hello this is bbc news. the headlines:

donald trump unveils his plan for middle east peace with the proposed creation ofa palestinian state and jerusalem remaining the "undivided capital" of israel. the government says the chinese technology firm, huawei, can be involved in building the uk's 56 mobile network, despite strong objections from the white house. the foreign office insists britons stranded in the chinese city at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak, will be helped to leave. the salary threshold for skilled migrants coming to britain should be lowered to just over 25 and a half thousand pounds a year says a government commissioned report. welcome to just a welcome tojust a minute. and tributes are paid to nicholas parsons, chair of radio 4'sjust a minute for more than 50 years, who has died at the age of 96.

in a moment it will be time for sportsday but first a look at what else is coming up this evening on bbc news: in half an hour on beyond 100 days, we'll hear from the former prime minister and middle east envoy tony blair as he gives his thoughts on president trump's middle east deal. before middle east deal. nine we will be looking back at before nine we will be looking back at the career of the legendary broadcaster nicholas parsons who has died at the age of 96 and later we will look at the headlines in the papers. now on bbc news it's time for sportsday. hello i'm olly foster, here's what's coming up on sportsday this evening: the return of israel folau, super league say they are disappointed and deplore his homophobic comments but can't stop him signing for catalans dragons.

a big match in the midlands, villa take on leicesterfor a place in the league cup final. saving seven match points to reach the australian open semi—finals, roger federer says he believes in miracles. and also at the australian open: two tennis legends told off for their anti—court on court protest. hello and welcome to sportsday. last may, israel folau, was kicked out of australian rugby. the wallabies star and super rugby‘s record try scorer had already been warned about making homophobic comments, but was sacked when he repeated them in an online post. folau has now switched

back to rugby league and will play for catalan dragons on a one year deal. he says he will keep his christian beliefs private. adam wild reports. there is no argument about the ability of israel folau. still, it is his ability to provoke arguments that has come to define his career. like a knife going through hot butter. last year, he was sacked by australia in the build—up to the rugby union world cup for ace social media post that claimed hell awaits 93v media post that claimed hell awaits gay people. israel folau had been warned about such views before. he sued rugby australia arguing that it was religious discrimination. the argument reignited with the news

that folau is on his way to france, just days before the start of the season, catalan dragons have said welcome. they don't believe that under the current regulatory framework... for israel folau, this is a return to the game where it all began having first made his name with melbourne and then brisbane, he then switched to rugby union which made him one of australians best paid and high—profile sportsmen but the decision to bring him back to rugby league is too much for some. keegan tweeted of his shock and disappointment saying it shows none of the bravery, camaraderie or

integrity... catalan have called this a new opportunity to shine but many within the game feel that isn't an opportunity he deserves. so, folau will be a catalan player this season, wigan warriors responded very quickly, their match at home against the french side in march will be billed "pride day" in support of the lgbt community, earlier i wasjoined by the wigan chairman and owner ian lenegan. there is no disagreement with what by there is no disagreement with what rugby union australia did at all in terms of the getting red of folau at that time. the comments made... the decision now as to whether he can be registered is a decision for the

governing body which they have taken and it is a decision for the club as to whether or not they can rehabilitate through counselling and education that player. but is there a worry to what the next season will bring? i think in many respects that are such a pertinent discussion is taking place against the backdrop of the record of rugby league is taking place against the backdrop of the record of rugby league as a sport. never better showed than with rob burrow and jamie at leeds two weeks ago. i think our reputation as a good reputation and we have to come through and show that rehabilitation has its place and if not, then the player has to take the consequences. those consequences could be the reception that he gets as he goes around the various super league clu bs, around the various super league clubs, what do you think that reception will be? i can only really speakfor reception will be? i can only really speak for his reception at wigan which will be in march and at that time we have already spoken to the cata la ns time we have already spoken to the catala ns about what time we have already spoken to the catalans about what are they going to do and what can we do together to

make a positive about what could be perceived as a negative and i think that will happen in lots of the preparation. we have talked to others about what more can we do, wigan pride is a very prominent local event and our foundation wigan pride is a very prominent local event and ourfoundation is involved in them with lots of diverse activities was that we should be positive about it and make it very clear what our view is of those type of comments, that they have no place in rugby league and we will do it positively on march the 22nd. you talk about second chances and the power of rehabilitation and by and the power of rehabilitation and rugby league being able to do that for players. one that he welcomed back after a drugs ban and in the past he was also banned for making homophobic comments as well. is the issue here the fact that israel folau has been unrepentant.

