that he expects to see a significant de—escalation in the conflict in gaza. benjamin netanyahu has defended his military campaign against palestinian militants. there's "increasing confidence" in the uk that the existing vaccines for coronavirus are effective against the so—called indian variant of the virus, according to prime minister boris johnson. the lower house in the us is holding a vote on whether to create a commission into the riot on the capitol injanuary. senate minority leader mitch mcconnell said he will oppose the measure, making it unlikely. new york's attorney general has told the trump organization that a civil investigation into the former us president's business dealings is now a criminal probe. mr trump has called the investigation corrupt.

hello, and welcome to our look ahead to what the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are james moore, who's the independent�*s chief business commentator, and anne ashworth, who's a property and personal finance commentator. welcome to you both. tomorrow's front pages, starting with... the guardian has the latest from government. it says that ministers are considering diluting plans for "freedom day" onjune 21st and the end of social distancing rules as new figures showed an increase in the indian variant cases. the i carries a photo of passengers from red list countries waiting alongside other visitors at heathrow airport. they complain of inadequate social distancing during border checks. the mail reports home secretary's words that families travelling back from amber list countries should expect police to "knock at their door". on the front page of the metro, uk railways brace for the biggest shake—up in 25 years,

with flexible tickets to reflect hybrid working. the daily telegraph looks ahead to the publication of the report into whether former bbc reporter martin bashir broke corporation guidelines to secure his interview with princess diana. the financial times says that bitcoin�*s price tumbled as much as 30% after the chinese government signalled a crackdown on the use of cryptocurrencies. and on the times, research which involved testing people's ability to define nonsense terms found that the best bluffers were clever people. so, let's begin. we start with the times. hopes rise for an end to lockdown next month. the papers seem to be all over the place on this. some are positive and some are really much more

pessimistic. so what is the times suggesting? it pessimistic. so what is the times suggesting?— suggesting? it really is the old class or suggesting? it really is the old glass or glass _ suggesting? it really is the old glass or glass half— suggesting? it really is the old glass or glass half empty - suggesting? it really is the oldi glass or glass half empty thing suggesting? it really is the old i glass or glass half empty thing in the times is laugh here is half full. what they have seen is the figures coming from transmissibility of the indian variant. a week or so ago when this first emerged in this country, there were thought that it could be 50% more more transmissible which is a lot for a very transmissible virus. now talking about 20 or 30% which is obviously a lot better but is still not good. so i would just caution a bit. it is still not good. but what is good is that they have been saying and if this proves true it is very good that the vaccines are still protecting against this particular variant. and that's really important. we've got a lot people vaccinated and that is a genuine

piece of good news. so that's where the times is coming from on this particular story. the times is coming from on this particular story-— particular story. and i be looking at the fact _ particular story. and i be looking at the fact that _ particular story. and i be looking at the fact that the _ particular story. and i be looking at the fact that the governmentl particular story. and i be lookingl at the fact that the government is using new strategies to try and work out where the hotspots are. waste water testing has begun. we have got more surge testing in those areas of the country as well which are seeing more cases of this indian variant. it's a very interesting way which the newspapers differ this evening on their_ the newspapers differ this evening on their stance on this as to whether_ on their stance on this as to whetherjune 21 will actually be freedom — whetherjune 21 will actually be freedom day. but what is interesting about _ freedom day. but what is interesting about the _ freedom day. but what is interesting about the times story and the optimism _ about the times story and the optimism is that it seems as if the numbers— optimism is that it seems as if the numbers of— optimism is that it seems as if the numbers of people being admitted to hospital— numbers of people being admitted to hospital in_ numbers of people being admitted to hospital in areas with very high levels — hospital in areas with very high levels of— hospital in areas with very high levels of indian variant cases is not high — levels of indian variant cases is not high. and we need to remember to id not high. and we need to remember to go back— not high. and we need to remember to go back to _ not high. and we need to remember to go back to one of the criteria of the government in their handling of

