theresa may asks the eu for another brexit delay, until the end ofjune. the prime minister writes to donald tusk, saying the uk could still leave earlier — if mps finally support the withdrawal deal. we still hope to leave the eu in the next couple of months. that's our ambition. we don't have a majority in parliament, and that means that we have to have these discussions withjeremy corbyn. we'll be live at westminster and in brussels. also this lunchtime... bailfor sally challen, the woman whose conviction for murdering her husband was quashed by the court of appeal. her family say they're delighted. it's a massive moment. we're overjoyed that she's coming out. mind the gap... at many companies, the difference between men and women's pay has widened — in favour of men. the england star who says he can't wait to turn

his back on football — because of racism. and the tiger‘s on a roll. the horse that's could become the first back—to—back winner of the grand national since red rum. and coming up on bbc news: british heavyweight dillian whyte claims he is being frozen out of a first world title fight, saying the world boxing council are holding him back. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. theresa may has asked the eu for a further delay to brexit untiljune 30th, but she says she's still hoping the uk can leave earlier than that, if mps finally approve her deal. in a letter to european council president donald tusk,

theresa may says britain will prepare to hold elections for the european parliament, with the option of pulling out of them. the uk is due to leave at the end of next week, but an eu official says donald tusk is considering a longer, flexible extension of up to a year. our political correspondent, alex forsyth, reports. what's next for brexit? today, the government's plan, at least became a little clearer. because parliament is still deadlocked, unable to agree how we leave, the prime minister is asking the eu for more time to try to sort it out. in a letter to the european council president, donald tusk, theresa may asked to delay our departure date untiljune and 30th this year, but once the option of leaving earlier if parliament supports a brexit deal before then, which is what the government hopes. we still hope to leave the eu in the next couple of months. that's our

ambitions is that we don't have a majority in parliament, and that means that we have to have these discussions with jeremy means that we have to have these discussions withjeremy corbyn, to see if there is enough common ground to do that. those talks with labour, whose leader was in newport today, are continuing. still questions over whether he will push for another public vote. we have included all that in discussions with the government and i've twice put forward proposals to parliament that include the and the labour party has supported them. we have and ended talks with the government yet. there's been no obvious move on behalf of the government right now and we are continuing those talks. theresa may wants to keep any extension as short as possible but has acknowledged if no exit deal is agreed by may the 23rd, the uk will have to take part in elections to the european parliament, almost three years after voting to leave the eu, something the prime minister saysis the eu, something the prime minister says is not in the country's best interests. many brexiteers are are

angry atany interests. many brexiteers are are angry at any delay. we don't need to ask for an extension to the 30th of june orany ask for an extension to the 30th of june or any other date, we should just leave the european union. that's whati7.1i million just leave the european union. that's what 17.4 million voted for, that's what17.4 million voted for, that's what the polls show people vote for. it's overwhelmingly what members of the conservative party voted for so lets not overcomplicate it, let's just leave. she voted for so lets not overcomplicate it, let'sjust leave. she never intended that. some say even a long delay won't push them into backing the prime minister's deal. delay won't push them into backing the prime minister's deallj delay won't push them into backing the prime minister's deal. i think the prime minister's deal. i think the terms of the deal are so dear spent ages and so crushing, humiliating defeat, we'd be better staying in the european union a year longer if necessary. finding a compromise he won't be easy. while the government may say it once a delay, yes, no or how long, that is a conversation that will happen in brussels. in a moment we will talk to alex forsyth, our political correspondent at westminster but first to adam fleming, in brussels for us this lunchtime. a request for a further delay, what is the reaction there?

well, the ambassadors from the 27 eu countries have been meeting in brussels this morning. i have been asked a note, a diplomatic summary of what they were discussing. it seems theresa may's letter has landed quite well with officials here this morning. even though she has requested an extension to the 30th ofjune, which the eu has rejected once before, her letter contains two new elements that they are quite impressed by. number one, that recognition that the uk has a legal obligation to take part in the european parliament elections if it stays european part parliament voting down the 23rd of may. and this commitment to sincere cooperation, which is eu code. into the rules and behaving yourself if the rules and behaving yourself if the uk stays in the eu for a bit longer. that is something that the other countries were quite worried about. could a grumpy uk stay in and kick upa about. could a grumpy uk stay in and kick up a fuss about things like the

