simona halep ‘s through to the final. there is plenty to talk about in that australian open. tom watson willjoin us in a moment. to have a chat. i can tell you that simona halep has gone through in her quarterfinal. she has won herfirst up quarterfinal. she has won herfirst up match. let us go across to melbourne. as far as what is happening, anastasia pavyluchenkova is playing garbine muguruza. how important is psychology when it comes to these games?”

important is psychology when it comes to these games? i think it a lwa ys comes to these games? i think it always plays a part, the mental game does. when we reach the latter stages of a grand slam such as the australian open, both players recognise they are now there on merit on the basis of the performances they put in and that brings with it a lot of confidence. i don't think the mental application will be much of an issue because they have momentum as you get into a second week of a grand slam and add into the mix that anastasia pavyluchenkova has had some big victories. pliskova, someone touted asa victories. pliskova, someone touted as a future champion, the number two seed. she knocked out angelique gerber, so anastasia pavyluchenkova has had some really big victories and that is going to boost her as well. garbine muguruza, we have a woman who knows how to win is a grand slam champion herself and despite the fact she didn't enjoy the best and 2019, she is coming to this and built some momentum so this one could be a close one i think

that experience might tell with her again in that opening set. what a performance from simona halep. it was breathtaking. looking her place with a win against kontaveit and when you win like that, you feel perhaps the champion we're looking at right there, it a breathtaking performance. really composed, very cool and dominant and you just wonder, is she going to be the person to be this year. stanislas barranco, he goes up against zverev. —— wawrinka. we expect zverev to go far into the tournament. his first four matches. to be disparaging, they haven't been against huge names

but hasn't lost a set. no, and i guess you could argue, is that going to count against him. you want those tougher workouts when you have the likes of novak djokovic, roger fetter, right nadal. it's about wawrinka today. he has one grand slams titles. you could argue, do you want to have a bit of extra much time on your legs. he's been on the scene for a long time, knocking on the door to try and win that first grand slams title and alongside the likes of thiem, tsitsipas and medvedev, and he will do that if you can beat wawrinka. the one looking for is nadal against thiem, a replay

of the french open final. most of those matches coming on clay. only once before have they met on the ha rd once before have they met on the hard court. that was at the us open and that went the distance over five sets. write nadal came out on top. with thiem a bit more experience. you wonder if this could be a close match. you saw thiem push nadal close. the world number one hoping to get to the final this year of course and it's just a fascinating prospect that we need to. the young quy prospect that we need to. the young guy against the more mature nadal and that is the one that we could potentially, if you're looking for an upset, it could come later against nadal. john, thanks very much indeed. we really appreciate your time. israel folau hasjoined

the catalan dragons. having seen his rugby union contract terminated by the aru — he's signed for french rugby league side catalans dragons on a one year contract. both super league and the sport's governing body the rfl said it wasn't to their liking. adam wild reports. there is no argument about the ability of israel folau. still, it's his ability to provoke arguments that has come to define his career. last year, he was sacked by australia in the build—up to the rugby union world cup pro social media closed that claimed hell awaits gay people. israel folau had been warned about such views perform. that prompted legal action. he sued rugby australia arguing it was religious discrimination. his case was eventually settled before much debate around freedom of

speech. the argument reignited with the news that folau is on his way to france. just days before the start of the super league season, folau have said goodbye. the rugby football league says it deplores his comments but they don't believe that under the current regulatory framework they can prevent his participation in the sport. while the super league chairman pointed to a strong feeling that the decision to sign him that's down many people connected to the sport. for israel folau, this is a return to the game where it all began, having first made his name with melbourne storm and then lisbon broncos in the nrl, his switch to rugby union made him one of australia's is paid in high profiles altmann at the decision to bring him back to rugby league is too much for some. keegan hurst was the first openly gay player to play in super league and today he tweeted of his shock and disappointment, saying it shows none of the bravery,

camaraderie and integrity the rfl expects from its players, staff and fans. catalan have called this a new opportunity to shine but many within the game deal that isn't an opportunity he deserves. milan said goodbye to the late basketball superstar kobe bryant on tuesday, with an emotional tribute before their coppa italia quarter—final against torino. bryant became a milan fan as a boy, following his family's move to italy. the 41 year old and his 13 year—old daughter gianna were both killed along with seven other people in a helicopter crash in california on sunday morning. when the action got underway two extra time goals from milan including one from zlatan ibrahimovic were enough to take the rossoneri through to the semi—final stage. the match against torino finished level at 2—2 after 90 minutes but it's the hosts who progressed at the san siro —

