hello and welcome to sportsday — i'm gavin ramjaun. out of their hands but still in with a shout, whales need a win and things go their way to qualify automatically for a euro 202a. after a year, beth mead is back. try to help her reach next year's olympics. to help her reach next year's olympia-— to help her reach next year's ol mics. ,, , , ' olympics. she brings different thins, olympics. she brings different things, that's _ olympics. she brings different things, that's good _ olympics. she brings different things, that's good for - olympics. she brings different things, that's good for the - olympics. she brings different i things, that's good for the team, olympics. she brings different - things, that's good for the team, we have different opportunities again, so i expect on and off pitch she will give us some extra energy. and will give us some extra energy. and newcastle can _ will give us some extra energy. and newcastle can sign players on loan from the saudi pro league clubs after the attempt to stop it failed. also coming up on sportsday... we meet a granddad who discovered a love for arm wrestling after the pandemic, and is already a european champion. hello again. 20 of the 2a teams at next summer's european championship win their place directly through qualifying. 19 of those 20 have been filled. the final one will go to either croatia or wales, who play turkey tonight in cardiff. to either croatia or wales, in a qualification process you'd be forgiven for not being able to immediately understand. wales' position was pretty simple heading into this international break, but their draw in armenia on saturday has added a big complication, as tomos dafydd reports. the players, seemingly happy at training despite their chances of making it to another major tournament narrowing. while a playoff place is guaranteed, automatic qualification is out of their hands heading into the final round of matches. but the manager insists the campaign is not over. if you're with us in training today and yesterday, you'll see that they don't believe that for one minute. we're having no talk of playoffs. you know, if we continue to talk the playoffs, you just should call the game off tuesday. that's our mentality. that's our attitude. so we're fully focused on the job we've got. you just spoke about regrets. we don't want any regrets. we're not. final whistle goes tomorrow evening. their campaign faltered in yerevan at the weekend. armenia have been wales's bogeymen in this group by taking four points from them, but they now need a huge favour from a team ranked 95th in the world. should they deny croatia victory tonight? then wales would qualify with a win over turkey at the cardiff city stadium. amid the gloom of a rather flat performance in armenia, it's worth remembering that wales clinched the play off place at the weekend, thanks to other results across europe going their way. should they fail to qualify automatically, they'll have a second chance with playoff matches scheduled for march. we've put in some amazing performances in cardiff over the years and we've had some special nights there and we have to be hopeful that we can do it again. um, we can only control what's in our control. and on the night we'll have to hope that some things go away. that some things go our wway. but we can't give up that hope. that hope will be shared by the home fans praying their team can make it to their third successive european championship. tomos dafydd, bbc news. so we know if things work out what wales will have to look forward to, but there is, of course, another possible outcome. if wales do have to go into the play—offs, they have the advantage of being the home side for a semifinal where they will face one of finland, ukraine or iceland. that'll be decided by a draw on thursday. that game would take place on march 21st. if wales get through that then they will face the winners of poland or estonia five days later for a place at germany 202a. home advantage for that game will be decided by another draw. the rest of the play—off scenarios are on the bbc sport website. let's head to cardiff now then and speak to tomos dafydd. thomas, we just spent some time in your company, considering the state to of play for whales. how frustrated might they be that things are essentially out of their hands tonight with mark yes, excitations are higher nowadays. the? tonight with mark yes, excitations are higher nowadays.— are higher nowadays. they have endured some _ are higher nowadays. they have endured some pretty _ are higher nowadays. they have endured some pretty miserable| endured some pretty miserable campaigns over the year, but qualifying has been the norm, spoke of that frustration at the beginning of that frustration at the beginning of his campaign, the drug was made which saw what many whales fans but they would be completing for the second spot in this group behind croatia, whales have gained four points against croatia, it started out in split with a decent drop there and just last month they produced one of the best performances in recent years to beat croatia. the other side of the story is of course that wales has struggled against lesser nations. armenia were here and june and whales were humiliated by them. they endured four goals that day. i just last weekend and the other side of europe in armenia, they needed a win but emerged withjust europe in armenia, they needed a win but emerged with just a draw. that draw felt like a defeat. and but emerged with just a draw. that draw felt like a defeat.