eu's long term budget and the selection of the new president of the european commission, which has to be decided pretty soon? but this is not a decision for diplomats and ambassadors, this is a decision for the 27 other eu leaders who will gather here for a special summit to make that decision next wednesday over dinner. they still have to balance the same things: the leaders who want a big, long extension, to give the uk lots of space to make up its mind and settle this. the leaders who don't want a long extension because they think that means brexit is hanging over them for ages and ages and theresa may, who has to come back within extension which is suitable and approved by british politics. adam, thank you. and to alex forsyth in westminster. what are the implications at westminster where you are, of this letter from the prime minister? the prime minister did not want to find herself in a position where she is going to the eu to ask for yet another delay to

brexit. she for a long time said we would leave on the 29th of march. obviously that deadline has come and gone. i think number ten feels right now it has very little other option for stop in part, because parliament made clear it wouldn't countenance the idea of leaving without any deal at all. something theresa may has said she doesn't think is in the country's interests. she has found herself where she is, having to ask for this delay to the whole process. the question now is how long that delay may be. as adam said in brussels, there are very different views here in westminster about exactly that point. some say there needs to be a long pause to the process , needs to be a long pause to the process, perhaps for another referendum or general election. it remains within number ten very much the ambition to try still to get a brexit deal over the line in as short as time as possible, hopefully before those european parliament elections. hopefully, so the uk, in their eyes, leave before may the 23rd. in order to do that, theresa may is trying to seek a compromise

in talking to labour and also reaching out to other parties, perhaps even go back to parliament to see if there is an idea that they can collect around that might prove a majority of them having said all that, we have been talking about consensus for some time now and it still seems far off. alex, thanks very much. alex forsyth in westminster and adam fleming in brussels. so, theresa may faces more talks with the labour party, further votes in parliament, and another eu summit next week. our reality check correspondent, chris morris, has this assessment of the hurdles ahead. so, things are, to put it mildly, a little fluid. we know talks between the government and the labour party are continuing, to try and find a last—minute compromise, but there is not an enormous amount of confidence that they will succeed quickly. they are supposed to lead to further votes in the house of commons, to try to pick a winner from a number of options, which could include the prime minister's deal, the withdrawal agreement and political declaration as they currently stand. and then perhaps the options that attracted the most support among mps on monday.

a permanent customs union is one suggestion for a closer economic relationship. another is membership of the single market, the option known as common market 2.0. or, another referendum, to allow the people another say on brexit. but, let's face it, no one really knows where we're going to be by the middle of next week. there had been a hope that he house of commons would back one particular deal by then, or maybe it would once again vote against all options, but it looks like the government is relying on signs of progress to persuade the eu that it has a viable plan. whatever happens, all roads lead to the emergency eu summit next wednesday, which will consider theresa may's request for a further extension to the brexit process. a no deal brexit on april 12th is still a possibility, but it feels increasingly unlikely. parliament has now legislated against it, but the eu still has to approve an extension. the prime minister wants a short

extension untiljune 30th, with the option of getting out earlier, but that doesn't appear to be on offer. more likely is an eu offer of a longer extension, until the end of the year at least. that would mean the uk taking part in the european elections in may. but either way, any offer could come with a get out clause attached. meaning that if some kind of deal could be ratified before 22nd may, the uk could still leave immediately and avoid those elections altogether. but any further delay would mean the european elections would have to be held and other options would come into play. the government would still push to get a deal done as soon as possible, to make some kind of brexit happen. but politics is so febrile that anything is possible. could a general election be required to break the impasse? or, might campaigners for another referendum when more support? asking the electorate, with more information now available, on what brexit actually means, what do you want, leave or remain?

if remain were to win, brexit could be cancelled. but unless and until a clear alternative emerges, you still can't entirely rule out no deal either. chris morris reporting. a woman whose conviction for murdering her husband was quashed at the court of appeal has been granted bail ahead of a fresh trial. sally challen was jailed for life in 2011 for murdering her husband richard, but the conviction was overturned in february following a campaign by her sons, and evidence that she had suffered decades of abuse. today, she pleaded not guilty to his murder. richard lister reports. sally challen has never denied killing her husband, richard, but she's always maintained that she didn't murder him. in february, the court of appeal heard arguments about the issue of coercive control and quashed her murder conviction. it ordered a retrial, in the light of new evidence about her state of mind at the time of richard's death. at the old bailey, today, her family saw her plead

