assignment join me, geoff korea. assignmentjoin me, geoff white, to mejean lee for a gripping new series of the podcast. the lazarus heist. _ lazarus heist. you're life with bbc news. let's look at all of today's sports. here is betty glover with the details. hello, thank you very much. a big week of european football semifinals continued later with the europa league and europa conference league. we will talk more about those in the moment but we will start with the milan derby and it is inter milan who hold the advantage in their champions league semifinal. they took the lead at the san siro inside ten minutes through edin dzeko and thenjust a few ten minutes through edin dzeko and then just a few minutes later the former manchester united and arsenal midfielder henrikh mkhitaryan made it 2-0. midfielder henrikh mkhitaryan made it 2—0. into milan are the firm favourites ahead of next week's second leg with the winner facing either real madrid or manchester city. gibbon deeney is an italian footballjournalist. i city. gibbon deeney is an italian football journalist.—

city. gibbon deeney is an italian football journalist. football “ournalist. i think simone inzauhi football journalist. i think simone inzaghi might— football journalist. i think simone inzaghi might have _ football journalist. i think simone inzaghi might have sussed - football journalist. i think simone inzaghi might have sussed this i football journalist. i think simone | inzaghi might have sussed this out about milan that they have a slow start sometimes because in this supercopa game injanuary in riyadh which into milan won 3—0 there scored twice in the first 20 minutes and i think it was a deliberate strategy in this game to have that started the game, the atmosphere was so loud and so intimidating at san siro last night that even though it is also into milan's home ground, as the away team they were so outnumbered, i think the manager knew that if you puncture that, managed to burst that bubble and take the energy out of the stadium it could really change the tie and that's what happened. d0 it could really change the tie and that's what happened.— it could really change the tie and that's what happened. do you think into milan will — that's what happened. do you think into milan willjust _ that's what happened. do you think into milan willjust wish _ that's what happened. do you think into milan willjust wish they - that's what happened. do you think into milan willjust wish they put i into milan willjust wish they put this tie to bed, scored more than just two goals? here the way the first half was, it was so overwhelming for such long stretches do not have made the most of that, even a penalty, you could say lautaro martinez one way or another goes down more easily, he may have been better try to get a shot of giving his feet. there were chances

to bury this title. that's the big question, can milan get back into this? iam this? i am sceptical, because milan i don't think are billed to play from behind in the same way. they have such rapid forwards when they are all there with brahim diaz and theo hernandez coming in from defence as well, they can really play that fast break counterattack style but with the ball they lack something. and even when rafael leao might not be there, the best forward, missed the first leg of a thigh strain, ismael bennacer who has been so important for the midfield, especially recently in a more advanced number 10 role was injured and left the game after about 15 minutes, so the injuries are really critical for them. injuries are really critical for them, ., injuries are really critical for them. ., ., ., them. so, more european football to niuht them. so, more european football to night starting — them. so, more european football to night starting with _ them. so, more european football to night starting with the _ them. so, more european football to night starting with the europa - night starting with the europa league semifinals. juventus will aim to overcome europa league specialists tsibela later won last year's europa conference league

winners rome welcome bayer leverkusen —— savea. west ham moved a step closer to their first bit of silverware since 1980 as they take on dutch side as a dogma in the first leg of their europa conference league semifinal. david moyes's side will be buoyed by their massive win in the premier league on sunday against manchester united which moved them seven points above the relegation zone with three games to play. now they will look to end a four decade wait for a trophy with success in europe. david moyes says reaching the final could be as best managerial achievement in his career. elsewhere in tennis, organisers of last week's madrid open have apologised to players and fans for what they say was the unacceptable decision to not allow the women's doubles finalists to make presentation speeches. victoria azarenka and beatriz haddad maia beat america'sjessica azarenka and beatriz haddad maia beat america's jessica pegula azarenka and beatriz haddad maia beat america'sjessica pegula and coco gauff in the final on sunday but were denied the opportunity to speak afterwards. all finalists in the singles and men's doubles

