trying to find a job with all the advantages that that brings. and there's a growing backlash a day after the football association announced it was scrapping fa cup replays, with lower league clubs demanding a rethink over the scheme. let's head to the bbc sportscenter. lizzie is there. hello, matthew. it's a big weekend in the fa cup with the semi—finals taking place at wembley. whilst sides prepare, though, in the background, there's been more reaction to the scrapping of fa cup replays. the football association insists "all parties accepted" replays couldn't continue. but the efl, who govern the championship and leagues one and two, have said the new format was "agreed solely between the premier league and the fa".

from next season, fa cup matches will now only be played at weekends with no replays after the first round. the decision has been condemned by many efl and lower league clubs. and even politicians have commentated, the prime minister's spokesperson said, "david and goliath fixtures are a part "of the magic of the cup and we know that replays have been a welcome "source of income for smaller clubs throughout the years." and the opposition leader, sir keir starmer, had similar sentiments. wrong position. traditionally, they've been part of the game. the fa cup is a great leveler. it's that chance in football you have to play a team outside of your own division. it's part of the tradition of the fa cup, but equally importantly, for smaller clubs, it's a real revenue raiser. small clubs are really struggling financially. they need that revenue and they deserve it. they've gone far enough to get a replay and they should have the

replay. the everton and scotland defender nathan patterson is out for the rest of the season and looks likely to miss this summer's european championships. patterson needs surgery to a hamstring injury sustained in this week's 6—0 thrashing by chelsea. it means scotland are now likely to be without their two best right—backs for the tournament, which starts onjune 14th in germany. it'll be an all—british front row for tomorrow's sprint race at formula one's chinese grand prix. lando norris beat lewis hamilton to pole position in a hectic wet session in shanghai. norris had his fastest lap time deleted and then reinstated in the final minutes as he beat hamilton by 1.2 seconds. world champion max verstappen could only manage only fourth, after making mistakes on two of his laps. emma raducanu is in action at the stuttgart open hoping for a place in the semi—finals, but she has her work cut out. she's playing the world number one iga swiatek, who's also the defending champion and on a nine—match unbeaten run. raducanu is playing well.

the first set is going with serve. raducanu has dropped to number 303 in the rankings after an injury—hit last year. i think it looks like raducanu may have lost the tie—break. she could be a set down. we will have an update for you at the end of the bulletin. meanwhile at the barcelona open, cameron norrie missed—out meanwhile at the barcelona open, cameron norrie missed out on a semi—final spot after losing to tomas martin etcheverry. the british number one was matching the argentine, but lost out in the tie breaks. number two jack draper also fell at the quarter—final stage at the bavarian open. the london marathon takes place tomorrow and it will be a poignant occasion for the men's elite runners, who'll be remembering last year's winner kelvin kiptum, who died in a car accident in february. the race will start with a 30—second applause in honour of kiptum. it's a star studded field including the newly crowned new york marathon champion, tola tamirat, and ethiopia's three—time olympic champion, kenenisa bekele.

the 41—year—old is running his sixth london marathon, but says he isn't scared about taking—on younger athletes. last 18 years, i was really discouraged. if my health wasn't 100%. _ discouraged. if my health wasn't 100%. i— discouraged. if my health wasn't 100%, i neverfearanyone and i don't _ 100%, i neverfearanyone and i don't worry _ 100%, i neverfearanyone and i don't worry. because i know myself, i see _ don't worry. because i know myself, i see myself— don't worry. because i know myself, i see myself on training, i'm still doing _ i see myself on training, i'm still doing well— i see myself on training, i'm still doing well and follow those younger generation. so, i'm confident to compete — generation. so, i'm confident to compete with anybody. and the london marathon is on the bbc. that's all the sport for now. let's return to our top story — world leaders are calling for restraint after what's believed to have been an israeli attack on iran overnight. according to us officials,