— draw felt like a defeat. and i su ose draw felt like a defeat. and i sunpose giving _ draw felt like a defeat. and i suppose giving those - draw felt like a defeat. and i suppose giving those as - draw felt like a defeat. and i suppose giving those as appointments at the beginning of the game in particular, richard page will be interested in successful outcome whether it comes tonight or potentially in march.- whether it comes tonight or potentially in march. yes, he said that they are _ potentially in march. yes, he said that they are not _ potentially in march. yes, he said that they are not contemplating l potentially in march. yes, he said l that they are not contemplating the playoffs tonight, they are just focused on the task ahead. pointing out this has been a difficult campaign for rob page behind the scenes when resulted in go his way in the summer, there were contemplations about his future. he was referring to the football association of wales cheese executive to come out, that he wanted to get rid of rob page after a newspaper report that he had lined up a newspaper report that he had lined up roy king to take over. at one press conference rob page was emotional and his backroom staff turned up unannounced, to show their support. so it has been a difficult campaign but all eyes on turkey tonight as whales got their fingers crossed hoping to qualify for their fourth major tournament in five attempts. fourth ma'or tournament in five attemts. . ~ fourth ma'or tournament in five attemts. ., ~ i. , fourth ma'or tournament in five attemts. . ~ , . fourth ma'or tournament in five attemts. ., ~ , . ., attempts. thank you very much at the cardiff city stadium. _ beth mead is back in the england squad. it's been a year since she played for the lionesses because of the anterior cruciate ligament injury that ruled her out of the world cup. mead has recently returned to the arsenal team, and has been named in sarina wiegman�*s 23—player squad for next month's women's nations league matches against the netherlands at wembley, and then scotland at hampden park. a reporter emma sanders is with me and has been with serena veeck meant today. such an important role she's played notjust for the lionesses but in particular for serena vegan as well. we but in particular for serena vegan as well. ~ ~' ., , but in particular for serena vegan aswell. ~ ~ ., , , , as well. we know she brings the coal, she as well. we know she brings the goal. she was — as well. we know she brings the goal, she was the _ as well. we know she brings the goal, she was the top _ as well. we know she brings the goal, she was the top goal- as well. we know she brings the goal, she was the top goal in . goal, she was the top goal in euro 2022 went on to win the tournament, who could forget that. she's been fit for arsenal, she got her first start on sunday when they meet bryant, so it's good to see her back and she's obviously one of the senior players under this team. let's hear what serena figments said to emma and others today. she is a character that brings positive energy on pitch and off pitch. i think we have more players like that but of course her experience, the way she plays, she's different than other players on the wing, so she brings different things. so that's good for the team, too. we have different opportunities again, so yeah, i expect on and off the pitch she will give us some extra energy. extra energy is what beth mead brings. let's have a look at the other 22 players that serena wiegman has named to play. not only interested because of those who are included, consistently the selection is a big thing for serena wiegman but also for those not listed. i should say, 16 of the 23 were actually involved but also for those not listed. i should say, 16 of the 23 were actually involved in the euro's squad last summer, a lot of those stayed on for the world cup as well, to reach the world cup final. very very experienced, very familiar england squad but the players left out probably more of a talking point particularly for today. chelsea forward, she was a one a lot were calling for selection, she scored four goals, the season after returning from her really impressive speu returning from her really impressive spell at lorton this evening. for chelsea at stamford bridge, scored in that game well against liverpool as well, she just missed out because of the attacking quality we can see in the squad and obviously beth mead's returned as well. the one is the gold keeper for manchester city which has been the number one, has been gb�*s number one in the past. she has falling down the pecking order at her club and isn't getting any game time. 50 order at her club and isn't getting any game time-— order at her club and isn't getting any game time. so those 23 players have this task _ any game time. so those 23 players have this task on _ any game time. so those 23 players have this task on their _ any game time. so those 23 players have this task on their hands, not i have this task on their hands, not only does this nation's elite group look a little bit different for anger because they are third in it, but the revocations when it comes to qualifying for the olympics in paris 2024, very much on the minds of all four of these teams in a certain sort of way. four of these teams in a certain sort of way-— four of these teams in a certain sort ofwa . , . ., ~ sort of way. very much so. the talk two european _ sort of way. very much so. the talk two european nations— sort of way. very much so. the talk two european nations will— sort of way. very much so. the talk two european nations will qualify i two european nations will qualify for the limericks so two european nations will qualify for