to say. beyond wimbledon, do you think there isa beyond wimbledon, do you think there is a realistic chance that you can get back into serious senior men's tennis as a singles player?” get back into serious senior men's tennis as a singles player? i think it is possible. but i don't want to say that it is highly likely, because it has not been done before. i cannot look at another tennis player ingo, yes, that guy did it so why not. i've been told by the surgeons and stuff that you can try,

but there is certainly no guarantees. the thing that gives me hope is that, in australia and the last 18 months, my hip was in a really bad way and i was still able to compete and win matches against very good players. and if my hip is better now than it was then and i have less pain, then there is a chance i could do that again. have less pain, then there is a chance i could do that againm certainly feels like the sense if you are happier than you or previously, happy with the decision you made and no regrets about that, it was the right call? absolutely. evenif it was the right call? absolutely. even if i was told "you're never going to hit a tennis ball again" i would have had the operation, because i had come to a point where i had been in painfor because i had come to a point where i had been in pain for such a long time andi i had been in pain for such a long time and i didn't want it to go on any more. i wanted that to stop. i didn't want to be walking and limping around and hurting all the time. so i'm really happy with the decision. ifeel a lot better in myself. more confident in myself and i had been in the last 18 months. because i just felt

i had been in the last 18 months. because ijust felt kind of, i don't know. i just had because ijust felt kind of, i don't know. ijust had this major problem that was hanging over me. now i don't. looking back at the australian open, what are your reactions of the press conference, when you are a very emotional and the impression you gave us that, at the impression you gave us that, at the very best, we could see you once more at wimbledon but possibly not again after that? and actually the first round of defeat, when they gave this a very heartfelt tribute and goodbye. at the time, in light the surgeons and stuff that i had to about the operation... no one had told me it was an option to come back and start playing again and to get back to the highest level. for me, it was either happy operation and stop or try to kind of get through it until wimbledon with my current hip. now that i've had the operation, i don't feel any pressure to come back and play. i don't feel like i have to get back to playing at wimbledon or play tennis again. i

just want to get my hip as good as it can be. and if it allows me to play, that's brilliant. but if not, i'm not in pain any more and i'm happy with that. so the post—match thing was a little bit awkward, maybe. but the press conference, i was speaking totally from my heart. i don't know if anything i said, has been contradictory to how i am talking now. i don't regret doing that. lots to take him there. that is and be merry speaking to our sports editor. —— andy murray. more champions league action tonight — this time it's manchester united's turn but it's a huge ask for them to reach the quarter finals. united trail paris st—germain by two goals going into tonight's second leg in the french capital, but interim boss 0le gunnar solskjaer says they believe they can make it into the last 8. never mission impossible. 0f never mission impossible. of course more difficult. but as i said here earlier, we have got to get the first goal and then anything can

happen. yes, it is a technical and tactical game, but it's also a mental game. certainly goals always change games. if we get the first one, we will be believing even more. and they might start doubting themselves. but it is important that we get the first one. former england international peter beardsley has left his role as under 23's coach at newcastle united. beardsley had been on leave since an investigation into racism and bullying allegations was launched last year. the former newcastle andf liverpool player "categorically denies the allegations", and says the "time was right to seek a new challenge". newcastle say they‘ re grateful for the contribution beardsley had given over the years as a player, coach and ambassador and have wished him well for the future. and finally... the proposed merger between welsh rugby union clubs scarlets and 0spreys is now "off the table". they met yesterday to discuss the plans. but in a statement, scarlets say that 0spreys have changed their minds.

the plans had been criticised, with players from both teams fearing for their futures. that is all for now. hugh woozencroft will have more for you in sportsday at 6:30. thank you very much indeed. today is bbc young reporter news day. it s a day when the bbc works with hundreds of young people, giving them the chance to get involved in skills workshops and training. in the past couple of hours, a special awards ceremony has been held for the 12 finalists of the bbc young reporter competition which gives young people a unique chance to tell powerful, personal stories. these finalists have been working with journalists and producers and their reports have been airing across the bbc. let's meet to have the finalist. with me now are two of those finalists, 16—year—old jake, a dj with a difference, and 16—year—old salma,