not guilty to murder, in advance of the retrial. thejudge ordered her release on bail. today, we are overjoyed that bail has been granted for our mother and she will be now released back to us. our mother now rejoins our family. we are respecting the reporting restrictions now placed, so we can't comment further, i'm afraid. richard and sally challen were married in 1979. she'd been just 15 when they'd met. they made their home in surrey, had an active social life and raised their two sons. but, by 2010, the couple had split up. and, in august, richard challen was found dead at the family home, having suffered more than 20 hammer blows to the head. sally challen has been injail for his murderfor nearly nine years. she is currently in bronzefield prison near ashford in kent, awaiting her retrial. she is to be released on bail tomorrow. the judge said the trial would take place onjuly 1st, adding, "if necessa ry". richard lister, bbc news. the difference in pay

between men and women has widened over the past year at nearly half of britain's biggest companies, and in favour of men. firms had until midnight to file information about the so—called gender pay gap, orface legal action. overall, about three quarters of companies who met the deadline had a pay gap benefiting men, while only a seventh favoured women, as our economics correspondent, andy verity, reports. the construction sector has got a job to do. on today's figures, the industry's going backwards in its efforts to ensure women are, on average, paid the same as men. rebecca mcdonough's firm has been doing all it can to go in the other direction, by ensuring it can recruit and keep female engineers, like her. she is now pregnant with her second child. when i firstjoined, there weren't many mums that were working within the same company and project as me, in that kind of position. but as the years have gone on,

i've noticed there's been more females come back to working mums on the project. the gap between the average man's pay and the average woman's pay is wider in construction than any other sector and getting wider. this is an industry dominated by men. only 12% of people working in construction are female. ironically, it can be the very efforts of companies like this, to change that, that can widen the gap. ironically, when firms like this make a big effort to attract more women into the industry, it can make the gender pay gap worse. that's because if you have lots of new recruits and apprentices being paid modest wages at first, that brings the average pay of women down. that, hopefully, shouldn't last. post the graduate programme, men were getting promoted far quicker than the women. so, we revealed those numbers. we went and started discussing that at management level. and, actually, it changed. we actually didn't have to do anything more than raise the

awareness that that was actually happening. at this networking club for women in business, they're aware that the more children women have, the more likely they are to be paid less than men. when you stop work to look after young children, you may miss chances to progress your career. but why should it be women, rather than men, who do most of the child care? women can take 52 weeks of maternity leave and men can take two weeks. you can also share parental leave. but shared parental leave is, in a way, transferred maternity leave. we need to give men the right to be the father that they want to be, so that they can, you know, take six months off, for instance, and it doesn't matter what gender they are. on the road to closing the gender pay gap, progress is painfully slow. since the government forced companies to publish data on it, it's gone from 9.7% to 9.6%. if it continues to close as slowly as that, and if nothing more is done to encourage change, the gender pay gap could still be here decades from now. andy verity, bbc news.

the england and spurs defender, danny rose, says he can't wait to end his career as a footballer because of the failure of the authorities to tackle racist abuse. racist chanting was directed at rose, and other england players, during the recent euro 2020 qualifier in montenegro. he says the way the problem is being tackled is a farce. here's our sports correspondeent, joe wilson. today's question for football — what can make a player at the height of his powers decide he's had enough? well, danny rose has endured racism. most recently, at england's game in montenegro. he does not believe that football is taking that issue seriously. a country can only get fined, you know, a little bit of money for being racist. it's just a bit of a farce at the minute. i've had enough. how i've programmed myself now, i just think that i've got five or six more years left in football, and i just can't wait to see the back of it.

this weekend, the fa cup semifinals are played at wembley. it's where raheem sterling grew up and a group of children from his old school will be the guests of the player and manchester city at tomorrow's game. they spent this morning at the bbc and told me that their role models are footballers. what the sport displays really matters. it's disheartening to certain players of colour. like, even though they may be really good on the pitch, due to the colour of their skin maybe, they get criticised for that. i also think that what harry kane has come out and said, that if the england squad receive any more racialabuse, he's going to walk them off the pitch — i think that's a really good idea. so, if there's racism at a game, would a manager lead a team off the field of play? commentator: what an equaliser! well, that question was put to the boss of england's women's team. if we have the courage and we have the backing, more importantly, to maybe bring a team off, to stop the game, to say, "right, this is not good enough. we're going to punish the supporters that are actually causing the problems",