the limericks so that two european nations will qualify for the limericks so that means england who are the nominated nation on behalf, they have to make the final and unless hosts france are also in that final, third place is basically the least that they can reach in the women's nation lake so they need to get into that final end as you said, they are three points behind in the group. they also have a disadvantage in the head—to—head record with the netherlands having lost to them earlier on in the tournament, but what makes this really interesting is that england actually plays scotland and they're finally a group of the nation's league, and they are trying to qualify on behalf of team gb also representing scotland so it gets a little messy. the lionesses know they need to win at their next two games. they need to win at their next two names. ., ., , ., games. there are lots of permutations _ games. there are lots of permutations you - games. there are lots of permutations you could l games. there are lots of - permutations you could have told games. there are lots of _ permutations you could have told us about which we wisely avoided for now, thank you very much indeed, that's emma sanders. the idea was to prevent a club from newcastle temporarily signing somebody from the pro league, public invested funds. this premier shareholders _ public invested funds. this premier shareholders meeting _ public invested funds. this premier shareholders meeting in _ public invested funds. this premier shareholders meeting in this - public invested funds. this premierj shareholders meeting in this 5-star shareholders meeting in this 5—star hotel in london, eagerly anticipated in recent times. club representatives to discuss, but one of the expected measures that people thought may well be brought and in fact didn't happen by the narrowest of margins. we've known for some time now that there are certain clubs that field there should be a temporary block, a ban on related party loans as they are known. that's where clubs can sign players on loans from teams that share the same owner. now it's known that the premier league were in favour of this temporary ban, it went to a vote earlier this afternoon, he needs a two thirds majority to be brought in, but in the event, only 13 clubs and voted for us and is seven against. had it been 14—6 in favour, the temporary ban would have been brought in and what this means is for example newcastle united, you have an injury crisis, i doubt they can in the january transfer, look at the possibility of bringing in players that represent teams that have the same owner in saudi arabia, which is, of course, the pif, public investment fund, sovereign wealth fund of saudi arabia. there have been rumours that eddie howell may been rumours that eddie howell may be looking at the possibility of bringing in former world player to help bolster his squad, he currently plays for al hilal in the saudi pro league and if he wants to if that's an option, and now appears that the could happen. newcastle united's owner had nothing to say on the matter though as she left the meeting. matter though as she left the meetinu. , ,., , ., meeting. our sports editor in london. you're watching sportsday. time for some of our other headlines. the forward needs hip surgery, has been troubled by the entry since the world cup has been told by specialists that an operation is the only option. super league's magic weekend will take place at elland road next summer. all 12 clubs will play a round of fixtures in leeds on a weekend in august. the yorkshire stadium will be the sixth venue for the magic weekend, taking overfrom newcastle's st james' park. and the ice hockey match between the vancouver canucks and the sanjose sharks began with a seal of royal approval. prince harry dropped a ceremonial puck to mark the countdown to the invictus games — which are in vancouver in february 2025. harry and his wife meghan then saw the canucks win, 3—1. sri lanka's test series in england next summer is going ahead after they had their suspension lifted by the icc. they had been banned in the wake of government interference in sri lanka's cricket administration, but now will be able to compete internationally again. the icc will, however, retain control over the board's funding, and sri lanka have been stripped of the hosting rights for the 2024 under 19s men's world cup. other announcements from the icc today include a new "stop—clock" trial to keep the time taken between overs in men's white ball cricket to under 60 seconds. while the governing body has also barred transgender women from playing in international women's matches under new regulations, which come after a nine month consultation and will be reviewed in two years' time. our correspondent joe wilson has more. this has been and will continue to be a topic i think which provokes strong opinions from many positions. it's a mode of issue. and what cricket is trying to do today in line with other sports are trying to do is to try and find a position of certainty and i propose perspective of fairness. to compete internationally in women's cricket you need to go through puberty as a woman. to put it from the other side of it i guess, there is now no facility to go through mail to female rent gender reassignment post puberty and then to plate women's international cricket. this does bring cricket broadly into line with the stance that international sports in general are trying to take on this issue. as we said, it is an emotive topic and it's one that has proven very difficult to find a position of clarity and fairness on. in a broader sense