the government in their handling of the coronavirus, which would be to relieve _ the coronavirus, which would be to relieve pressure on the nhs so the government could justify going ahead as planned withjune the 21st government could justify going ahead as planned with june the 21st as freedom — as planned with june the 21st as freedom day if hospitals were not full of _ freedom day if hospitals were not full of indian variant covid cases. it is full of indian variant covid cases. it is a _ full of indian variant covid cases. it is a very— full of indian variant covid cases. it is a very interesting view how some _ it is a very interesting view how some newspapers have looked at different — some newspapers have looked at different data and taken a very pessimistic stance on this and others — pessimistic stance on this and others are _ pessimistic stance on this and others are much, much more sanguine about— others are much, much more sanguine about the _ others are much, much more sanguine about the outcome. the others are much, much more sanguine about the outcome.— about the outcome. the guardian is one of then — about the outcome. the guardian is one of then that _ about the outcome. the guardian is one of then that is _ about the outcome. the guardian is one of then that is talking - about the outcome. the guardian is one of then that is talking about. one of then that is talking about freedom plans being diluted because of this covid variant. so a very different headline there from the times. ., , different headline there from the times. . , ., ., times. that is quite a downcast view based on the — times. that is quite a downcast view based on the transmissibility - times. that is quite a downcast view based on the transmissibility of - times. that is quite a downcast view based on the transmissibility of the l based on the transmissibility of the lndian _ based on the transmissibility of the indian variant. i think you can endlessly— indian variant. i think you can endlessly speculative about this and we are _ endlessly speculative about this and we are doing that for the next few weeks _ we are doing that for the next few weeks because it is clear that we

will not _ weeks because it is clear that we will not necessarily know whether june 21. _ will not necessarily know whether june 21, when distancing and life as we know— june 21, when distancing and life as we know it — june 21, when distancing and life as we know it should return, until the 14th of— we know it should return, until the 14th ofjune — we know it should return, until the 14th ofjune they are going to be looking — 14th ofjune they are going to be looking at— 14th ofjune they are going to be looking at the data until then. the speculation willjust continue. gf speculation willjust continue. (of course speculation willjust continue. course it speculation willjust continue. of course it depends on us following the rules right to the last moment, james, i suppose the government would say. but then we've got and we will come out of this in a minute the difficulty of knowing where travel on holiday if you are inclined to do so.- travel on holiday if you are inclined to do so. ~ , ., inclined to do so. well, yeah, there been so many _ inclined to do so. well, yeah, there been so many mixed _ inclined to do so. well, yeah, there been so many mixed messages - inclined to do so. well, yeah, there l been so many mixed messages about this and i really love the daily star headline of all the headlines on this which said go on holiday, don't go on holiday and there's a picture of borisjohnson in eight son looking not terribly flattering photo of him. but this mixed messaging is clearly a problem when talking about amber list countries. they are talking about only in

exceptional circumstances, but different cabinet ministers have said different things over the last day or so. and when you get this mixed messaging, people are left to make their own decisions because there are no clear rules. and that's where you create problems. let’s where you create problems. let's look at the _ where you create problems. let's look at the daily _ where you create problems. let's look at the daily telegraph here. my eyesight is so bad these days that i have to put my phone on for a torch. it's terrible. i cannot hide it any longer. indian variant may not be as transmissible as feared. you both alluded to that. that will be a comfort but we still don't want it out and about in the unity and becoming a community transmitted of any of the variance, do we? ida. becoming a community transmitted of any of the variance, do we?— any of the variance, do we? no, we don't because _ any of the variance, do we? no, we don't because we'll _ any of the variance, do we? no, we don't because we'll be _ any of the variance, do we? no, we don't because we'll be it _ any of the variance, do we? no, we don't because we'll be it should - any of the variance, do we? no, we don't because we'll be it should notj don't because we'll be it should not forget is this virus can give people and it has killed 150,000 people. i was talking about that number, the