addressed the crowd after their matches. the professional tennis players association said the women's doubles players had been denied the right to freedom of expression. organisers say they have apologised it directly to the four players involved. and that's all the sport for now. back to you, ben. betty, thank you very much. we will see you later. it is the grand final of the eurovision song contest on saturday, just days away, so tonight that means the second semifinal will take place in liverpool. marie moshiri is there for all the build—up. it has been a glorious few days and there are so much more still to come.— still to come. yes, beautiful weather here _ still to come. yes, beautiful weather here in _ still to come. yes, beautiful weather here in the - still to come. yes, beautiful weather here in the city - still to come. yes, beautiful weather here in the city of. weather here in the city of liverpool. you can see behind me the fanzone which is gorgeous out here. there are so many people already turning up here. a lot of them want to listen to some music on the stage behind me and the rest of them want to soak up the atmosphere and what an atmosphere it is. liverpool have really taken on this eurovision with heart and soul, and of course as you

know, this eurovision is here on behalf of ukraine who won last year with the kalush orchestra. a little earlier i spoke to a super fan, if you like, of the eurovision. his name is vaughan staples, who is the head of the eurovision fan club in the uk, the biggest eurovision fan club in the world and i asked him how excited he is about being here. i think austria are a fab number tonight, — i think austria are a fab number tonight, really good fun, so they are ones— tonight, really good fun, so they are ones to _ tonight, really good fun, so they are ones to watch, australia, big rock— are ones to watch, australia, big rock band. — are ones to watch, australia, big rock band, big name in australia, they— rock band, big name in australia, they are — rock band, big name in australia, they are performing tonight is welcome and slovenia, a really fun young _ welcome and slovenia, a really fun young band, so those are the three that i_ young band, so those are the three that i would — young band, so those are the three that i would really keep your eyes on tonight. it that i would really keep your eyes on toniaht. , that i would really keep your eyes on tonight-— on tonight. it is going to be amazing- — on tonight. it is going to be amazing. have _ on tonight. it is going to be amazing. have you - on tonight. it is going to be amazing. have you got - on tonight. it is going to be - amazing. have you got tickets? absolutely, yes. the of amazing. have you got tickets? absolutely, yes. the— amazing. have you got tickets? absolutely, yes. the of course. took me through — absolutely, yes. the of course. took me through the _ absolutely, yes. the of course. took me through the spanish _ absolutely, yes. the of course. took me through the spanish club, - absolutely, yes. the of course. took me through the spanish club, how. me through the spanish club, how many members do you have? when i started 18 months ago we had 1800 members and today we have over 7000 members. 50 members and today we have over 7000 members. ,, ., members and today we have over 7000 members. ., , ., members and today we have over 7000 members. ., . ., , members. so it has gone crazy. the world has gone _ members. so it has gone crazy. the world has gone crazy _ members. so it has gone crazy. the world has gone crazy for _ members. so it has gone crazy. the world has gone crazy for eurovisionl world has gone crazy for eurovision