israel was responsible for air strikes here, near the city of isfahan — which is at the centre of iran's nuclear programme. israel has been threatening to retaliate after it was targeted last weekend by 300 iranian missiles and drones. there are competing claims about the scale of the attack on the isfahan region and the extent of any damage, which iranian state media are downplaying. azadeh moshiri takes us through what bbc verify has determined. this is what our team has pieced together about the attack as well as its impact. iranian state media are citing unconfirmed reports of explosions in the central province of isfahan. isfahan is a major city in iran, second only to its capital, tehran, second only to its capital, tehran. it also hosts a nuclear site, which makes it even more important to the islamic republic. you'll also find there an army air

base as well as a major missile production complex. now, bbc persian has been receiving videos from inside iran. here are two of them. bbc verify has analysed them and matched them together. you can see here that the flashes of the apparent explosion match, the timing matches, which allows bbc verify to determine this is from the same event. when it comes to the nuclear site nearby, this is an older image, and according to reports, there's no damage. that's what we're hearing from iranian officials as well as the international atomic energy agency. they've said there is no damage, but we have contacted the iaea to understand how they have been able to determine that — we're still waiting to hear back. i also want to show you this video from the news agency. they're a semi—official news agency closely affiliated to the islamic revolutionary guard. now, if you see here,

a man holds up a smart watch, and if you look at the face of the watch, you'll see that it says friday the 19th, as well as the time, the 19th, as well as the time. he also says that verbally to confirm, or try to confirm, that this is from the day of the attack. now, the caption says that there is no damage to the nuclear site, and as the video progresses you can see what appears to be a group of troops. there also seems to have been some flight disruption. here i want to show you a notice to air mission, and what it describes is air space on the western border of iran being closed between 1.30, local time in iran, to 7am. and if you look at the flight tracking website, flight radar, you'll see that there are two flights here that were going towards tehran in that window of time that were then diverted and turned back. you can see the loops right here. there are also reports of strikes in iraq and syria where armed groups backing iran are based. but this is typical of the shadow war that israel and iran

have engaged in for years. iran has several proxies in the region, including hezbollah in lebanon, which is a prescribed terrorist organisation in some countries, as well as hamas — same scenario there — and these armed groups in syria and iraq. what world leaders are hoping is a return to that shadow war, to that engagement via proxies as a form of de—escalation. for now, here, as information keeps coming in, we're going to continue gathering it and analysing it in the aftermath of this attack. the latest from bbc verify. nato secretary generaljens stoltenberg has been speaking about the situation in the middle east. translation: of course we are concerned, and i echo— of course we are concerned, and i echo the _ of course we are concerned, and i echo the words by the g7 foreign ministers — echo the words by the g7 foreign ministers and other national leaders who have _ ministers and other national leaders who have called on all parties to de—escalate the tensions. no—one

stands _ de—escalate the tensions. no—one stands to— de—escalate the tensions. no—one stands to benefit from it all out war in _ stands to benefit from it all out war in the — stands to benefit from it all out war in the middle east. it is vital that the — war in the middle east. it is vital that the conflict is not spiral out of control, — that the conflict is not spiral out of control, and there therefore we call on _ of control, and there therefore we call on all— of control, and there therefore we call on all parties on all restraint. earlier, i spoke to our security correspondent frank gardner. i asked him whether he thought this was the start of the end of an israeli response. that draws to a close this particular run of tit—for—tat. if neither side responds any further, then we will pass the high watermark of danger, i would say. none of this in the ongoing lunar war conflict between iran and israel. this kind of shadow wars with attacks by oxime �*s militias. none of that is

