in southern and eastern areas. further north and west, clearer skies and a cooler night to come. which sets us up for more sunshine in the north foot sunday and it should be mainly dry across the uk. more cloud across southern and eastern areas. quite a grey start. perhaps some fog first thing. it will gradually clear but the cloud drags its heels in southern and eastern areas and it will be fresher. very few showers away from the north, where there is a brisk wind, but dry for many. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines. pressure grows on the government to help businesses facing soaring energy bills as some of its own mps join industry bosses in asking for support. the education secretary vows

to tackle persistant pupil absences "head on", describing it as a key priority. us officials have held their first face to face talks with the taliban since they took power in afghanistan. women travelling home alone, could soon be offered protection from a free mobile phone app. environmentalist chris packham joins activists at buckingham palace urging the royal family to return their land to its natural state. now on bbc news it's time for sportsday. good evening, welcome to sportsday. i'm austin halewood. here's what's coming up in the programme. it's almost time. we'll be live in las vegas

ahead of tyson fury against deontay wilder. it's honours even in a dramatic manchester derby in the women's super league. and he was quickest in qualifying, but lewis hamilton will start sunday's turkish grand prix from 11th. welcome to sportsday. it's almost time. we're just a few hours away now from tyson fury against deontay wilder in las vegas. the talking has been going on for months, but tonight that all stops as the pair get in the ring for the third time. fury�*s defending the wbc title that he won in their last fight. so, who will win this time?

let's go live to las vegas now then and speak to our boxing reporter ade adedoyin. we had the weigh in yesterday and both fighters came in much heavier than they ever have done before. how is that going to affect things in the fight? is that going to affect things in the fi . ht? . is that going to affect things in the fiuht? . ., , the fight? yeah, the weigh-in was interestin: the fight? yeah, the weigh-in was interesting because _ the fight? yeah, the weigh-in was interesting because there - the fight? yeah, the weigh-in was interesting because there was - the fight? yeah, the weigh-in was interesting because there was talk about wilder coming in heavy so that fury couldn't wrestle him. it's the equivalent of fighting with four, five bags of sugar on your back. he'll be carrying it around, is that going to tie him out? the main strength is his punching power, and to utilise that you need speed, and is the extra weight going to slow him down. he'll have more power in his punch but can he be quick enough to land it? that's going to be interesting. so much talk in the build—up, the claims and counterclaims, from wilder and fury,

wilder accusing fury of cheating in their last bout. i caught up with fury yesterday and he said the time for talking is over and he's glad they can settle their differences in they can settle their differences in the ring. it’s they can settle their differences in the rim. v . they can settle their differences in the rim. �*, . , ., the ring. it's all sticks and stones. — the ring. it's all sticks and stones, anyone _ the ring. it's all sticks and stones, anyone can - the ring. it's all sticks and stones, anyone can say i the ring. it's all sticks and i stones, anyone can say what the ring. it's all sticks and _ stones, anyone can say what they're want, _ stones, anyone can say what they're want. but _ stones, anyone can say what they're want, but when you're in the ring is what _ want, but when you're in the ring is what matters. the want, but when you're in the ring is what mattere— what matters. the rivalry has been simmerin: what matters. the rivalry has been simmering since _ what matters. the rivalry has been simmering since you _ what matters. the rivalry has been simmering since you beat - what matters. the rivalry has been simmering since you beat him - what matters. the rivalry has been simmering since you beat him in i what matters. the rivalry has been simmering since you beat him in a| simmering since you beat him in a masterful performance here. for all the bad words, how important is the rivalry in terms of the sport because you need a good dance partner. it’s because you need a good dance artner. �* , ., because you need a good dance artner. �*, ., ., , ., partner. it's a good rivalry and we both have — partner. it's a good rivalry and we both have hatred i partner. it's a good rivalry and we both have hatred for— partner. it's a good rivalry and we both have hatred for each i partner. it's a good rivalry and we both have hatred for each other, | partner. it's a good rivalry and we l both have hatred for each other, i'd say, so _ both have hatred for each other, i'd say, so we — both have hatred for each other, i'd say, so we both want to prove a point _ say, so we both want to prove a oint. ., , ., , point. how is bought and is it that the fiuht point. how is bought and is it that the fight is _ point. how is bought and is it that the fight is finally i point. how is bought and is it that the fight is finally here? it i point. how is bought and is it that the fight is finally here? it has i the fight is finally here? it has been a long — the fight is finally here? it has been a long process. i'm i the fight is finally here? it has| been a long process. i'm going the fight is finally here? it has i been a long process. i'm going to do the job— been a long process. i'm going to do the job and _ been a long process. i'm going to do the job and go onto the next one. how is _ the job and go onto the next one. how is the — the job and go onto the next one. how is the fight going to go and how is it going to end? fine how is the fight going to go and how is it going to end?— how is the fight going to go and how is it going to end? one way, deontay wilder hits the _ is it going to end? one way, deontay wilder hits the floor i is it going to end? one way, deontay wilder hits the floor in i is it going to end? one way, deontay wilder hits the floor in las i is it going to end? one way, deontay wilder hits the floor in las vegas. i wilder hits the floor in las vegas. tyson _ wilder hits the floor in las vegas. tyson fury— wilder hits the floor in las vegas. tyson fury certainly in his usual confident form. it's got the makings