and in _ world has gone crazy for eurovision and in the — world has gone crazy for eurovision and in the uk we have. what world has gone crazy for eurovision and in the uk we have.— and in the uk we have. what is it about eurovision? _ and in the uk we have. what is it about eurovision? why _ and in the uk we have. what is it about eurovision? why has - and in the uk we have. what is it about eurovision? why has the l and in the uk we have. what is it - about eurovision? why has the world gone crazy? in about eurovision? why has the world one cra ? , ~ , gone crazy? in times like these when thin . s gone crazy? in times like these when thins are gone crazy? in times like these when things are not _ gone crazy? in times like these when things are not always _ gone crazy? in times like these when things are not always great, - gone crazy? in times like these when things are not always great, having l things are not always great, having this bubble which creates such a fun atmosphere a welcome atmosphere, inclusive _ atmosphere a welcome atmosphere, inclusive atmosphere where everyone comes— inclusive atmosphere where everyone comes to _ inclusive atmosphere where everyone comes to salivate. yes, there are countries — comes to salivate. yes, there are countries competing but people celebrate different countries and different songs and it isjust a really— different songs and it isjust a really fun— different songs and it isjust a really fun festival atmosphere that everyone _ really fun festival atmosphere that everyone canjoin in. really fun festival atmosphere that everyone can join in.— everyone can 'oin in. vaughan, that's everyone can 'oin in. vaughan, that-sne— everyone canjoin in. vaughan, that's the feeling _ everyone canjoin in. vaughan, that's the feeling i _ everyone canjoin in. vaughan, that's the feeling i have, - everyone canjoin in. vaughan, that's the feeling i have, you i everyone canjoin in. vaughan, i that's the feeling i have, you talk to people who have come here from croatia who support the finnish entry, and there is very much a sense that it really is about the music, right? it sense that it really is about the music. right?— sense that it really is about the music, right? it is a song contest and people _ music, right? it is a song contest and people have _ music, right? it is a song contest and people have their— music, right? it is a song contest and people have their favourite i and people have their favourite songs— and people have their favourite songs and favourite performers and that's _ songs and favourite performers and that's what — songs and favourite performers and that's what people come to celebrate. i would love the uk to do well but _ celebrate. i would love the uk to do well but if— celebrate. i would love the uk to do well but if my favourite song is croatia — well but if my favourite song is croatia or— well but if my favourite song is croatia or finland, then they are the songs— croatia or finland, then they are the songs i— croatia or finland, then they are the songs i will be supporting as well as— the songs i will be supporting as well as dressing up as. let�*s the songs i will be supporting as well as dressing up as.— well as dressing up as. let's get down to that _ well as dressing up as. let's get down to that because _ well as dressing up as. let's get down to that because you - well as dressing up as. let's get down to that because you told i well as dressing up as. let's get i down to that because you told me early on that the uk's entry, mae muller's entry, is your favourite. why is it and what is it about that song that you love so much? i think it is 'ust a song that you love so much? i think it isjust a great _ song that you love so much? i think it isjust a great bop. _ song that you love so much? i think it isjust a great bop. that's - song that you love so much? i think it isjust a great bop. that's not - it isjust a great bop. that's not every— it isjust a great bop. that's not every year. _ it isjust a great bop. that's not every year, the first year that the