probably going to settle down until gaza settles down. i would expect that the focus of the tension in the middle east is going to the pendulum of... the pendulum is going to swing back onto gaza if nothing more happens. back onto gaza if nothing more ha ens. ~ ., back onto gaza if nothing more ha ens. ~ . i. ., ~ back onto gaza if nothing more ha ens. ~ ., .,~ ., happens. what did you make it of the tar: et happens. what did you make it of the target here? — happens. what did you make it of the target here? it's _ happens. what did you make it of the target here? it's very _ happens. what did you make it of the target here? it's very apparent that i target here? it's very apparent that isfahan province _ target here? it's very apparent that isfahan province was _ target here? it's very apparent that isfahan province was chosen. - target here? it's very apparent that isfahan province was chosen. it's i isfahan province was chosen. it's clearly aimed at balancing the voices on the right — not even just the right in israel — who say we need to deter our enemies to be safe and we have to act tough and hit back when somebody attacks us. i think wise heads prevailed in the sense that president biden, lord cameron, and others were all, including eu and g7, urging restraint. the message they were giving israel was take the win. you've locked down almost 300 plus of those missiles and drones that

iran sent. you've shown that you're pretty hard to hit. let's not forget on april the 1st, israel, pretty hard to hit. let's not forget on aprilthe1st, israel, its presumed, carried out an air strike on the iranian consulate in damascus that killed 13 people. isfahan is an important message because it's home to iran's nuclear iranian enrichment facility, a number of nuclear facilities, as well as missile bases. it's a militarily strategically vital area and israel will send the message that they can reach that. ., . , ., will send the message that they can reach that. .. , ., ., will send the message that they can reach that. , ., ., reach that. exactly on that point, and it's important _ reach that. exactly on that point, and it's important - _ reach that. exactly on that point, and it's important - not - reach that. exactly on that point, and it's important - notjust - reach that. exactly on that point, and it's important - notjust the l and it's important — notjust the targeted area, but the fact that they've been able to get past the radar, the air defences. it is not like iran's attack on israel. that's ri . ht. i'm like iran's attack on israel. that's right- i'm very — like iran's attack on israel. that's right. i'm very encouraged - like iran's attack on israel. that's right. i'm very encouraged by - like iran's attack on israel. that's i right. i'm very encouraged by iran's looky response to this because let's not forget today is friday, the day

of prayers. very often in iran, that is the scene for some really vitriolic, angry rhetoric with the left fist shaking, a lot of angry speeches by iranian religious and revolutionary guards leaders. they have vowed revenge in the past. we're not seeing that happen, quite the opposite. some people have mocked this attack, saying it's a bit pathetic. if that's what they think all israel's capable of doing, fine, great. betterthat than think all israel's capable of doing, fine, great. better that than they respond with their own response and in the whole cycle of tit—for—tat continues with the ultimate risk of dragging in the united states and turning it into a regional war that closes the straight, sends energy prices soaring, people streaming to the airports and ports to get out of the airports and ports to get out of the region — nobody wants that. frank gardiner talking to me earlier.

the prime minister has called for an end to the uk's "sick note culture" in a speech on welfare reform. rishi sunak said he is considering moving responsibility for assessing fitness to work away from gps, to "specialist work and health professionals" in england. a record high of 2.8m people were out of work in february, according to the office for national statistics. those with serious debilitating conditions should never be expected to work, but if you have a low level mobility issue your employer could make reasonable adjustments, perhaps including adaptations to enable you to work from home. if you're feeling anxious or depressed then, of course, you should get the support and treatment you need to manage your condition, but that doesn't mean we should assume you can't engage in work. our political correspondent harry farley has more. listening to that speech. rishi sunak talks about this being his moral mission

mission to reform welfare. he pointed to some quite staggering statistics, to be honest — 2.8 million people — a record number out of work with sickness. and he said half of those had depression or anxiety. it's worth actually pointing out that for most of those, actually, actually, mental health problems were a secondary, not the main cause of their sickness. but he said a worrying number were younger people and he talked about those with less severe mental health conditions should be in work. and that's the range of measures — just picking out one or two for you. firstly, he said they would the government would consult on tightening up eligibility for personal independence payments, that's disability benefit payments, saying that those who do have less severe mental health conditions should be in work. the other thing that the government is going to consult on is stripping gps of their power to sign

