and merseyside officers say they are aware of planned protests. we respect people's rights to peaceful protest and, over many years, people have protested for various things outside the national and there's opportunities for them to do so. but what we won't tolerate is criminal behaviour and disorderly behaviour, so there will be a very robust response in connection with that. aintree accepts that some are opposed to horse racing but insists safety is paramount. the welfare of our participants is our number one priority, - whether that's a horse or a jockey, and we do everything possible - to ensure that the horses - and jockeys are given the utmost attention when they're here at aintree. - we've made some subtle changes to this year to ensure _ we have the best possible athletes running in the race. _ and that means improving pre—race fitness tests for the horses and extra briefings for thejockeys. 70,000 people will witness the national in person and millions

more will watch on television. there will be those, though, demanding that this annual spectacle comes to a finish. john maguire, bbc news, liverpool. time for a look at the weather. here's ben rich. hello, thank you, good afternoon. much, than it was this time yesterday on the south bank of england, the wind is much lighter, beautiful scene from a weather watcher on the coast in dorset. but that's not the whole story. while we do have some sunshine will also have some showers and some of those are on the heavy aside, and if you haven't seen one today there may still be one and it could even contain some hail and thunder. the shower is widespread across parts of scotland and into northern england. a little breezy for some of us but not as windy as it was yesterday. still feeling really rather cool for this time of year at a 9—13 c. it will get quite chilly overnight tonight with clearing skies and

light winds. still some showers around particularly across scotland, northern ireland, some feeding into wales ahead of this rain band in the south—west of england and the channel islands holding temperatures up channel islands holding temperatures up to 7 degrees. elsewhere, one, two, three, a first for some of the to start tomorrow morning. low pressure is still very much in charge tomorrow, this frontal system bringing persistent rain into the south of the uk, particularly across southern counties of england. for a time rain in the channel islands fringing into south wales and the south midlands. further north, spells of sunshine but like today some heavy and thundery showers, and it may be that through parts of the midlands, lincolnshire and into yorkshire we see more persistent rain developing through the afternoon. it is still going to feel afternoon. it is still going to feel a little bit disappointing for the time of year, 9—12 c. but that is going to start to change over the weekend because the low pressure clears away and high pressure builds. high pressure tends to mean

dry and fine weather, and it will for this weekend. it will be mainly fine conditions, there will be some sunny spells but the most noticeable change, a woman feel which will develop through saturday and into sunday. saturday's weather looks like this, patchy cloud, may be some early fog but some spells of sunshine, clouding over it through northern ireland in the afternoon with some rain potentially late in the day. those temperatures a little higher, 12—15 c, a process continuing into sunday. a southerly breeze. we will have areas of cloud particularly through northern ireland, west wales, south—west england, parts of scotland, the odd shower but north—east scotland should see sunshine with some shelter from the breeze, should see sunshine with some shelterfrom the breeze, i7 should see sunshine with some shelter from the breeze, i7 celsius. further south, 14—17, so it will feel quite different by sunday and indeed into the start of next week. temperatures may be into the high teens and may be 20 degrees for some of us and there will be some spells of us and there will be some spells of sunshine. much, that it has been. thank you so much.

hello, i'm qasa alom — live from the bbc sport centre. coming up on this programme: marcus rashford is out as manchester prepared to take on sex times europa league champions sevilla tonight. —— six times europa league champions. a first—ever team gold for great britain's women in the european gymnastics championships in turkey and the draw for the first round of the world snooker championships brings together some familiar foes. hello, and thanks forjoining us. here's your latest sports news. two english sides in european quarterfinal action tonight. first, west ham travel to belgium to play gent in the conference

league, and then manchester united will entertain spanish side sevilla later in their first—leg match. the reds will have to do it without star forward marcus rashford, though — the in—form striker is out with a groin strain. rashford has scored 28 goals for the club this season and his absence will be a blow for ten hag, who is wary of sevilla's excellent record in the competition that's seen them lift the trophy a record six times. i think the manager brings the winning mentality. i think some players bring this as well, this winning mentality and we are playing really good football and have already won one cup. i know it's not enough, but we are in a good way and i think everyone is enjoying playing for this club. that is a magnificent record, so we have _ that is a magnificent record, so we have to _ that is a magnificent record, so we have to be — that is a magnificent record, so we have to be aware of that, because it

is their_ have to be aware of that, because it is their target. we are 100% motivated to go again. if we want to beat them, — motivated to go again. if we want to beat them, we have to play our best footbalh _ premier league clubs have collectively agreed to withdraw gambling sponsorship from the front of that match the shirts by the end of that match the shirts by the end of the 2025-26 of that match the shirts by the end of the 2025—26 season. a top flight clubs have gambling companies on the front of their shirts, worth an estimated £60 million a year. the size will still be able to have gambling brands on shirtsleeves and led advertising pitch side, though. the announcement comes after a consultation between the league, its clubs and the department for, media and sport — part of the government's review of gambling legislation. the premier league will be the first

leak in the uk to take these measures in order to reduce gambling advertising. leaders from boxing federations around the world have come together to set up a new governing body that hopes to ensure the sport's integrity and that it stays at the heart of the olympic movement they spotmuch future in the olympics from 2028 onwards has been in doubt after her there has been criticism of transparency and governance of boxing at the amateur level. the body now hopes to get recognition from the ioc to try and bring it back into the games. the women's six nations returns this weekend — with a top of the table clash between wales and england in cardiff. wales head coach ioan cunningham has made two changes. hannah bluck replaces centre kerin lake who has an ankle injury. wing lowri norkett comes in for carys williams—morris. wales and england have both secured bonus point wins in their opening two matches in the tournament.