human mind is not very good at the sort of putting a big number like that and understanding it as sort of working out what it means. when i was talking to this with an old colleague of mine from the eastern daily press him and we were looking at the patch leaves to cover, which was thetford, brandon, and it would have more than defy that whole area. so very good reasons for obeying rules and there are very good reasons why we don't want this new variant spreading. and at the moment, it is spreading at an alarming rate which is why the guardian story we talked about earlier was more pessimistic. it is likel we earlier was more pessimistic. it is likely we are _ earlier was more pessimistic. it is likely we are told _ earlier was more pessimistic. it is likely we are told that eventually likely we are told that eventually like flu jabs there will be a variety of different vaccines for all the different variants. as we know, this is a very smart virus and it can mutate and that's how we get

all these different versions of it. if we had known this back at the beginning — if we had known this back at the beginning of lockdown, what would we have thought, i wonder? look, beginning of lockdown, what would we have thought, iwonder? look, i think— have thought, iwonder? look, i think one — have thought, iwonder? look, i think one of— have thought, iwonder? look, i think one of the most interesting things— think one of the most interesting things said today was jonathan van tam, _ things said today was jonathan van tam. the _ things said today was jonathan van tam, the great doctor, and he said we just— tam, the great doctor, and he said we just need to out run the virus and that— we just need to out run the virus and that is— we just need to out run the virus and that is what it is constantly trying — and that is what it is constantly trying to — and that is what it is constantly trying to do and it will always try and be _ trying to do and it will always try and be clever, more clever than us but we _ and be clever, more clever than us but we need — and be clever, more clever than us but we need to do is try and be positive — but we need to do is try and be positive aboutjust how but we need to do is try and be positive about just how far we have come _ positive about just how far we have come. seven out of ten adults in this country— come. seven out of ten adults in this country have had their first vaccination, four out of ten have had to— vaccination, four out of ten have had to jabs _ vaccination, four out of ten have had to jabs. we need tojust try and be positive — had to jabs. we need tojust try and be positive and also obey the rules and we _ be positive and also obey the rules and we will— be positive and also obey the rules and we will get out of this. now there is a _ and we will get out of this. now there is a trial _ and we will get out of this. now there is a trialjust _ and we will get out of this. tum-m there is a trialjust beginning a nearly 3000 people across the country in 18 different locations to see whether a third booster vaccine

of one of the others besides az and pfizer is worth doing and whether the side effects make it not worth the side effects make it not worth the while. let's look at the daily mail and holiday police to knock on your door. this is if you're coming back from some very popular holiday destinations in mainland europe. they are on the amber list at the moment. i they are on the amber list at the moment. ., , ., they are on the amber list at the moment. .,, ., ., , , they are on the amber list at the moment. ., ., , , ., . moment. i hope to anybody watching this does not — moment. i hope to anybody watching this does not think _ moment. i hope to anybody watching this does not think that _ moment. i hope to anybody watching this does not think that i _ moment. i hope to anybody watching this does not think that i like - this does not think that i like interference and busybody inc. but i was very— interference and busybody inc. but i was very pleased to see this new storv _ was very pleased to see this new storv if— was very pleased to see this new story. if you have been away on holiday— story. if you have been away on holiday to — story. if you have been away on holiday to annapolis country can be can probably expect to have somebody knocking _ can probably expect to have somebody knocking on _ can probably expect to have somebody knocking on your door to make sure that you _ knocking on your door to make sure that you are — knocking on your door to make sure that you are obeying the quarantine rules but— that you are obeying the quarantine rules but the home secretary has said that — rules but the home secretary has said that those calls are definitely going _ said that those calls are definitely going to _ said that those calls are definitely going to arrive. somebody will be knocking — going to arrive. somebody will be knocking at your door and making sure you — knocking at your door and making sure you are quarantining. i don't sure you are quarantining. idon't know— sure you are quarantining. idon't know how— sure you are quarantining. i don't know how keen that would make anybodv — know how keen that would make