——a dj with a difference, and 17—year—old salma, who wants to challenge stereotypes as a black, muslim female footballer. we will talk to you in a minute about your football in your report on football. let's go to jake first of all. what was your young reporter story? my story was about my business called djj patries, and i do specialised parties. it is a simplified sign language that children, adults and everyone can use. i implant that in my parties, so use. i implant that in my parties, soi use. i implant that in my parties, so i can be inclusive in that entity onjoin in. you so i can be inclusive in that entity on join in. you got into so i can be inclusive in that entity onjoin in. you got into this because you have a younger cousin who has that down syndrome? yes, my cousin alice. she is a big inspiration to me. i went on a holiday and i saw one of the holiday tense and thought she is not being included, she wasn't making engagement. and then i thought of this. why did you want to make that into a news story that would be broadcast on the bbc? itjust helped

me spread the word about inclusion and how important it is to include people. and use this in daily life. well done to you for that. salma, tell us about you. you are playing football for brentford women's fc and you believe that women's football is on the increase. it definitely is. especially with england winning the djj patries cup last night, that was massive step up for england ahead of the world cup. why did you want to make this report? i wanted to make a report for young muslim females that wanted to get involved in sports, football in particular obviously. because me growing up, i had faced a lot of racism. when i was younger, i always wa nted racism. when i was younger, i always wanted to have that kind of role model and someone that i could look up model and someone that i could look up to who was like me, a muslim female that was doing what i was doing. ididn't female that was doing what i was doing. i didn't really have many women to look up to. doing this, i

felt like i can inspire younger females who are interested in football, whom i feel like females who are interested in football, whom ifeel like they females who are interested in football, whom i feel like they are a bit hesitant based off of peoples opinions. to not focus on others opinions. to not focus on others opinions at the end of the day. it is your life and you should pursue with every leash. in football can be empowering for people? with every leash. in football can be empowering for people ?m with every leash. in football can be empowering for people? it definitely can be empowering. it is a team sport. your team—mates, at 99% of the time will be empowering you and inspiring you and supporting you. so you don't have to feel like you are alone, because you are not. you're both doing amazing things. let me ask you, jake, now that you have had ask you, jake, now that you have had a taste of being a young reporter, do you want to be a reporter?|j do you want to be a reporter?” would love to be. it isjust nerve—racking being would love to be. it isjust nerve— racking being before would love to be. it isjust nerve—racking being before the cameras, but that would be amazing. it is really not that hard. what about you, salma ? it is really not that hard. what about you, salma? would you like to bea about you, salma? would you like to be a young reporter, or in order reporter when you leave school?” never really thought about it, but having this opportunity with all the

cameras and everything, it is quite interesting and i find cameras and everything, it is quite interesting and ifind it cameras and everything, it is quite interesting and i find it really cool interesting and i find it really cool. it's a great way of getting your message across. thank you so much to both of you, jake and salma. good to talk to you. congratulations on being finalists. well, francesca is one of the winners of the bbc young reporter competition, her story is about how social media made her view her disability differently. let's take a look. my name is francesca. i'm 16. i have tri—palegic cerebral palsy. it affects both my legs and my left arm. sometimes it can make me feel physically isolated because i can't always do things. my able—bodied friends can do. but since making friends online, i no longer see myself as being alone in my experiences. even if i am alone in my bedroom, i'm not alone. because i can be part of an online community. being part of an online community filled with disabled people has genuinely changed my perception

of my disability, for the better. i get up at 6:30 every day. i can't get the bus to school, with everyone else, so i go to wheelchair accessible taxi. see you later, bye—bye. school is important to me. because, as a disabled person, i sometimes think that people underestimate me. it can be quite difficult because some people just don't understand how my disability affects me. i finally ifinally got a i finally got a seat, yes! well done! i've also got some close friends here. like daniella. even she has noticed a positive difference social media has on me. at school a lot of people don't feel very comfortable speaking to you. but with our conversation, there is not a barrier there. how social media can have an impact on people like me.

i spoke to a professor — she has been studying the effect of social media can have on young people. what digital media offerings the chance to meet people. of all the people that you can meet, perhaps it is especially valuable to be able to meet other people who are living in the same kinds of circumstances as you. so you can share experiences. hi, georgia. hi! i've been speaking to georgia on social media for two years. i met her on an online charity forum. like me, she also has cerebral palsy. today will be the first time i meeting face—to—face. in her hometown of sheffield. good to meet you. it's still so weird and surreal! it's so exciting and cool, to see you in person. do you think? i know what you mean. it's weird.

even if we can't meet each other face—to—face again alone, then we just talk online more. this has been such an experience. it never would have happened without social media. i hope this is the beginning of many more meet—ups. this has been fran, reporting for bbc news. well, at 8:30 this evening, we'll have a special programme presented by shaun ley, showcasing all of the winning stories from the bbc young reporter competition. you're watching bbc news. the singer r kelly — who's facing charges of sexual abuse — has angrily denied the allegations in an interview with an american tv network. the grammy—award winner is facing charges in relation to four women — three of whom are alleged to have been under—age at the time. lizo mzimba reports. # i believe i can fly.