and will now facejuventus over two legs on the 12th of february and 11th of march. in england aston villa's dream of winning the league cup for the first time since 1996 remains intact after a stoppage time winner over leicester city. the tie was level at 1—1 coming into the second leg at villa park and appeared to be heading to penalties until trezeguet‘s 93rd minute goal saw them claim a 2—1win on the night and go through 3—2 on aggregate. they'll face either holders manchester city or manchester united in the final at wembley on the 1st of march. we've got a proud history in this competition as i've said many times ina week competition as i've said many times in a week we could go and lift this toby for the sixth time as a football club, i'd be very proud man and we know it's going to be tough, manchester united or manchester city but the hard part is getting a domestic cup final, with an edge to domestic cup final, with an edge to do that against a very good blister team. congratulations to aston villa, they won, they are through so

for us, bitterly disappointed. with all the players created enough opportunities and chances and like i said, we just switched off right at the end there on a cross. in spain — atheltic bilbao are into the copa del rey quarter—finals after winning 11—2 on penalties against second tier tenerife. the canary islands side looked as though they were heading into the last eight before a late yuri berchiche goal sent it to spot kicks. just enough time to let you know that simona halep is already through to the finals with a win over kontaveit. you can head across to the website. but from all of us, goodbye.

hello there. temperatures are set to climb over the next few days, after what has been for some of us a brief taste of winter. there's still enough snow and indeed moisture lying on the ground to give the potentialfor some icy stretches through wednesday morning, which could cause some travel problems. temperatures as we start the day around about freezing, dropping below freezing across parts of scotland. probably not quite as cold as it was on tuesday morning, but still cold enough for some frost and some ice. we start wednesday under the influence of a weak ridge of high pressure, so there will be some dry weather around. this frontal system, though, will introduce rain into the northern half of the uk as we go through the day. in fact, northern england, northern ireland and scotland, we'll start off with some showers. still wintry over the highest ground here, and then the wet

weather works its way in, scraping across the north of northern ireland, working into a good part of scotland, with some snow over high ground. in fact, before the day is done, parts of highland scotland could see a further 10 cm of snow. perhaps something a little bit brighter across the far north of scotland. some very heavy rain developing across central and southern parts of scotland, and it will be quite windy here. some rain into northern ireland at times, certainly some of that rain getting down into northern england. more cloud into wales in the south—west, producing maybe the odd spot of rain and drizzle. but further east, through the east midlands, east anglia, the south—east, holding onto some sunshine. and it's going to be milder than it has been. highs of ten or 11 degrees. now, as we go through wednesday night, this rain will pull its way northwards across scotland. further south, a lot of dry weather, yes, but an awful lot of cloud to roll its way in. could turn a little bit murky in places, damp and drizzly, but much, much milder.

those are the temperatures as we start thursday morning. a bit of rain into the far south—west as well, you will notice, but all of that cloud coming up from the south—west. very moist and very mild airflow. see these orange colours spreading right across the chart, pushing the cold air away. so, as we go through thursday, rain moving across scotland, some of it heavy, with some brisk winds. down towards the south, we keep a lot of cloud, the odd spot of drizzle, some slightly more persistent rain perhaps for a time for the far south of england and the channel islands. but look at the afternoon temperatures — double digits for most of us. 10 degrees in glasgow, 12, 13 easily down towards the south. as we going into friday, we could see some outbreaks of rain pushing south—eastwards, and some more rain later in the day as well into the north—west of scotland. it is another mild day, particularly down towards the south. it may be that temperatures drop a little bit in northern areas later in the day.

welcome to bbc news. i'm mike embley. our top stories: president trump lays out what he calls a plan for peace in the middle east. after 70 yea rs of little progress, this could be the last opportunity they will ever have. the proposals are roundly rejected by palestinians, by the leaders who had no part in the process and the people who took to the streets. i would like to say to them, thatjerusalem is i would like to say to them, that jerusalem is not i would like to say to them, thatjerusalem is not for sale, and all our rights are not for sale and not for bargaining. deserted cities as the death toll from coronavirus in china exceeds 130. foreign governments begin to evacuate their citizens. huawei, the chinese technology firm, is allowed a restricted