anybody to go to any of those countries _ anybody to go to any of those countries. that's a question for them — countries. that's a question for them but— countries. that's a question for them but i_ countries. that's a question for them. but i don't know if i'll be that— them. but i don't know if i'll be that keen — them. but i don't know if i'll be that keen to go on a four holiday and then— that keen to go on a four holiday and then come back and have this sort of— and then come back and have this sort of experience ruined by unofficial rap on the door to make sure that — unofficial rap on the door to make sure that you are obeying the rules. these _ sure that you are obeying the rules. these are _ sure that you are obeying the rules. these are the kind of procedures we need if— these are the kind of procedures we need if we _ these are the kind of procedures we need if we are going to get out of this _ need if we are going to get out of this. , ' . ., ,., this. very difficult for some --eole, this. very difficult for some people, though, _ this. very difficult for some people, though, if - this. very difficult for some people, though, if they - this. very difficult for some | people, though, if they have this. very difficult for some - people, though, if they have got a holiday booked like maybe putting it off a few times and they are going to annapolis country. it is not illegal, but the consequences if you don't go, you will lose your entire cost of the holiday. i don't go, you will lose your entire cost of the holiday.— don't go, you will lose your entire cost of the holiday. i mean, i have to sa i cost of the holiday. i mean, i have to say i will— cost of the holiday. i mean, i have to say i will not _ cost of the holiday. i mean, i have to say i will not be _ cost of the holiday. i mean, i have to say i will not be travelling - to say i will not be travelling abroad but then again i am in the clinically extremely vulnerable group and i did my covid age and it was a fairly frightening 79. that's a lot older than i am. but many people i think are desperate to get away and it has been hard. this has been hard on everyone. and i can

understand why people are very keen to get away, and they are very keen to get away, and they are very keen to go abroad. but i think we dojust have to remember that one last push to get over the hill so we can have life returned to normal because we don't want to go into a relapse. we don't want to go into a relapse. we don't want to go into reverse on this, so i do think one last period of safety first to get to a better place. of safety first to get to a better lace. �* , ., of safety first to get to a better lace, �* y., of safety first to get to a better lace. �* ., ., place. and when you look at some of the strictures — place. and when you look at some of the strictures that _ place. and when you look at some of the strictures that had _ place. and when you look at some of the strictures that had been - place. and when you look at some of the strictures that had been in - the strictures that had been in place in other parts of the world, i think particularly of new zealand, yes, a very different place, not the travel hub that the uk is, but they have been super strict about the rules. it have been super strict about the rules. ., , , have been super strict about the rules. . , , ., rules. it was quite interesting that keir starmer _ rules. it was quite interesting that keir starmer during _ rules. it was quite interesting that

keir starmer during parliamentary j keir starmer during parliamentary guestions — keir starmer during parliamentary questions today began talking about us being _ questions today began talking about us being an island state and wondering what we did not protect our borders better. and he was trying _ our borders better. and he was trying to— our borders better. and he was trying to land some blows on the prime _ trying to land some blows on the prime minister. whether he did or not, prime minister. whether he did or not. l'm _ prime minister. whether he did or not. l'm not— prime minister. whether he did or not, i'm not quite sure. but i think when— not, i'm not quite sure. but i think when the _ not, i'm not quite sure. but i think when the official inquiry into the conduct — when the official inquiry into the conduct of— when the official inquiry into the conduct of this whole pandemic is held, _ conduct of this whole pandemic is held. i_ conduct of this whole pandemic is held, ithink conduct of this whole pandemic is held, i think there will be questions asked about how we protected our borders and whether we acted early— protected our borders and whether we acted early enough and particularly most _ acted early enough and particularly most recently on flights to and from lndia~ _ most recently on flights to and from india. let— most recently on flights to and from india. , ., ., ~' most recently on flights to and from india. , ., ., ~ ., most recently on flights to and from india. , ., ., , india. let us look at the telegraph. diana probe — india. let us look at the telegraph. diana probe to _ india. let us look at the telegraph. diana probe to find _ india. let us look at the telegraph. diana probe to find bvc's _ india. let us look at the telegraph. diana probe to find bvc's bashir . diana probe to find bvc�*s bashir guilty of deceit. i must heavily caveat that also we don't know what the report is going to say into whether martin bashir of the bbc, the former religion editor, breached corporation guidelines. it all stems from that interview, that notorious