uk has _ every year, the first year that the uk has been my favourite but i think she has— uk has been my favourite but i think she has a _ uk has been my favourite but i think she has a fabulous attitude and the son. she has a fabulous attitude and the song is _ she has a fabulous attitude and the song is a _ she has a fabulous attitude and the song is a really good bop and it is a fun— song is a really good bop and it is a fun numberand song is a really good bop and it is a fun number and a song that represents our music scene as well. so i'm _ represents our music scene as well. so i'm really— represents our music scene as well. so i'm really pleased for her and to see her— so i'm really pleased for her and to see her do— so i'm really pleased for her and to see her do well.— so i'm really pleased for her and to see her do well. how many years have ou been see her do well. how many years have you been going _ see her do well. how many years have you been going to _ see her do well. how many years have you been going to eurovision? - see her do well. how many years have you been going to eurovision? this. you been going to eurovision? this is my tenth- _ you been going to eurovision? this is my tenth. how— you been going to eurovision? this is my tenth. how does _ you been going to eurovision? this is my tenth. how does liverpool i is my tenth. how does liverpool com are is my tenth. how does liverpool compare to _ is my tenth. how does liverpool compare to all _ is my tenth. how does liverpool compare to all the _ is my tenth. how does liverpool compare to all the others? - is my tenth. how does liverpool compare to all the others? of i is my tenth. how does liverpool - compare to all the others? of course i'm biased because _ compare to all the others? of course i'm biased because we _ compare to all the others? of course i'm biased because we have - compare to all the others? of course i'm biased because we have been - i'm biased because we have been involved — i'm biased because we have been involved in— i'm biased because we have been involved in some of the organisation but i've _ involved in some of the organisation but i've never known a city get behind — but i've never known a city get behind the eurovision like liverpool has. behind the eurovision like liverpool has it— behind the eurovision like liverpool has it has— behind the eurovision like liverpool has. it has been amazing, everywhere you look— has. it has been amazing, everywhere you look every shop, every bus, every— you look every shop, every bus, every train — you look every shop, every bus, every train you see the eurovision symbol— every train you see the eurovision symbol and — every train you see the eurovision symbol and it's amazing to see eurovision— symbol and it's amazing to see eurovision everywhere and be exhilarated. | eurovision everywhere and be exhilarated.— eurovision everywhere and be exhilarated. ~ ., ., , exhilarated. i know you work closely with the ukrainian _ exhilarated. i know you work closely with the ukrainian team _ exhilarated. i know you work closely with the ukrainian team as - exhilarated. i know you work closely with the ukrainian team as well- exhilarated. i know you work closely j with the ukrainian team as well stop ukraine is represented here in such a major way, given it should have been held in kyiv. yes, it is so important that we don't forget that ukraine did win the contest last year and we are doing this on behalf of ukraine and i think they have the balance just right.— balance 'ust right. there are loads of balance just right. there are loads of elements _ balance just right. there are loads of elements in _ balance just right. there are loads of elements in the _ balance just right. there are loads of elements in the show _ balance just right. there are loads of elements in the show and - balance just right. there are loadsl of elements in the show and across the city— of elements in the show and across the city that i very much british and we — the city that i very much british and we are _ the city that i very much british and we are very proud of that. but actually— and we are very proud of that. but actually ukraine is at the heart of that and — actually ukraine is at the heart of that and we are standing with them as well _ that and we are standing with them as well. ., ., :: :: :: that and we are standing with them as well, ., ., i: i: i: , , that and we are standing with them as well. ., ., :: :: :: , , ., ,, as well. you have 7000 members. talk

to me about — as well. you have 7000 members. talk to me about the — as well. you have 7000 members. talk to me about the members. _ as well. you have 7000 members. talk to me about the members. are - as well. you have 7000 members. talk to me about the members. are they . to me about the members. are they from all different walks of life? every kind of background and walk of life, absolutely. and of course we are united — life, absolutely. and of course we are united by our love for eurovision, and this is the one time of year— eurovision, and this is the one time of year we — eurovision, and this is the one time of year we can all get together and party— of year we can all get together and party and _ of year we can all get together and party and celebrate. who of year we can all get together and party and celebrate.— party and celebrate. who is your money on? _ party and celebrate. who is your money on? finland. _ party and celebrate. who is your money on? finland. 0k. - money on? finland. 0k. there you _ money on? finland. 0k. there you go, _ money on? finland. 0k. there you go, he - money on? finland. 0k. there you go, he has . money on? finland. 0k. - there you go, he has money on finland. hopefully not literally because we don't condone gambling on the bbc, do we? he also invited me to an after party this evening at the euro club and i'm toying with the euro club and i'm toying with the idea of going, i'm not sure yet! a little bit earlier we saw last's summer don knight runner—up sam ryder, remember him, with spaceman. he's been making appearances around liverpool and we got a few words from them. how are you enjoying eurovision? enjoying it so far? it is an absolute buzz, everyone is stoked. — is an absolute buzz, everyone is stoked, big apple, liverpool, smashing it. hello, my friend, how are you _ smashing it. hello, my friend, how are you going?— smashing it. hello, my friend, how are you going? well done last year. i appreciated. _

are you going? well done last year. i appreciated, thank _ are you going? well done last year. i appreciated, thank you _ are you going? well done last year. i appreciated, thank you so - are you going? well done last year. i appreciated, thank you so much i are you going? well done last year. | i appreciated, thank you so much for having _ i appreciated, thank you so much for having a _ i appreciated, thank you so much for having a system simulator, guys. but they managed to sam. the celebrations this has a tippler urso set the date of to make a difference to protect accounting to