of another las vegas classic fight. you've been there all week. what's the atmosphere been like building towards the big one? yeah the atmosphere been like building towards the big one?— towards the big one? yeah the atmosphere — towards the big one? yeah the atmosphere has i towards the big one? yeah the atmosphere has been i towards the big one? yeah the atmosphere has been building| towards the big one? yeah the i atmosphere has been building in the days leading up to the fight with people travelling in. one aspect of this is that there are no british fans because of the pandemic travel restrictions. when they fought in la in february last year there were thousands. going into the restaurant you would see them, and at the weigh—in and on the fight night he had most of the support. that won't be the case tonight but tyson fury is a massive draw. he has been open about his mental health challenges, speaking on american tv and people have bought into that. it has endeared him. even though he is the equivalent of the away fighter, i suspect he'll had the lion's share of the support. people are looking forward to this. a huge fight which could have major ramifications for both careers. hat

could have ma'or ramifications for both careers.— could have ma'or ramifications for both careers. ., ., ., ., �* both careers. not long to go. and in the gambling _ both careers. not long to go. and in the gambling capital— both careers. not long to go. and in the gambling capital of— both careers. not long to go. and in the gambling capital of the i both careers. not long to go. and in the gambling capital of the world, i the gambling capital of the world, who is your money on? late the gambling capital of the world, who is your money on?— the gambling capital of the world, who is your money on? i've said at the start. — who is your money on? i've said at the start. tyson — who is your money on? i've said at the start, tyson fury— who is your money on? i've said at the start, tyson fury is— who is your money on? i've said at the start, tyson fury is technically| the start, tyson fury is technically better than the onthe wilder. what tends to happen is that you give yourself reasons why the other guy could lose. wilder is bigger, his punching power, what happens if he lands on fury? yourfirst punching power, what happens if he lands on fury? your first instinct is never wrong. that's what i found. my is never wrong. that's what i found. my first instinct is that fury�*s technical ability is going to win, points or a late stoppage. iltiui’e’iiii points or a late stoppage. we'll see! thanks. i now to football and three of the home nations are in world cup qualifying action tonight. scotland are playing israel right now in a crucial game at a sold—out hampden park. about 15 minutes to go in the second half. currently 2—2. a really great game. twice in scotland have come from behind to level. for kick off

the scots were second in the group, one point ahead of israel, so it's a crucial game. not long to go. kieran trippier says he was speechless after being asked to captain england for their world cup qualifier against andorra later. the full—back will lead his country for only the second time in what will be an historic match, as an england men's international is officiated by an all—female team for the first time. very important moment for gender equality, absolutely. and for us, it's almost irrelevant. it's the equality of the official that's important, not the gender. we looking forward to be part of that, a special occasion, really. it was a big day in the women's super league with united taking on city in the manchester derby. despite going down to 10 players mid—way through the first half,

a late equaliser from ellen white managed to rescue a point from a dramatic derby, asjo currie reports. for united the opportunity to claim theirfirst derby day for united the opportunity to claim their first derby day league victory. for city, a chance to end a run of three successive defeats. in a quiet first half the united keeper shone. on occasions of this size, emotions and feet, it seems, can run high. georgia stanway with the challenge and the referee with an easy decision.— easy decision. absolute red card. ci down easy decision. absolute red card. city down to _ easy decision. absolute red card. city down to ten i easy decision. absolute red card. city down to ten and i easy decision. absolute red card. city down to ten and on i easy decision. absolute red card. city down to ten and on the i easy decision. absolute red card. city down to ten and on the back| city down to ten and on the back foot, but rather than sit back they went on the attack. stokes with the cross, shaw putting them ahead at the break. after the restart united made the extra play account, city were caught napping and lucy staniforth getting the equaliser. before elise eraso kept her balance

enough to make the most of this effort. a cool finish to find the corner. two goals in three minutes, united turning things around and looking like they were heading for an historic win.— an historic win. absolutely wonderful— an historic win. absolutely wonderful precision. i an historic win. absolutely wonderful precision. no i an historic win. absolutely i wonderful precision. no chance. but ci won't wonderful precision. no chance. but city won't beat on, just part with an effort from range, forcing earps to block but she couldn't recover in time to prevent ellen white with the rebound. 2—2, spoils shared. city rescuing a point on a challenging afternoon but they remain ninth on the table with united are six places above them. quite a game. now, it's approaching half—time in rugby league's grand final. league leaders' shield winners catalans dragons are taking on back—to—back champions st helens at old trafford. a really tight game. if the dragons win they will become the first team from outside the north of england to lift the super league title but