interview with princess diana that really was so ground—breaking. a reporter like martin he was not especially one of time had secured that interview. and all of this is about how he managed to do that. this was without question one of the scoops of the decade. it was the interview in which there was a very famous line given by diana that there are three people in this marriage. and since then, obviously, there have been revelations about how the interview was secured. this is what this report is going to be about. as you said chemically to be about. as you said chemically to be a little bit careful because we don't know what's in it yet. the one thing i would be a little bit cautious on, the daily telegraph says this will beat the bbc�*s phone hacking moment and i'm not sure about that. phone hacking, which was

amusing to news of the world in particular shut down over it. this ought people have their privacy completely violated. 0n repeated occasions and it was widespread. what we are seeing here is one incident. i don't imagine it is going to look very good for the corporation but at the same time, i would caveat it a bit by saying don't think this is going to be the phone hacking moment. however bbc is in recei -t of phone hacking moment. however bbc is in receipt of public _ phone hacking moment. however bbc is in receipt of public funds _ phone hacking moment. however bbc is in receipt of public funds that _ in receipt of public funds that without which we would really have to scratch our heads as to how we could stay on air. people expect something different from bbc and those of us who work for the corporation by and large can fully agree with that. we don't want dodgy practices being used at any point and of course people's then will point to how the bbc handle the jimmy saffold scandal as well. i

don't think there's any suggestion how this _ don't think there's any suggestion how this report with that way of securing — how this report with that way of securing an interview was endemic or routine _ securing an interview was endemic or routine practice. it is come to light— routine practice. it is come to light that _ routine practice. it is come to light that because it was unexceptional case where deceit apparently was used. but it is extraordinary. this is an interview that happened a long time ago. but it continues to reverberate and contains — it continues to reverberate and contains that interview that as james — contains that interview that as james said there were three of us in this marriage. and all those other extraordinary moments in that interview _ extraordinary moments in that interview. but an awful lot of people — interview. but an awful lot of people must never have seen it. i wonder— people must never have seen it. i wonder what they make of this investigation into how the interview was secured. it investigation into how the interview was secured-— was secured. it will be making for a ve aood was secured. it will be making for a very good and _ was secured. it will be making for a very good and interesting _ was secured. it will be making for a very good and interesting perhaps i very good and interesting perhaps troublesome reading. martin bashir nana longer with abc because he has

health problems. let's finish with the times. bluffing is a sign of being clever. no ps. we know what ps stands for so we won't extend those letters on a family show. but tell us about this. who has been looking into this? it’s us about this. who has been looking into this? �* , ., us about this. who has been looking into this? �*, ., . , , into this? it's tom whipple the science editor _ into this? it's tom whipple the science editor of _ into this? it's tom whipple the science editor of the _ into this? it's tom whipple the science editor of the times - into this? it's tom whipple the | science editor of the times who into this? it's tom whipple the i science editor of the times who is the person— science editor of the times who is the person who could probably pass the person who could probably pass the test _ the person who could probably pass the test that is talked about in the piece _ the test that is talked about in the piece it— the test that is talked about in the piece it is— the test that is talked about in the piece. it is one proof of being really. — piece. it is one proof of being really, really clever is that you can spin— really, really clever is that you can spin a _ really, really clever is that you can spin a story about something which _ can spin a story about something which is — can spin a story about something which is entirely bluffing and they use the _ which is entirely bluffing and they use the case that there seems to be in some _ use the case that there seems to be in some sort— use the case that there seems to be in some sort of grey investigation people _ in some sort of grey investigation people were asked to explain something called a declarative