in terms of this issue of gender equality, i should point out another decision made today by the icc is that men and women umpires will now get paid the same whether they are standing in mail or female international cricket. that appears to be a position of unfairness which is long overdue being corrected. the transgender issue isn'tjust one that fuels debate on the international stage — sports at the grassroots level are also considering how best to consider eligibility regulations in the women's category. in the sheffield and hallamshire women's and girls football league, a transgender player has decided to stop playing after four rival clubs refused to compete against her. it follows a shot by francesca needham which injured an opposition player. the football association says it is "working to find a resolution" to the subsequent dispute. (tx sor) for clu bs for clubs that play in the women's and girls league, that's the sevens tear women's football in england have reportedly withdrawn from playing matches. francesca leedom, transgender player led to an opposition player suffering a season ending knee injury. in a facebook post, she herself said she has decided to stop playing football for the foreseeable future is rooted in the foreseeable future is rooted in the desire to safeguard the team in the club, but added that she was investigating pursuing a case of discrimination as she believed it represented a breach of the code of conduct regarding diversity and inclusion. on social media, the group fairplay for women said the group fairplay for women said the group raised concerns over fairness and safety, they have raised the issue with the quality and human rights commission.— issue with the quality and human rights commission. while the bbc toda it rights commission. while the bbc today it has _ rights commission. while the bbc today it has tried _ rights commission. while the bbc today it has tried to _ rights commission. while the bbc today it has tried to contact - rights commission. while the bbc today it has tried to contact the i today it has tried to contact the club, none of whom have commented. the fa's transgender policy states players may plate in a leak with their research affirmed jumper. the issueis their research affirmed jumper. the issue is complex and constantly evolving one. we are currently reviewing our transgender policy for english football to ensure it is inclusive, fair, and safe for all that added that they were working to find a resolution in this particular case. jo find a resolution in this particular case. , ., not only did they win the billie jean king cup, heading to the tournament knockout stage in malaga. it will go to a deciding match of doubles. you can follow that on the bbc sport website as it reaches its conclusion this evening, quarterfinal know that djokovic will commit, live on the bbc sport website and app from three o'clock. finally to arm wrestling. not the kind to decide who buys the next round at the pub, or even the very sweaty version of a sylvester stallone 80s movie. this is mark waldon, who is not only a grandad, but a competitive armwrestler and a european champion, too. this weekend he's going for more success at the british championships, and sam read has been to meet him. this is arm wrestling when it's taken seriously. at the milton keynes arm wrestling, european grand master champion. you keynes arm wrestling, european grand master champion.— master champion. you got to be stron: , master champion. you got to be strong. he _ master champion. you got to be strong. he got — master champion. you got to be strong, he got to _ master champion. you got to be strong, he got to be _ master champion. you got to be strong, he got to be fit, - master champion. you got to be strong, he got to be fit, you - master champion. you got to be strong, he got to be fit, you got| master champion. you got to be i strong, he got to be fit, you got to be healthy. i train more often and harder now than i ever had done before. i'm stronger, and fitter than to have been for many years. when you come along, it's so friendly, i love it.— when you come along, it's so friendly, i love it. mark spends two hours a day — friendly, i love it. mark spends two hours a day in _ friendly, i love it. mark spends two hours a day in the _ friendly, i love it. mark spends two hours a day in the gym _ friendly, i love it. mark spends two hours a day in the gym and - friendly, i love it. mark spends two hours a day in the gym and every i hours a day in the gym and every thursday evening here at practice. he's 54 and took up the sport three years ago, after being seriously ill with covid. ~ . , with covid. while i was convalescing, - with covid. while i was convalescing, i - with covid. while i was convalescing, i saw - with covid. while i was - convalescing, i saw decided to with covid. while i was _ convalescing, i saw decided to have a little look on you and found arm wrestling. i said such a really good sport, if i can get better and i can get training again, i'm going to do arm wrestling, i'm going to have a go and see how i do. and i didn't look back from that point onwards. as european title is one in finland in may after a tense final in his category for 50—60 —year—olds. train category for 50-60 -year-olds. train as hard as you _ category for 50-60 -year-olds. train as hard as you foster— category for 50—60 —year—olds. t': “i as hard as you foster possibly category for 50—60 —year—olds. t: “i as hard as you foster possibly can and you have to want it. certainly my dad passed away shortly before i went to european championships so i really wanted to win it for him and i was so pleased that he did. when i stood on the podium with the union jack and the national anthem playing it was for my dad, and i was really, really happy. it was for my dad, and i was really, really happy-— really happy. mark from slick rick in bedfordshire _ really happy. mark from slick rick in bedfordshire -- _ really happy. mark from slick rick in bedfordshire -- annoying. - really happy. mark from slick rick in bedfordshire -- annoying. is. really happy. mark from slick rick i in bedfordshire -- annoying. is that in bedfordshire —— annoying. is that because he beats you? it’s in bedfordshire -- annoying. is that because he beats you?