sick notes and saying that other work and health care professionals would instead do that to take that away from gps. it's worth just saying, though, the government isn't clear who would actually do that instead of gps. they said they would be medically trained, they would be medical professionals, but it's not clear how they'll be funded, where they'll come from or how they will be trained either. so, the government is saying that they're going to consult on that. it's worth saying, though, that the measures that in the next parliament after — in other words, the general election. and that is quite a significant hurdle for the conservative government at the moment, obviously quite a distance behind in the polls. so, in many ways, really, what we're seeing here is a glimpse into the conservative party manifesto for that general election. manifesto for that general election that's coming up later this year. labour, for their part, they're saying, well, there is a crisis in mental health and they say the government is attempting to make mental health a new front of their culture wars,

which they say is shameless and irresponsible. and so, actually, what's needed is to cut the waiting list for mental health treatment. the lib dems, for their part, saying that these are in large parts but rishi sunak certainly wanting to frame reforming welfare and what he described as a moral mission to do that as part of his pledge to be going into the next government. harry farley with the latest. 15 former british soldiers and an alleged former ira member who were investigated for perjury will not face any charges. they were accused of giving false accounts to the inquiry into bloody sunday, when soldiers opened fire during a march in londonderry in 1972, killing 13 people. prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence. our correspondent in belfast jennifer o'leary has the latest. the day that became known as bloody sunday occurred on the last sunday of january in 1972, when some members

of the army's parachute regiment opened fire on civil rights demonstrators in londonderry. now, 13 people were shot dead. this case arose from lord saville's inquiry report into bloody sunday. that report was published in 2010 and the report was critical of some soldiers who had said, and i quote, "knowingly put forward false accounts to the inquiry to seek to justify their firing". now that formed part of a police investigation. a file was forwarded to northern ireland's public prosecution service, who today announced that no prosecutions of perjury against 15 former army veterans and a decision that also applies to one former member of the ira, now northern ireland's public prosecution service in their statement said that the testimony to the inquiry and this is crucial, that testimony to the inquiry does not amount to a criminal standard of proof. prosecutions of perjury against 15 former army veterans and a decision that also applies to one former member of the ira, now, northern ireland's public prosecution service

in their statement said that the testimony to the inquiry — and this is crucial — that testimony to the inquiry does not amount to a criminal standard of proof. now, pps did acknowledge in its statement that that decision would result in what it described as another difficult day for the bloody sunday families. those families were informed of that decision this morning and they say and they say they are disappointed. they have not ruled out the prospect of further legal action. an mp who's based in derry, the foyle mp, calum eastwood, has said the decision is another difficult moment for the bloody sunday families. now i might add, matthew, that today's decision does not now, i might add, matthew, that today's decision does not impact proceedings against one former soldier he's referred impact proceedings against one former soldier. he's referred to as soldier f because his identity is protected under a court order. he has been charged in connection

with events on bloody sunday and he will stand trial for the events that he is alleged to be connected to. for o'leary there. some of the people who've been squatting inside gordon ramsay's pub in london have been seen leaving the property after a legal intervention. they had set up the, since—closed camden art cafe, pledging to serve free food to the local community. nickjohnson reports. this was gordon ramsay's gastropub in hotel that went on the market last year. the celebrity shaft and hopes of programmes faced a different sort of bad dream last week on a group of squatters turning out and locked themselves inside the building. the group created a community cafe. what a court order

was granted by a judge following a request from gordon ramsay's legal team, meaning that the building canal be retaken. as a result of the order, we've seen around four leave the premises earlier today and in the premises earlier today and in the fast few minutes, we've seen three other people who we assume to be squatters running around inside and outside, coming and going. we can see bed sheets with slogans on the on the outside. there's a crate of potatoes out of one of the doors here. we can see a megaphone and some kitchen ingredients and implements on countertops as well. the metropolitan police was called last week and at the time, said it was a simple matter. —— civil. we had a representative from the legal team who said theyjust want the building to be back as quickly as possible. nickjohnson reporting there.