then i would think, i would hope i would have the courage to do that. something needs to be done — that's accepted. who leads that process is not so clear. danny rose has made his point several times, in fact, but will it take individual players turning away from football to motivate a response? uefa is due to announce its sanctions against montenegro next month. joe wilson, bbc news. the time is 13:18pm. our top story this lunchtime: theresa may has asked the eu for a further delay to brexit untiljune 30th, but she says she's still hoping the uk can leave earlier than that, if mps finally approve her deal. a boycott of brunei gathers momentum, after it introduced death by stoning as a punishment for gay sex. coming up on bbc news: england defender danny rose says he's so frustrated with the lack

of punishment for racism in the game that he, "can't wait to see the back of football". ajury in birmingham has returned its verdicts into the deaths of 21 people who were killed in the birmingham pub bombings in 1974. 220 others were injured in the bombing at the tavern in the town, and mulbery bush, pubs on the night of november 21st. we can cross now to birmingham and speak to our correspondent, kathryn stanczyszyn. bring us up to date. a huge moment for the families, after six weeks of evidence that these inquests and 45 yea rs, evidence that these inquests and 45 years, almost, of waiting to have their loved one's deaths officially recorded. we had from thejury their loved one's deaths officially recorded. we had from the jury that all 21 people who died, 11 of them in the tavern in the town pub at ten

at the can! mulberry bush pub, or 21 we re at the can! mulberry bush pub, or 21 were murdered. there were several questions thejury had were murdered. there were several questions the jury had to go through and the last two on this questionnaire were very significant, they were about whether or not west midlands police could have done more on that night, november 21, 1974, to have prevented the loss of life in those two separate bombings. the question here, the police response to the warning call, was there any error or omission in the west midlands policeresponse that contributed to the loss of life? the jury contributed to the loss of life? the jury members said that wasn't the case. we know that a warning call was called in at 8:11pm that evening and the bombs went off around ten minutes later and two officers that we re minutes later and two officers that were sent out to investigate that area around the bombs went off weren't told that a coded warning had been given and no court and was put in place. the last question was about forewarning, some of the families had been very concerned about whether west midlands police

had prior intelligence, prior information to that night that would have allowed them to take reasonable steps, to prevent the bombing is taking place. we heard early on that evening, a man in another pub had overheard a conversation by several irish men and he tried to alert the police to it but they said nothing much had happened. thejury members said no, they believe the west midlands police didn't have that information prior. those are two key questions have been found that west midlands police couldn't have made too much difference to what went on that night. nonetheless, a big moment for the families. after so long of a campaign to get inquests reopened. at the time, it was the worst terrorist atrocity on british soil. 21 people were killed and more than 200 injured when bombs went off in two pubs, the mulberry bush and the tavern in the town. among the survivors is barrington berry, who was just 17 at the time.

44 years later, he has returned to the place where he nearly lost his life. this is where the bomb was, here. in fact, i was told it was under this seat here. there was a flash of light somewhere here and the next thing i remember, it was so quick, the next thing i remember was ending up over there, in front of the bar. since february, the victims' families have attended every day of the inquest, hoping for answers to key questions about that night in november 1974. a warning had been phoned in. so why hadn't the pubs been evacuated? and, most importantly, who planted the bombs? the key moment in the inquest came when a former ira bomber, known as witness 0, told the court that he'd been given permission by the organisation's present—day command to name four

people who he claims were involved in the bombings. mick murray, who'd been tried and acquitted in 1975 was one. the unit's commander, seamus mcloughlin. former british soldierjames gavin and michael hayes, who'd been arrested and released in 1974 is the only one who is still alive. in a bbc interview, he said he'd been a participant and apologised to the families. my heartfelt sympathy to all of you, for a terrible, tragic loss that you've been put through. and for all these years, you've been trying to find closure, i hope at last, god will be merciful and bring you closure. witness 0 was asked whether a fifth man, michael patrick reilly, was also part of the group he said he didn't know the name. mr riley has always denied being involved in the bombings. the former mp and author chris mullin told the inquest he'd spoken to the men decades ago,

but thinks it's too late now for new criminal charges. the only way that i can see that anybody could conceivably be convicted 44 years after the event, is if they put their thumb print to a statement. setting out their role in this affair. i don't see any sign of that happening. a new memorial to the victims has been unveiled near the scene of the bombings. the families can finally say for certain that they were murdered by the ira but they still seek justice and now want the police to pursue the people responsible for taking 21 lives. phil mackie, bbc news, birmingham. the holiday company, sta travel, hasjoined a growing boycott of companies owned by brunei, after the country introduced strict islamic laws which punish gay sex by stoning to death. the firm, which has 53 stores in the uk, said it would stop sell tickets for royal brunei airlines, in support of protests against the law. our lgbt correspondent, ben hunte, is at the sta headquarters in central london.