still a long way to go in that one. part one of lewis hamilton's damage limitation exercise for this weekend's turkish grand prix was a success. a penalty for changing the engine on his mercedes meant that despite being quickest in qualifying, he'll start from 11th the highest position he could achieve. his team mate valtteri bottas is on pole ahead of his title rival max verstappen. nick parrott reports. last year lewis hamilton finished his world title in turkey but this time the lead could slip from his grasp. istanbul park is a challenging place to drive, add a bit of moisture and it becomes perilous as yuki soon odo found out. sebastien a penalty for hamilton for taking a new engine. getting past them shouldn't be much of a problem. he set a new track record to win

qualifying. but mercedes team—mate valtteri bottas. from pole position alongside max verstappen, and they will be much harder to catch. it was really tricky. _ will be much harder to catch. it was really tricky. the — will be much harder to catch. it was really tricky, the session i will be much harder to catch. it was really tricky, the session in i really tricky, the session in general. still some damp patches and getting the temperature in the tyres wasn't easy. but really greatjob by the team. so happy with the performance in terms of getting us out at the right time. tomorrow will be difficult but i'll give it everything. be difficult but i'll give it everything-— be difficult but i'll give it eve hint. �*, ., ., ., everything. it's not what we want but we tried _ everything. it's not what we want but we tried everything. i everything. it's not what we want but we tried everything. we i everything. it's not what we want but we tried everything. we justl but we tried everything. we just need _ but we tried everything. we just need to— but we tried everything. we just need to understand what we could have done — need to understand what we could have done better. but we can't change — have done better. but we can't change the car anymore and we'll see tomorrow— change the car anymore and we'll see tomorrow what we can do. with change the car anymore and we'll see tomorrow what we can do.— tomorrow what we can do. with 'ust two oints tomorrow what we can do. with 'ust two points between i tomorrow what we can do. with 'ust two points between them, i tomorrow what we can do. with just j two points between them, hamilton must finish ahead of verstappen to keep his championship lead. he won from sixth last year but to do it from sixth last year but to do it from 11th will need a bit of luck, and one of the drives of his career. rugby union now. and saracens marked their premiership homecoming with a bonus point win over newcastle falcons.

first half tries from mike brown and ben stevenson helped the visitors to a 17—3 lead at the stone x stadium. but crucial tries from jamie george and mako vunipola, who both put their recent england snubs behind them, helped sarries to a 37—23 victory. but leicester tigers stay top after they made it 4 wins from 1l in the united rugby championship, glasgow warriors beat lions of south africa by 13—9. on his 50th appearance for the club, propjamie bhatti opened the scoring in just the second minute, and they never let go of the lead. earlier, leinster beat zebre. tour de france champion tadej pogacar has become the youngest rider to win two monument one day races in a year. the 23 year old slovenian beat home rider fausto masnada to claim

victory in the prestigious 148—mile tour of lombardy race in italy. britain's adam yates finished third. britain's emma raducanu may have finally come back to earth after she lost her first match as a grand slam champion. she was beaten in straight sets by belarus's aliaksandra sasnovich in the second round at indian wells overnight. mike bushell has more. from great britain, please welcome emma raducanu. at, from great britain, please welcome emma raducanu.— emma raducanu. a new feeling for britain's teenage i emma raducanu. a new feeling for britain's teenage star. i emma raducanu. a new feeling for britain's teenage star. walking i emma raducanu. a new feeling for| britain's teenage star. walking onto the court as the big name, a superstar and in terms of world rankings, the favourite. emma raducanu, the world number 22 now, against an opponent onlyjust inside the top 100. early on, radu carney lived up to the billing, an excellent start against aliaksandra sasnovich of belarus. winning to love in the opening game and cheered on by a crowd of 4000. but the

british number one is still only 18. she's also without a coach after parting ways with long—standing mental andrew richardson. there is no substitute for experience. 27 year aliaksandra sasnovich took control as emma raducanu was forced into errors and seemed anxious to close out rallies quickly. it was a slower court than she is used to. after this straight sets defeat, emma raducanu said she was glad anyway she'd lost because she could learn from it. she can develop in the months and years ahead. andy murray is still involved in indian wells and was relieved to have his wedding ring tied to his trainers once more after both were lost and then found and handed in by lost property. he had a spring in his step as he eased past the frenchman adrian mannarino to get to the second round. and finally, the world surf league has released its list of nominees for this year's big wave awards, rewarding those who've conquered

some of the world's tallest and toughest waves during the season. so here are some of those rides that have been put up for the awards. great pictures. they're from four categories — including the biggest paddle, the biggest tow, performer of the year and ride of the year, which is whoever demonstrates the most advanced and committed level of big wave surfing during a successful ride. the winners are announced later this month. rather than than me. still 2—2 between scotland and israel in the crucial world cup qualifier. just five minutes to go. that's all we've got time for. next, ross atkins examines if the uk is on track to reach its 2015 zero emissions goal.