now, yesterday, we were discussing the annoncement by the fa — that the oldest cup competition in the world, the fa cup, was ditching replays next season. the move has sparked an enormous backlash from clubs in the lower divisions, demanding the fa reverses the decision. i've been speaking to the chief exective liam scully, who explained just how crucial replays are to clubs like his. the legacy of lincoln city's journey was partially funded by the 2017 cup... in amongst that, it was fantastic events like ipswich town in their third round replay. the legacy and thejourney third round replay. the legacy and the journey is our training ground and not long after that, lincoln city was a league fixture in league

1. it shows you the impact on this fantastic pyramid. away from the club, you just have to look at the wider economic impact. lincoln city is a proud town centre football club and our impact doesn'tjust impact lincoln city, it's the wider business and wider economic climate. that's the same elsewhere and up and down the country. we that's the same elsewhere and up and down the country.— down the country. i've got 45 seconds- _ down the country. i've got 45 seconds. do _ down the country. i've got 45 seconds. do you _ down the country. i've got 45 seconds. do you think- down the country. i've got 45 seconds. do you think there l down the country. i've got 45' seconds. do you think there is down the country. i've got 45 - seconds. do you think there is any hope that the fa will reconsider this? i hope that the fa will reconsider this? ~ ., , ., ., this? i think what it is about our decision, this? i think what it is about our decision. i _ this? i think what it is about our decision, i think _ this? i think what it is about our decision, i think we _ this? i think what it is about our decision, i think we can - this? i think what it is about our decision, i think we can see - this? i think what it is about our decision, i think we can see the | decision, i think we can see the voice and the powers of clubs in terms of funds. now we have to find the appropriate structures to put our opinions forward and looked at how we were forced this. i think that's the most important. —— how we

enforce. i'v e i've also been talking to henry winter, who told me about the level of anger right across the board among the lowly clubs. the fa, as you know, released a statement — the fa, as you know, released a statement three or four hours ago saying _ statement three or four hours ago saying they saw the concern. a bit difficult _ saying they saw the concern. a bit difficult for — saying they saw the concern. a bit difficult for them to miss it. they said all_ difficult for them to miss it. they said all parties had accepted the scrapping of replays. the immediate action— scrapping of replays. the immediate action was— scrapping of replays. the immediate action was the efl, one out of the premier— action was the efl, one out of the premier league involved in scrapping replays _ premier league involved in scrapping replays for— premier league involved in scrapping replays for the first and second round — replays for the first and second round. also, just... i live near peterborough and peterborough united put out _ peterborough and peterborough united put out a _ peterborough and peterborough united put out a very strong statement. grimsby_ put out a very strong statement. grimsby as — put out a very strong statement. grimsby as well, exeter, who at that famous _ grimsby as well, exeter, who at that famous replay against man united in 2005, _ famous replay against man united in 2005, absolutely special third on occasioh — 2005, absolutely special third on occasion. something that the foothatt—

occasion. something that the football association should be protecting. they released a statement as well, so there's pretty much _ statement as well, so there's pretty much unanimity amongst the clubs. rovers— much unanimity amongst the clubs. rovers also— much unanimity amongst the clubs. rovers also came out with a statement. | rovers also came out with a statement-— rovers also came out with a statement. . . , , ., , statement. i read many statements over the last — statement. i read many statements over the last 24 _ statement. i read many statements over the last 24 hours, _ statement. i read many statements over the last 24 hours, and - statement. i read many statements over the last 24 hours, and most ofj over the last 24 hours, and most of the referenced, they thought it was a lack of consultation, centred on the conclusion that this was all about protecting the premier league and the big boys — not even all of the premier league, just the top clutch in europe. the the premier league, 'ust the top clutch in europe._ the premier league, 'ust the top clutch in europe. the clever mantra is football for _ clutch in europe. the clever mantra is football for all, _ clutch in europe. the clever mantra is football for all, but _ clutch in europe. the clever mantra is football for all, but this - clutch in europe. the clever mantra is football for all, but this is - is football for all, but this is realty— is football for all, but this is really about the few. this is about the champions league clubs. by the expansion— the champions league clubs. by the expansion of the champions league, effectively, the group stage impinges later in the season, and that crosses paths with the fa cup. ithink— that crosses paths with the fa cup. i think everyone understands that there _ i think everyone understands that there is— i think everyone understands that