patch — something called a declarative patch. no such thing exists. their people _ patch. no such thing exists. their people who were such ready wits and so able _ people who were such ready wits and so able to _ people who were such ready wits and so able to summon a really, really compelling — so able to summon a really, really compelling argument that everybody thought. _ compelling argument that everybody thought, yes, i do is claim to me what _ thought, yes, i do is claim to me what this— thought, yes, i do is claim to me what this kind of fraction is was a but it— what this kind of fraction is was a but it seems to be this is an ability— but it seems to be this is an ability that has evolved and the people — ability that has evolved and the people who possess it seem to have survived _ people who possess it seem to have survived and thrived. but it is one of those _ survived and thrived. but it is one of those pieces in papers that make you smile _ of those pieces in papers that make you smile and i do wish there were more _ you smile and i do wish there were more of— you smile and i do wish there were more of them. i you smile and i do wish there were more of them-— more of them. i would 'ust say i don't more of them. i would 'ust say i dont know. * more of them. i would 'ust say i don't know, james. _ more of them. i would 'ust say i don't know, james. i h more of them. i would just say i don't know, james. i would - more of them. i would just say i don't know, james. i would just| more of them. i would just say i i don't know, james. i would just be honest about it. trust me, i'm a journalist. i honest about it. trust me, i'm a journalist-— journalist. i felt great about this story because — journalist. i felt great about this story because i _ journalist. i felt great about this story because i have _ journalist. i felt great about this story because i have played - journalist. i felt great about this story because i have played a i journalist. i felt great about this. story because i have played a few hands of poker in my time and thrown down the odd bluff but then felt less good about it and rendering the games that i played and was lowered in the list of the list of lovers. i mean, bluffing, use the term and

donald trump has been known to how can we say do that on occasion. something like 17,000 false statements according to the washington post, i think. and he is a very stable genius apparently. so, it's a good story and it's good fun. some similar research was done by university college london researches a couple of years ago. and they found that you are most likely if you are a rich north american man, most likely to employ it more than anyone else. that's what they discovered. but this report says that you are very smart. clearly i'm not because i would have taken doubt to suggest what a declarative fraction was. and quickly, used to work for the times and i was really

about telling you what we thought of the front pages. what do you think of the times layout tonight? i think it's nice there's _ of the times layout tonight? i think it's nice there's a _ of the times layout tonight? i think it's nice there's a great _ of the times layout tonight? i think it's nice there's a great picture. - it's nice there's a great picture. the picture _ it's nice there's a great picture. the picture of the beef eaters is lovelv — the picture of the beef eaters is lovelv i— the picture of the beef eaters is lovely. i think a great front—page picture _ lovely. i think a great front—page picture raisesjoy and lovely. i think a great front—page picture raises joy and that's one lovely. i think a great front—page picture raisesjoy and that's one of them _ picture raisesjoy and that's one of them but— picture raisesjoy and that's one of them but if— picture raisesjoy and that's one of them. but ifjames mentioned the front page of the sun, that gave me a laugh— front page of the sun, that gave me a laugh as _ front page of the sun, that gave me a laugh as well. front page of the sun, that gave me a laugh as well-— a laugh as well. we'll have to look at that we have _ a laugh as well. we'll have to look at that we have a _ a laugh as well. we'll have to look at that we have a moment. - a laugh as well. we'll have to look at that we have a moment. so - a laugh as well. we'll have to look i at that we have a moment. so lovely to see you both. maybe afterjune 21, god willing, we might see un person at some point, i don't know. but will it be lovely?— but will it be lovely? here's hoina. but will it be lovely? here's hoping. wonderful. - but will it be lovely? here's hoping. wonderful. thank. but will it be lovely? here's i hoping. wonderful. thank you but will it be lovely? here's - hoping. wonderful. thank you for “oininu hoping. wonderful. thank you for joining us- _ that's it for the papers this hour. sport is coming up next. hello there, i'm gavin ramjaun with the latest from the bbc sport centre.

