to the outbreak of this disease. contain, delay, research and mitigate. we are taking all necessary measures to minimise the risks to the public. flood barriers are overwhelmed along stretches of the river severn and residents are evacuated water is now penetrating the barrier and we've got to two metres of water on what was the dry side. so we have immediately authorised an evacuation of the premises. the former chancellor — sajid javid — warns the government against higher taxes and overspending. just call me harry says the duke of sussex as he attends of one his last official engagements as a senior member of the royal family. first a look at what else is coming up first a look at what else is coming up on the bbc news. after this part will be live in yorkshire village where people are facing challenges due to flooding. the home secretary

tells police officer she will be introduced national policing targets, will assess the arguments for and against after eight o'clock and scientist discovered the bachelor that panda is not one species but two. next heard from the sale after 8:30 p:m.. that's all i had on bbc news. now time for sportsday. now time for sportsday. hello. this is sportsday with me ben croucher. we're taking you around the world on the programme today. coming up. we'll be in dublin where ireland against italy in the six nations is postponed due to the coronavirus. we'll bring you right up to date as the global sporting schedule continues to be affected. manchester city fans enjoyed their afternoon in madrid. will they still be feeling so cheerful come 10 o'clock.

i'm here at the state again but i doubt that off the field problems as they face that might drape. maria sharapova says goodbye to tennis, retiring at the age of 32. butjust how will she be remembered? also coming up in sportsday. we're in canberra as heather knight smashes england to their first win at the womens t20 world cup. thanks forjoining us. we'll be in berlin on the opening day of the track cycling world championships too but first to the latest sporting event to be affected by the coronavirus. the six nations. with the recent outbreak in italy, irish officials have decided to postpone their game against italy next weekend as well as matches in the women's and under 20s tournament. the competitions could finish

in the middle of march without knowing who wins. here's the i—r—f—u chief executive philip browne. the national public health emergency team has determined that the series of matches should not proceed, in the interest of public health. the irfu is perfectly happy to comply with this instruction. we will look to reschedule those three matches and hope to have an impact update in the next few days. a few moments ago, our sports editor dan roanjoined me from dublin and explained why officials reached this decision. and what happens next then? irish government official said yesterday they were going to recommend a fixture here at the stadium in dublin, and time constituted to graded the public health risk. that recommendation became ever more meeting with the

union they were told by officials the game could not go ahead. the country that has been worse the fact that it might be could run a virus outbreak with multiple cases that had been several deaths as well. there cities and lockdown. fans expected from england no women's by expected from england no women's rugby team as well. the dates say today they would try to reschedule the matches. in fact crowded rugby calendar. the fear is that when italian matches being cancelled and postponed last weekend, and this coming weekend that the final round of fixtures which involve a delay hosting england could be affected as well. throughout the six nations

cabinet into disarray. not precedented, back in 2000 one three games were put back for several months, and the fear is that's a big settle m e nt months, and the fear is that's a big settlement could occur on this occasion. what do you think is going to happen next? i think if we go beyond the read about football and beyond the read about football and be first instantly taking guidance when it comes to back share because thousands of fans will be expected from the front back. for injune this summer, and set the stage for games and bat including the opening fixture. they will need to think about that as well. when the festival two weeks' time, horse racing i thought he set up a steering group to look at risks as bad as it stands everything is fine. my bad as it stands everything is fine.

my beer outline the grand prix has been cancelled. mounting fears that other bases could be cancelled. the big concern involves the tokyo 0lympics. several deaths in japan, officially organises i think i told the team in training and everything should be fine, but yesterday senior member did say a decision could be made as late as may asked surrender to the right, or more likely cancel if it was deemed too great a risk. i stressed there is no expectation that will be the case, and you can imagine the impact on athletes, organisers, and on broadcasters and fa ns organisers, and on broadcasters and fans for example. it would be unprecedented in peacetime. i must stress as it stands they are assuming it goes as planned.