be the fine don't know about that. then departing with me it is a big party, euro club is where all of the fan club members go after the shows. there is a concert, some dancing, ludian. can i call it boogie on? for me these days it is a hot bath, television and netflix and bbc news and then bed for me. i'm too old! talk to us about tonight. it is the second semifinal before the final on saturday and you have been looking at the runners and riders. who is your money on? the juries tend to go one way in the public seem to like something entirely different. it is based on different criteria based on what they are wearing, what the staging is like, whereas it is not just about the music.— staging is like, whereas it is not just about the music. that's right. it is very much — just about the music. that's right. it is very much a _ just about the music. that's right. it is very much a different - just about the music. that's right. it is very much a different kind - just about the music. that's right. it is very much a different kind of| it is very much a different kind of vibe, thejury versus it is very much a different kind of vibe, the jury versus the telephone vote. tonight's semifinal will be solely decided on the telephone vote and that's the first time that has happened since 2008. there are a lot of countries competing, 16 countries tonight, compared to 15 on tuesday. only ten of those countries will go through. the favourites amongst that group i have to say probably australia, austria and slovenia. those are the three favourites to go through. so it's going to be an amazing show tonight. i know i'm going to be watching it and i'm sure you will as well. back to you. you have the best _ you will as well. back to you. you have the best job _ you will as well. back to you. you have the best job this week.

you will as well. back to you. you have the bestjob this week. i'm very jealous. have the bestjob this week. i'm veryjealous. maryam moshiri with all the details from eurovision. much more and although stories on the website. matthew will be here with your headlines in a few minutes. we will see you very soon. bye—bye. lots of slow—moving and thundery showers bringing a risk of thundery showers bringing a risk of thundery showers this afternoon. the early morning cloud in manchester were spun around by these vortices coming off this landing a380 plane. beautiful picture but enough of the plane spotting and onto the cloud spotting. there was plenty of that and many of these clouds are turning into thunder clouds, cumulonimbus clouds. the big problem today is the storms will be slow—moving because there isn't much wind to move them along, and so there is a threat of seeing localised flash flooding. you are highly likely to see showers across the pennines, north—west england, midlands and wales. they have been widespread here and some of them torrential. also draped around the coast of east anglia a

few across the south down is. because the storms are slow moving rainfall totals can build up. 20—50 millimetres of rain in the space of an hour. that's why we could see some flash flooding this afternoon. overnight the showers clear off as we start to draw in some cooler, cloudy weather from the north sea and that will tend to lower the temperature is. so we're not going to see the same amount of showers around on friday, that's for sure. it is a different type of weather we will have. across the north sea regions, loss of cloud to start the day, patches of light rain across east anglia, pushing towards the midlands, south east england and central southern england. away from that there will be some sunshine for scotland, northern ireland, western parts of england and for wales and in the sunshine it will feel warm tomorrow with highs up to 18 degrees and feeling cool around the sea coast. the weekend, we start with high pressure across the uk on saturday and with that we could see temperatures go as high as 22 degrees which would make it the warmest day of the year so far. however, we shouldn't get too

excited. at this time of the year in previous years we have already had much warmer spells of weather, typically temperatures reached 25, 20 6 degrees this time of year so it has been relatively cool. saturday we start off with a bit of cloud but it will be sunshine coming through white become the highest temperatures in scotland and northern ireland where we could see the temperatures hit 22 celsius in the temperatures hit 22 celsius in the best of the sunshine. make the most of that on saturday because it is all change on sunday. it looks like it is going to turn a lot cloudier with outbreaks of rain and cooler weather conditions extending in from the north—west. that's your latest weather. bye for now.

this is bbc news. uk confirms it is sending storm shadow cruise missiles to ukraine to help with their counteroffensive. these weapon systems gives ukraine the best chance to defend themselves against the continued russian brutality. we will bring you the latest on the ground from president zelensky about the possible counteroffensive against russian forces. the pakistan supreme court ordered the release of the former prime minister imran khan sang his arrest on tuesday was illegal. —— saying. the bank of england hiked interest rates, to their highest in nearly 15 years.

eurovision fever heats up