it's been a busy night in the premier league. liverpool are back into the top four after a convincing away win at burnley. they're now above leicester on goal difference with one game of the season to go. joe lynskey reports. the last time liverpool were in the top four, it was valentine's day. now, to reach theirfavourite competition, they need just one more win. in that last match at anfield, they'll have their own fans with them, but all 3500 at turf moor were behind burnley. chris wood almost gave them the lead and liverpool a setback. to reach the champions league, they need maximum points, and every goal matters. with no away fans in, the silence was deceiving. just how much this meant to liverpool you could see through their manager. 1—0 through roberto firmino. this had been a match a few chances, but soon liverpool had their cushion. nat phillips is their 24—year—old defender. in his breakthrough year,

this is his first career goal. alex 0xlade—chamberlain's had a different kind of season. he's missed most of it through injury. this goal, too, was personal, his first since lastjuly. for liverpool, it sealed the game, and while their season's been farfrom vintage, it could now end with just enough. we have one more game to go. we have not the biggest squad. let me say it like this, especially in this position, we have to wrap it up in cotton wool and go again. it's now clear, and that's the premier league. and now, game on on the weekend. 0n the last day, liverpool welcome crystal palace and their former manager. they've spent three months on the fringes, but now the top four�*s in sight. joe lynskey, bbc news. well, it was a dismal night for tottenham in their final home game of the season. they lost 2—1 to aston villa in what could also be harry kane's final match in front of the spurs fans. kane's future has been the focus of speculation for the past few days, and the crowd showed him their support ahead of the game. spurs took an early lead

through steven bergwijn, but that was as good as it got. sergio regullion scoring this bizarre own—goal to bring villa level. actually a great strike there, just at the wrong end of the pitch. and it was another england striker, 0llie watkins, who took advantage of a poor regullion clearance to score his 14th goal of the season and seal the points for villa. after the match, an emotional—looking kane did a lap of the pitch and applauded the crowd. well, roy hodgson's final game in charge of crystal palace ended in disappointment, with arsenal 3—1 winners at selhurst park. hodgson was given a guard—of—honour from both teams ahead of the game after announcing yesterday that he's to leave the club at the end of the season. nicolas pepe gave arsenal a half—time lead, but christian benteke's diving header brought hodgson's side level until injury time. gabriel martinelli first, and then pepe with his second, this great solo effort here, giving arsenal the three points and keeping their hopes alive of a top—seven finish. palace go to liverpool in hodgson's last game on sunday. well, another manager leaving at the end of the season is west brom's sam allardyce.

his side, already relegated, lost 3—1 at home to west ham tonight, another of allardyce's former clubs. it leaves west brom 19th. they took the lead through matheus pereira, but three second half goals for the hammers from tomas soucek, angelo 0gbonna and a late one from michail antonio means david moyes�* side are guaranteed at least seventh place and a spot in the new europa conference league play—off round. for allardyce, though, it spells the end of a five—month spell at the hawthorns, with the club saying he "restored pride with a number of resilient displays". i'm sad i've not kept you up. i really, really loved to you being here today. you being here today. felt the atmosphere, which was fantastic. and, you know, somebody else will come in and hopefully get the team back into the premier league where they belong. and that's it. everton are still in contention to play european football this season. they're in eighth, just one point off the top seven. richarlison scoring a second—half header to give everton a 1—0 win over wolves.