issue here the fact that israel folau has been unrepentantm issue here the fact that israel folau has been unrepentant. it is not for me to make individual judgments and prayers that i don't know. you have raised an example of someone know. you have raised an example of someone whose behaviour and rehabilitation actions have been exemplary. there is no better example of rugby getting a good by example of rugby getting a good rugby player back but society getting a good man back in what has happened through education and positive things. it is for catalans and israel folau it to make their judgment as to what is the right thing to do and their club have the right to do that, it is not for me to comment. he did comment to us at length and many thanks to the wigan warriors owner and chairman. super league starts this thursday. we've just had an fa cup weekend, the league cup takes over

for the next couple of nights, the second legs of the semi—finals. aston villa and leicester are all square at 1—1 going into tonight's match at villa park. to go and get to a major domestic cup final, my first full season, would be magnificent. i know, just feeling how it was last season, the play—off final, what a great place it can be to go and what to feel good factor you can lift and that last—minute winner against watford last—minute winner against watford last week has given everyone a bit ofa last week has given everyone a bit of a lift spring in their step and the players are certainly looking forward to it. you've just got to stay calm. i think there are lots of emotions around these games but you have to play with emotion, of course, but then you have to play with that calmness and not overthink it as well so it will be a great occasion to perform well and hopefully get the result we want. those the maangers ahead of tonight's match, there's commentary on radio 5live, former villa defender is there.

i think, obviously, ithink, obviously, the i think, obviously, the first leg will have to be quite defensive to try and bring the results back so to be honest with you i think they will be honest with you i think they will be upfor be honest with you i think they will be up for it. they want to go out and do well and it can really spur them on to get to a final and then kick on in the league hopefully. you are in the last villa side that reached the cup final, it seems a while ago now, what is going through those players minds now? they will definitely be excited. like you said, we have been lucky enough to get to wembley the last few seasons for the play—offs and as you mentioned, the fa cup, so they were definitely excited, they will all wa nt to definitely excited, they will all want to play and go out there and do their best and like i said, ijust believe that the do well and get through that it is a massive confidence boost going into the season. confidence boost going into the season. do we confidence boost going into the season. do we presume confidence boost going into the season. do we presume that they winners of this will face manchester city? with that two—goal cushion

against manchester united. yes, you would like to think so. obviously it will be very difficult for man united to turn it over so it looks as it stands at the moment that city will make it through to the final. it is going to be difficult, whether it be leicester or villa, hopefully fill obviously but like we know, of past finals, it is a final and anything can happen on the day so, like i said, it is a great thing to hopefully reach a final and hopefully reach a final and hopefully we can do that tonight. kick—off is at 745. we heard from jurgen klopp today ahead of their match against west ham on thursday night, that's their game in hand in the premier league and they can go 19 points clear. he was also asked about his decision to field his under 23's against shrewsbury next week and also miss the fa cup replay himself, because it comes in the middle of the winter break that has been introduced this season. people commonly lazy or disrespect

of all, it is not true but it is not important because everyone is right to have an opinion but i'm responsible for my players and i decide for them, for us, for the whole group. this is the mid—season break and it has been because that is what everybody needs and if we just always work in the same way then nothing will change. that match is tomorrow, the liverpool, west ham game, my apologies. let's have a quick look at some of the day's other headlines. christian eriksen has left tottenham for inter milan for a fee of around £17 million. the danish midfielder joined spurs in 2013 and was out of contract in the summer. spurs have taken up the option to sign giovani lo celso on a permanent basis, the 23—year—old argentinian initiallyjoined from spanish side real betis on a loan deal in the summer. england bowler stuart broad has been

fined 15 % of his match fee, for swearing at the south africa captain faf du plessis during the fourth test in johannesburg. broad has also been given a demerit point. tonight's nba match between the los angeles lakers and city rivals the clippers has been called off as a mark of respect to kobe bryant who died in a helicopter crash over the weekend. there's a shrine outside the staples centre, home of the lakers, but an online petition could see the creation of something more permanent to honour one of basketball‘s greatest players. nick parott reports. the tributes to kobe bryant keep coming. from at times square to the empire state building in new york to the streets in los angeles. la la kers the streets in los angeles. la lakers surpassed... the streets in los angeles. la la kers surpassed... didn't the streets in los angeles. la lakers surpassed... didn't play together in nba but they were

team—mates in the olympics. he posted saying that he was heartbroken and vowed to continue his legacy. in just a few hours, an online petition gathered more than i million signatures asking the nba to immortalise him for ever in their logo. the nba has yet to respond but they have called off tonight's la kers they have called off tonight's lakers match. america's biggest sporting event, the super bowl, ta kes pla ce sporting event, the super bowl, takes place on sunday. the nfl hasn't announced whether there will bea hasn't announced whether there will be a tribute to kobe bryant but his close friend who is playing in the game says he will honour his memory. he would tell me to stop being a baby and man up and play it and do it in his honour and when this game for him and that is what we have to try and do. place at dominating the ball, just like he would have wanted. his mentality still lives on. in california, the authorities are still