what is the latest? royal brunei airlines provide flights from the uk to southeast asia and australia. around 1000 people in the uk book their flights through sta travel, where i am now. about 1000 people every year. but sta have officially cut ties with royal brunei airlines, the first travel agency in the uk to do that. they say it's to add their voice for calls to brunei to change their laws against home sexuality and adultery. the ceo of sta travel has told us more about why they've done it. we believe that gender diversity and sexuality is a natural part of life. and introducing laws that actually enforce even harsher penalties is something that we would not expect. whilst we know that we cannot change laws, we, of course, know that we can add a voice to a campaign we believe in.

so, they're not the only ones. virgin australia this morning calling off their staff discount deal with royal brunei airlines. the tv choice awards announced they will no longer be hosting their ceremony at the dorchester hotel this september, which is obviously one of the hotels which is owned by brunei, one of the luxury properties. it is worth remembering that brunei is just one nation, which has the death penalty for gay sex. we also have iran, saudi arabia, nigeria, all having the death penalty for gay sex. now with all eyes on brunei, we will have to wait and see whether the amount of pressure that is building will change things. elton john, george clooney, ellen degeneres, they have called for boycotts on the nation. there is a huge noise on social media as well. but for sta customers, if you have booked through them, they said that those who have booked for royal brunei airlines through sta and no longer want to use them can claim a

refu nd longer want to use them can claim a refund and they will help all customers to make alternative travel arrangements. many thanks. ben hunt reporting. it is the grand national tomorrow. tiger roll could become the first horse to win back—to—back victories since red rum since the 1970s. if that happens, bookies could lose £200 million if it wins. andy swiss is at aintree for us this lunchtime — andy. yes, welcome to lady's day at aintree. around 50,000 fans enjoying themselves. —— ladies day. one of themselves. —— ladies day. one of the highlights of the social calendar. tomorrow is one of the highlights of the sporting calendar. no horse has won back—to—back grand nationals for some 45 years. but could that be about to change? it's as much about the hats as the horses. the now traditional ladies' day at aintree, a colourful curtain

raiser to what could be an historic weekend. winning the grand national two years running is almost unheard of — the great red rum was the last to do it back in 1974 — but now last yea r‘s champion has it in his sights. trained in ireland, tiger roll won his most recent race by a staggering 22 lengths, so, not surprisingly, he is once again the one to beat. he couldn't be going to the grand national after better preparation, but it's the grand national. you have over four miles to go and a lot of fences to jump and 40 other horses to take on. so it will be a big ask to go back and win the national a second time but he is in good form and i couldn't be happier with him. well, they've been racing over these famous fences offer some 180 years now and, in that time, only four horses have ever won consecutive grand nationals. but such is the confidence in tiger roll that he could start

as one of the hottest favourites that aintree has ever seen. the hottest ever was back in 1935, golden miller. although, as is so often with the national, it didn't count for much. golden miller is down. he tries to refuse, scrambles over and shoots his jockey out of the saddle. tiger roll could set off as the biggest favourite since then and, should he win, bookies will have a staggering £200 million pay—out. as far as we're concerned, it will be the worst result in grand national history. everybody is going to be backing tiger roll tomorrow because the public adore him for so many reasons. he won it last year and he is looking to emulate red rum and he isjust a fantastic horse, he is the public horse. so at the course where red rum became a sporting legend, winning three nationals in total, can another horse now carve his name into racing history? yes, all eyes will be on tiger roll tomorrow. it could be some day for

his trainer, gordon elliott, because elliott has a remarkable 11 runners in tomorrow's my grand national, more than any other trainer in history. even tiger roll doesn't win, fairto say history. even tiger roll doesn't win, fair to say he has a few other chances. many thanks. let's look at the weather forecast for the weekend. what will it be like for the grand national and the rest of the weekend? tomorrow, better weather for racegoers but not so good for the horses. the sun will be outcome it will be warmer. as we run into the weekend, a change of fortunes on the way. today, lovely weatherfor eastern parts of the uk. sunshine coming out, a weather watcher picture for the south and east of the uk. this is scarborough in north yorkshire, a lovely day. but we have an area of low pressure that is shaping our weather, swelling away. the sender is drifting towards the south—west