england wicketkeeper ben foakes has been left out of surrey�*s county championship match against hampshire because of a minor back injury. he was named in the surrey squad on wednesday, but omitted for the match at the oval which began this morning. it's thought to be precautionary ahead of this summer's ashes series. you can get ball—by—ball coverage of all of the second round games in the county championship on the bbc sport website and across bbc local radio. history has been made for great britain's gymnasts — they've won their first—ever women's team gold at the european championships, in turkey. the competition continues today with the men's team hoping to follow their sucess. betty glover is out in turkey for bbc sport, and was lucky enough to see team gb take the gold.

what are moment that was. last night and this morning has been all about great britain making that little bit of history, the women's team take on gold, beating reigning champions italy. a massive statement of intent with the paris olympics just a year away. some massive performances for great britain, including 18—year—old jessica gadirova. but also a massive brilliant comeback for becky downie, 31 years old, he was competing in her first competition since 2021. it is really nice to be back. i can it be more — is really nice to be back. i can it be more proud of everyone. what was our be more proud of everyone. what was your mindset — be more proud of everyone. what was your mindset before _ be more proud of everyone. what was your mindset before doing _ be more proud of everyone. what was your mindset before doing that - your mindset before doing that routinejust try and focus on app use~ _ routinejust try and focus on app use~ bars — routinejust try and focus on app use. bars is always a nerve—racking pace~ _ use. bars is always a nerve—racking pace. just— use. bars is always a nerve—racking pace. just being quick with

reactions, because i feel on bars... becky— reactions, because i feel on bars... becky will_ reactions, because i feel on bars... becky will be — reactions, because i feel on bars... becky will be competing on the bars final on saturday. today is about the men's final. joshua nathan is competing in only his second major competition. also, jake german, england's commonwealth games hero. he is hoping to back up his success from last year and won his first ever gold in the all—around at the european championships. the first round of the world snooker championship begins in sheffield this weekend — and the draw has thrown up some tough openers. it took place live on bbc 5 live this morning. defending champion ronnie o'sullivan will be facing debutant pang junxu. shaun murphy will play china's sijiahui, in a repeat of their 2021 uk championship meeting. earlier, he spoke to my colleague hugh ferris.

to be honest, you don't really mind who comes out, which name your picked to play against. when you get to the crucible, all the changes. as i said to my wife before i came over for, i knewi i said to my wife before i came over for, i knew i was always going to get drawn against si jiahui, that was always going to happen. it is not a surprise. gary wilson was pulled out by one of his best mates. it's amazing what these drawers pull out. i have always struggled with a real bad, neck, shoulder and back injury, as i think most snooker players do. it is a strange position we take up. i don't know any snooker players that they don't have a bad back. that plagued me for a number of years. at that moment i played si jiahui, that was a flak macro flash

point. i was in absolute agony. now my mornings begin with yoga, you would think i have become a yoga expert with some of the positions i stretch myself into every morning. i am not pain free, but as close as possible. i am not pain free, but as close as ossible. ., �* ., ., ., ., , possible. i don't want to hang any millstone around _ possible. i don't want to hang any millstone around your _ possible. i don't want to hang any millstone around your neck, - possible. i don't want to hang any millstone around your neck, but l possible. i don't want to hang any i millstone around your neck, but you think— millstone around your neck, but you think you _ millstone around your neck, but you think you could win it this time? that— think you could win it this time? that is— think you could win it this time? that is no— think you could win it this time? that is no question. i go to sheffield in the best form i think i have ever been in. i won the tour champs last week. i probably had the best performance i have played sustained through one event of heavy scoring, good snooker, good tactical play, and i do feel like i am in the best form of my life. i am not here to say i am going to win the world

championship but i would like to think like to think that in the mix. it's the first day of aintree — the grand national meeting — with the feature race on saturday. but on day one, we will see the so—called "horse of a generation" race in the aintree hurdle. unbeaten champion hurdler constitution hill is the hot favourite, seeking a seventh consecutive victory, having won his previous races by a total of 86 lengths. meanwhile, a maximum field of a0 runners has been declared for the grand national on saturday. you can get all the latest sports news at from the bbc sport app, orfrom our website — that's bbc.co.uk/sport. from me and the rest of the team at the bbc sport centre, goodbye.

hello, this is bbc news. the bbc has learned that one of the two sea king helicopters britain has given to ukraine played a key role in the falklands conflict. our diplomatic correspondent, james landale, has more. i'v e i've just i'vejust come back i've just come back from ukraine, and while i was that i had an opportunity to fight one of the two sea king helicopters that the uk has given to ukraine. it was while i was up given to ukraine. it was while i was up when the air that itjust struck mejust up when the air that itjust struck me just how long these aircraft have beenin me just how long these aircraft have been in service. i did a bit of digging around to try to discover what had happened to this aircraft over the years, and discovered that one of them had this rather extraordinary back history. for years, this helicopter served the british navy. but now it's flying new colours. one of two sea kings the uk has given ukraine. an iconic british aircraft — here to fetch and carry, to rescue and reconnoitre. we joined the crew on patrol

in the skies of southern ukraine. this aircraft is not new. it can't fire any missiles, but it can play a key role moving troops and kit to where they need to be on the battlefield. it does it with some style. it's also being used to evacuate casualties and rescue pilots, who've ejected behind enemy lines — a matter close to the crew's heart. translation: i like this helicopter because it's incredibly _ good for flying. it's one of the best for combat operations, whether transporting equipment or carrying out search and rescue. it's easy to fly, even in difficult conditions. these pictures are from the second helicopter britain's given, and its pilots were not even born when it first saw combat in another conflict that began with an illegal invasion. for this aircraft is more than a0 years old and looked like this in the falklands in 1982.

just one of many sea kings used by british forces to retake