there is fixture conduction, but i don't _ there is fixture conduction, but i don't see — there is fixture conduction, but i don't see why will some of what the elite would — don't see why will some of what the elite would term smaller clubs necessarily have to suffer. henry winter talking to meet. that is it, thanks for watching, and see you next time. bye—bye. hello. for some parts of the uk, april has been a very wet month so far, but this weekend does promise something a little bit drier. however, it isn't all plain sailing. certainly, if you're hoping for warmth and sunshine, it will often be quite cloudy and quite chilly. the best of the warmth and the sunshine will be across the west of the uk, particularly in northern ireland. so, an area of high pressure is building in from the west — that is what is drying things out. but around the top of the area of high pressure, that's where we find the jet stream passing well to the north of the uk

and then diving down across continental europe. there's some cold air to the east of the jet and as the jet bends its way back towards us, it will introduce some of that colder air into the south and the east. of that colder air into now, as we go through tonight, actually, it's going to turn pretty chilly under largely clear skies. still a few showers grazing this east coast, where it will stay quite breezy, more in the way of cloud into the northwest of scotland. but those temperatures dropping very close to freezing, dropping below freezing in a few spots. so, yes, a touch of frost to start saturday morning, but quite a lot of sunshine. first thing, however, i think we will see cloud amounts increasing as the day wears on and also still some showers close to eastern counties of england, some patchy rain passing across the far north of scotland. the best of the sunshine out towards the west,

particularly in northern ireland, where temperatures could reach 15 degrees. but with cloud and that breeze along the east coast, maybejust eight, nine or ten degrees — high pressure still with us into the second half of the weekend. but there's dangling weather front here, certainly providing a fly in the ointment, more clouds, some showery rain. quite a chilly start to the morning. then a lot of cloud, the chance of one or two showers. it will be quite breezy. the weather fronts i spoke about sitting just about here, a band of clouds, some showery rain with that across parts of eastern scotland and northeast england. the rain not coming to very much. it'll still be largely dry, best chance of sunshine again for northern ireland. temperatures here maybe up to 18 degrees. compare that with eight, nine or ten for some north sea coasts. and into the start of next week, there will be parts of central and eastern england, particularly on monday. the really struggled temperature wise with some spots of rain, the highest temperatures further north and west across the uk.

today at six: israel appears to launch attacks inside iran — world leaders call for restraint. explosion. missiles landed in a city key to the country's nuclear programme — the latest in tit—for—tat exchanges. here in israel, there's been no confirmation of responsibility. all eyes are now on whether howell or evenif eyes are now on whether howell or even if iran responds. also tonight: scotland's former first minister gives her reaction after her husband was charged

with embezzlement of snp funds. is incredibly difficult, but that's not the main issue here. itruieiiii is incredibly difficult, but that's not the main issue here. well done, llo d, 15 not the main issue here. well done, lloyd. 15 miles _ not the main issue here. well done, lloyd, 15 miles today. _ after all the training, the big day is almost here — we talk to a teenage runner about his first london marathon. and the first look at a brand—new taylor swift video — we're with fans as she releases her new album. and coming up on bbc news — as the fa cup prepares for its semi— final weekend, the decision to scrap replays has split football with the efl claiming it serves to threaten the future of the english game.

good evening.