so that's the rugby. there've been more cancellations in other sports in other parts of the world too. joe lynskey‘s been looking at them. where are we starting joe? lots of the been speculating over the next few months i think it through some of the fans that have already been affected by the fibres. and what impact is having on smart. notjust if i think the six nations in italy, by the virus. and what impact is having on smart. notjust affecting the six nations in italy, backin affecting the six nations in italy, back in northern italy the football has also been affected. five matches will play behind closed doors. no supporters will be allowed in the stadiums. the champions, palmer, navy and my line. those figures correlate to the outbreak in northern italy. at the moment. the most high—profile match to be affected is a massive title decider. the league leaders throughout dart

played a third. they will not be anyone inside the grounds. no one to watch the season defining game. tomorrow's game is also being close to nine closed doors. 0ne match that is going as normal, it's happening tonight in the south of france. it has been played at leon. the champions league last 16 times between the french club and the italian champions, supporters from both clubs will be inside the stadium for this match, the manager is ok with that. it is a european issue therefore i think that our supporters have all of the right to be here. we face this issue, and we alljust to be authorities must first of all try to contain it. and a solution. we also heard the last

24 a solution. we also heard the last 2a hours in our postponements at two major championships and forthcoming. the country largest number of confirmed cases outside of china. they brown speed skating championships and so and table tennis championship in the south of the country have been called off. that relates to how the outbreak looking and south korea. in the south of the country there's 490 cases in the venue is not too far away from it. table tennis at the body they championships are rescheduled forjune. the winter advantage is it that more checking. the location at the event would be difficult to achieve. because of the uncertainty surrounding the outbreak and a limited time to take place in coming weeks. that is resolved by the parties will be interesting for

their limbic committee. preparations going along the business is as usual according to officials, but injapan all of his hot division for baltimore at the whole country has been suspended until mid—march. it does seem more promising for now maybe you came to prospect for the festival is probably the soonest advance that could get caught up in this. in early march and a quarter million fans go to base over the four days. a huge safety management to be done that. for now we'll go ahead. a steering group to work with the health authorities, and they say that will help them take the best action going after that event in a few weeks' time. probably not last that we have had at best. let's round up some of the day's other sports stories now and. england's women have suffered a setback ahead of their defence of the she believes cup. defender lucy bronze will miss the tournament after picking up a calf injury. alessia russo has been called up for the first time to replace her.

england have called up bath winger anthony watson for their last two six nations games. he missed the start of the tournament with a calf injury but has been recalled to the training squad ahead of their match against wales a week on saturday. sale flanker mark wilson also returns. lewis hamilton racked up another impressive 89 laps during the first morning of the second fi test. his mercedes was seventh fastest although its understood they didn't concentrate on short, fast runs today. robert kubica's alfa romeo topped the timesheets. shaun murphy is into the last eight of the players the first link is at the bernabeu stadium and we find any swiss. we just had a huge because the team bus has just arrived. for manchester

city, he said pequot analyst plane down the significance of this match. just another game. clearly with what has been going on at the last few weeks it is even more important than ever. as stands they are and from the next two weeks. if things don't go right next to legs over madrid they could have a break from therapy and football for some time. the day as he expected it lodged a formal appeal against the bands court of arbitration for sport. no news as when babel get a result on that. speaking at a conference yesterday he said he had full confidence in the club. i trust the people in my club, they explained the reason why we are under suspicion. they sent me the arguments, and the priest. and we are going to appeal. we are optimistic that finally we can, if

we deserve to be in the champions league, we can't do it next season in the future. it finally doesn't happen, we have to accept it and move forward. if the people want to say for the next, i transferred the club. a big night for manchester city. good news for them is that sterling is back after his hamstring injury. it has not been in the best at farm over the last injuries. 0nly it has not been in the best at farm over the last injuries. only one from their last four matches. when i wouldn't dare star players as well. recipient knows so much is riding on this. the trade is the most successful tea m this. the trade is the most successful team and champions league history. they have won 13 times, and they are taking somebody tonight.

rangers are in europa league action tonight too, defending a 3—2 lead from the first leg against braga. approaching full time in portugal.... they lead i—nil following a brilliant goalfrom ryan kent, thats 4—2 on aggregate the five time grand slam champion maria sharapova has retired from tennis at the age of 32. she spent the best part of a decade at the top of her sport as one of the highest paid and most recognisable sportswomen on the planet. it's a career with plenty of highs and lows. my my hands on the atrophy do you believe that? now. it is unreal. the

chapel that has read the help she failed a drug test at earlier this year. i made a huge mistake and i let my pants down. i let sport down. i have been playing since the age of four, andi i have been playing since the age of four, and i so deeply. out corresponded joins us now. a very maria sharapova way to announce her retirement too. it was en vogue and vanity fair. crafted fac put together for this publication. keeping with the way that she has conducted her media over the last years of her kidney. there is no big affair well, that's just match and chappell‘s legs. she is now on the competitive where some players would love into to say farewell to work with kids inc. cities to say goodbye for the