he is one of rnb's most influential artists, sailing tens of millions of albums. he's also been a subject of numerous allegations of sexual abuse — something he has consistently denied. he's currently facing sexual abuse charges involving four women, three of whom would have been underage at the time of the alleged incidents. it follows a recent documentary surviving r kelly, which accused them of manipulating and abusing and holding women against their will. i am surprised that you agreed to do it. why are you sitting down with us today? i'm very tired of all of the lies. i've been hearing things and seeing things on the blogs and, you know, i'mjust tired. the singer has told cbs news that the documentary‘s allegations are untrue. why would these women say the same thing about you — that you are controlling, that you are abusive? you can start a rumour on a guy like me or a celebrity, just like that. all you have to do is push a button

on your phone and say "so and so did this to me, r kelly did this to me" and if you get any traction from that, if you're able to write a book from that, if you're able to get a reality show, then any girl that i had a relationship in the past, and that it just didn't work out... she can come and say the same exact thing. at times, his denials became extremely emotional. stop it! y'all quit playing. quit playing. robert. i didn't do this stuff. this is not me. i'm fighting for my expletive life. y'all killing me what this expletive. i gave you 30 years of my career. robert. 30 years of my career and you're trying to kill me! you're killing me, man! this is not about music. i'm trying to have a relationship with my kids, and i can't do it. y'alljust don't want to believe the truth.

you don't want to believe it. i need help. what kind of help? this is the kind of help i need. yes, what kind of help? i need somebody to help me not have a big heart. because my heart is so big. people betray me. and i keep forgiving them. you sound like you're playing the victim here. you sound like r kelly, you do... i'm telling the truth. you're playing the victim card. i'm just telling the truth. and the reason i'm emotional, i apologise for that, is because this is the first time i was able to say something. i have said nothing. that defies logic to me. the singer was cleared of allegations involving child abuse and itjust at a 2008 trial, insisting he has never behaved illegally with underage children. have you ever had sex with anyone under the age of 17? no. never? no. i have to tell you — it is so hard to believe that based on all of this. right, i'm going to tell you something, gayle. i'm going to tell you... something. what women said about you.

what women said about me? because no one is allowed to be mad at me and be scorned and lie on me. so they are lying on you? that is your exclamation? absolutely. r kelly has pleaded not guilty to the sexual abuse charges that he is currently facing in chicago. lizo mzimba, bbc news. with me in the studio isjournalist and film—maker ben zand — he has made two documentaries for bbc three on the sexual abuse allegations against r kelly. thanks for being with us. we will talk about what you made of that interview in a moment. 0utline talk about what you made of that interview in a moment. outline for is for people who have not been following this story the last few months, but it's the nature of the case against him? the case goes back decades. even in the 1990s, r kelly was alleged to have married the singer aaaliyah when she was 16, he was meant to be 27. in the early 2010 a sex tape video came out that purportedly showed him having sex with a 14—year—old purportedly showed him having sex with a11i—year—old girl and he was

cleared of that. since then, there has been allegations that are into levels. 0ne has been allegations that are into levels. one is that he has engaged in sexual activities with underage girls and the other is that he is operating and telling them what to eat and what to wear, he is abusive. the last few years it has ramped up and that is where we get to the time when he is doing the interview and they will leave you emotional on american tv. he has not been interviewed for a long time. two yea rs or interviewed for a long time. two years or so that he has refused to talk to them on camera?” years or so that he has refused to talk to them on camera? i remember he get the huffington post interviewed a couple of years back when he walked off said when asked about these questions. he has refused to address this. i've been trying to get this out of our county for a long time, there's a time when he seems to be open to doing it and then shut it down. this whole thing has been to pretend everything is 0k. he has been making his music on his instagram and twitter. you see him having a good time and making

songs. that stop at the start of this year, when these lifetime documentaries came out. when i made my films, started to readdress the issue. he released a song called i admit, when he admitted to being a bad guy in the relationships he has had, he asked cheated on women and lied about everything. he denying this, but it's clearly pressure has mounted. an extraordinary interview. you saw him there standing up, crying and shouting saying he needs help. his interviewer is accusing him of trying to play the victim. is that how you see it and as that is what he is doing as far as strategy? yes. he has denied this for a long time. his argument is that people are lying about him and they want his money. and they are trying to discredit them. essentially one person came out and said this, eve ryo ne person came out and said this, everyone else has jumped person came out and said this, everyone else hasjumped on person came out and said this, everyone else has jumped on the bandwagon and they alljust want his money. having made a documentary and spoke to all of these women, it is ha rd to