and joe willock became the youngest ever player to score in six consecutive premier league games to keep up newcastle's good form. they beat already—relegated sheffield united 1—0 and move up to 15th. three uncapped players have been called up to steve clarke's scotland squad for this summer's euros. chelsea's billy gilmour, who's19 and with 22 appearances for his club this season, will be joined by celtic�*s david turnbull and nathan patterson of rangers also for the first time. however, the scotland manager didn't include andrew considine of aberdeen or celtic�*s leigh griffiths in his 26—man squad. clarke believes, while it was a great achievement to qualify, scotland aren't there to make up the numbers. it has been a feel—good story, and it's great to be involved in the tournament. we want to go to the tournament, and we want to be competitive. i think when the boys won the match in serbia on penalties, everyone got a great lift. it was a fantastic feeling. all the boys became

heroes overnight. i think if we can get out of the group stages in the tournament in the summer, they can become legends, so why not aim for that? well, away from football, britain's kathleen dawson has won her first major individual swimming medal for five years. the 23—year—old scot claimed silver in the 50—metres backstroke at the european aquatics championships in budapest. she tore knee ligaments in 2018 and was out injured for a year. switzerland's mauro schmid won stage 11 of the giro d'italia, but egan bernal was the big winner, increasing his overall lead to 45 seconds. the colombian and his ineos grenadiers team left his rivals in the dust on the way from perugia to montalcino. he attacked just before the finish to increase his advantage. british riders hugh carthy and simon yates are up to fourth and fifth overall, more than a minute off the pace. and that is all the sport from us for now.

hello there. wednesday was another unsettled day. the majority of the showers that formed were across eastern areas through the afternoon, so we had some of these thunderclouds going across the skyline in cambridgeshire. further west, though, wales and western england, well, it was a largely fine afternoon with some long spells of sunshine at last. but it's not going to stay that way. 0n the satellite picture, we've already got our next weather system. it's been moving quite quickly across the atlantic, but it's going to put its brakes on and become really quite slow—moving as the low spins its way across the united kingdom. so, we've got rain and strong winds to come for the next couple of days. now, that rain is already beginning to arrive across westernmost areas, and that process will continue for the next few hours. whereas across eastern areas, it stays drier. a dry start to thursday morning and not particularly cold. the winds picking up across the south west, though, quite quickly in the morning. bright start across eastern areas, and to be honest, there probably won't be that much in the way of rain across the south east.

northern scotland not faring too bad either. but, otherwise, a lot of rain to come across western areas, with some strong winds blowing into the coast of wales in particular. gusts here around 50—60 mph. winds that strong will likely bring down a few tree branches. there could be some localised transport disruption. the low pressure's still there on friday. heavier rain this time going in across into the south east of england through the afternoon. and the strongest winds going throough the english channel. again, we could see some localised disruption, but the majority of the rain will start to spin away from northern ireland. here we'll see some brighter weather pushing in, but probably with a few showers as well. what about the weekend? well, the rain clears, showers follow to saturday. and then we've got another dollop of rain for sunday. so, there's no end in sight, really, to this unsettled run of weather. marginally, saturday looks like being the better of the two days of the weekend, although rain never too far away from the south east of england. and there will be some heavy showers around as well. still, there will be some areas that get through the gaps between those showers and stay dry with some sunshine. temperatures continue to be

pretty disappointing. sunday starts off on a promising note across the east, but we do have this band of rain that's going to be pushing in from the west as the day goes by. so, many of us will see some rain at times, and those temperatures still pretty rubbish for may. what about next week? well, the rain clears, but showers follow. yes, monday and tuesday looking pretty unsettled.

this is bbc news — i'm martine croxall with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. ramping up the pressure on israel. joe biden tells benjamin netanyahu to dial back the attacks on gaza. a thawing in relations between the us and russia as officials meet on the sidelines of the arctic council in iceland. there's increasing confidence within the uk government that existing vaccines are effective against the latest variant of coronavirus. we report from japan where politicians insist the tokyo olympics are safe but public opposition is intensifying. i don't hear people saying we should have the event, i never hear about it.