spoke to all of these women, it is hard to not believe him. if i am entirely honest. how many people have you spoken to about the allegations against? the people i have spoken to are five of the women, to managers, studio managers. they are painting a picture that he stayed in his studio late at night, had women coming in constantly. a lot of people were not allowed to talk to the lemon and he was the only person who could adjust these women. the women when he walked in brooms would have to stand up and greet him when he came in. it is dark, but he was acquitted when he went to trial. this is a big difference now. this ten charges against him of sexual abuse. also very interesting times to do an interview, in—depth and an active police investigation. but if things now are going to reach a point where he will be found guilty or not, and thatis he will be found guilty or not, and that is the first time that has been the case under an excellent criminal investigation happening which changes everything. good to talk to

you. thank you for your time. ben zand, the journalist and film—maker. england's women will be heading to this summer's football world cup in france as one of the favourites to win after beating japan three—nil last night. their win is arguably the lionesses‘ biggest success to date and comes at a perfect time. jo currie watched the the match in florida. england are lighting up to the world stage. lifting up the shebelieves cup, their biggest up to date, and once more in a world cup year. an occasion to celebrate. champions against the odds. 0bviously occasion to celebrate. champions against the odds. obviously we are delighted. as you can see from the celebrations, and the changing rooms, and a lot of music and dancing. i think for us, we are tired but at the same time we are looking forward to what is to come over the next few months. most importantly, enjoy tonight. ready to pounce, i feel ins importantly, enjoy tonight. ready to pounce, ifeel ins is importantly, enjoy tonight. ready to pounce, i feel ins is started with confidence. encapsulated by a strike from outside the area which settled

the nerves early on. minutes later, angling her at it again. this time vetera n angling her at it again. this time veteran with a pinpoint header to put them further ahead. beth mead, one of the younger players will it be desperate to book a place that this summer's world cup, proved exactly why she is worth her spot. her second eye catching the let the tournament. after the change of ends, the lionesses‘ continue to hunt for mark ellis. going closest, but they could not add to their pre—sara lee. not that it mattered. the manor of england's performance in this match and throughout the tournament underlines 15's coming—of—age. tournament underlines 15's coming-of-age. you enjoy moments like this because you don't get many moments in your life where you get your hands on a trophy. it is my first as a manager, it is the first for some of these younger players. we will enjoy tonight. the thing about lifting trophies, is that it raises expectations. the more you get your hands on the silverware, the better you handle the pressure. bbc news, tampa.

time for a look at the weather, with mel coles. todayis today is an example of different sorts of weather we can have at this time of the air. we had blustery weather, sunshine and has known the extent too. any contracting temperatures. the jet stream extent too. any contracting temperatures. thejet stream drives our weather and let me see a bit like this it allows low—pressure systems to develop. that is what is in charge at the moment. draped around this area of low pressure, we are seeing weather fronts that have brought outbreaks of rain. at the moment, the rain is across parts of scotland. it is here, over the hills, that we are seeing some snow. for south we seen a rash of showers seeping in from the west and gradually working their way eastwards. some brighter intervals at times, but around those showers in particular it has been quite blustery. and quite a sharp contrast in the temperatures for northern ireland and scotland, the temperatures have been taken back into the mid—single figures at best. we have that mild area for further

south er. those temperatures are still in double figures for now. into this evening, our area of low pressure will send rain into parts of northern ireland and northwest england. if you showers towards the southwest, some hills now still for parts of scotland. there will be some clear intervals. because it remains windy, that will prevent the temperatures from dropping too far. a frost free night. our area of low pressure just starts to drift a little bit further eastwards. 0pening little bit further eastwards. opening up the gates to much colder air. sitting in on a northwesterly wind. there will be further showers. some wintry over the hills, particularly across scotland and into north east england. the ring is more blustery across west and northern areas at first, but they tra nsfer eastwards northern areas at first, but they transfer eastwards as we get to the day. a big calm down and the temperatures for all of us. factoring the strength of that wind and it will feel colder still, not only by day but also by night. as we

had to thursday night, the winds jump had to thursday night, the winds jump outand had to thursday night, the winds jump out and that will allow a frosted to form. temperatures dropped close to below freezing. mist and fog around for a price of scotla nd mist and fog around for a price of scotland on friday. the best of any brightness to start the day will be out towards the east. the cloud gradually starting to increase, as another weather system starts to show its hand down towards the southwest england, wales, northwest england too. it remains cool. temperatures just escaping into the dump double figures. it remains cool as we head into the weekend. some rain at times, gail and hills now. still cool, but there will be sunshine around as well.