— because he beats you? it's break because he beats you? it's break because he _ because he beats you? it's break because he always _ because he beats you? it's break because he always talks - because he beats you? it's break because he always talks about i because he beats you? it's break| because he always talks about it. well wouldn't you if you are european champion? a wide range of ages almost all men enjoying themselves. aha, ages almost all men en'oying themselves.�* ages almost all men en'oying themselves. , . ., , themselves. a good bunch of people, so eah themselves. a good bunch of people, so yeah it's — themselves. a good bunch of people, so yeah it's a — themselves. a good bunch of people, so yeah it's a good — themselves. a good bunch of people, so yeah it's a good laugh. _ themselves. a good bunch of people, so yeah it's a good laugh. you're - so yeah it's a good laugh. you're onl 15, so yeah it's a good laugh. you're only 15. you're — so yeah it's a good laugh. you're only 15, you're the _ so yeah it's a good laugh. you're only 15, you're the only - so yeah it's a good laugh. you're only 15, you're the only woman i so yeah it's a good laugh. you're - only 15, you're the only woman here, how did you find it? i only 15, you're the only woman here, how did you find it?— how did you find it? i feel quite rivileued how did you find it? i feel quite privileged because _ how did you find it? i feel quite privileged because being - how did you find it? i feel quite privileged because being the i how did you find it? i feel quite i privileged because being the only female, ifeel like i've got quite privileged because being the only female, i feel like i've got quite a big advantage especially working with a lot of stronger people, men especially. with a lot of stronger people, men eseciall . , ~ ~ ., , especially. this weekend mark goes for . lo especially. this weekend mark goes for glory again. _ especially. this weekend mark goes for glory again, the _ especially. this weekend mark goes for glory again, the british - for glory again, the british championship's for glory again, the british championships in birmingham. i will championship's in birmingham. i will arm wrestle — championship's in birmingham. i will arm wrestle for _ championship's in birmingham. i will arm wrestle for as _ championship's in birmingham. in ii. arm wrestle for as long as i possibly can, there is categories for 60s—70s and even 705—805. if i for 60s-70s and even 70s-80s. if i can, i for 60s—70s and even 70s—80s. if i can, i certainly will. if you will be betting against him, sam reed, bbc news, milton keynes. i'm not going to find some naughty way to be getting from that story to this one, a reminder that waits this have a chance this night to reach the euro 2024 finals but it's not in their own hands. beat turkey, may but need to make sure christ you do not do the same against armenia. head to the same against armenia. head to the bbc sport website on how to cover the very important match at the cardiff city stadium this night. but whatever comes of whales tonight, i doubt they'll celebrate a goal in the way that san marino did last night. the tiny nation of san marino have been playing internationalfootball since 1990 and they've just passed an important milestone — they've scored in three consecutive matches for the first time in their history. last month they ended a two—year goal drought when they lost at home to denmark, last friday they scored again losing 3—1 in kazakhstan. and last night they did it again. filippo berardi scored in the 97th minute against finland — converting a penalty that he'd won. san marino are last in fifa's world rankings, having lost 85 of their 86 euro qualifiers. the only exception was a goalless draw with estonia in 2014. that was his second international goal, take him up to second, the record is eight. might get that before 2030. we're coming up to seven o'clock, that's all from sports today, thanks so much for joining us, bye—bye for now. good evening. we've had a lot of dry weather around today, but quite a bit of cloud. even if it's just been high cloud in the north, it's starting to thicken up now with the skies becoming overcast this evening and overnight in the north with some rain and some heaviest rain as well across the highlands of scotland. whilst in contrast, showers in the south will clear the winds that we've had all day ese away. that we've had all day ease away. so we could see not only some fog around by morning, but some ground frost and some ice on the cars. and you can see the rain does stretch into parts of north wales and northern england. but look at the contrast. temperatures this morning started at freezing in the glens of scotland, much milder to start here tomorrow morning and for northern ireland. and that's because of the combination of the cloud and the rain and the wind. some strong and gusty winds here tomorrow, 40, 45 miles an hour whilst further south, it's the lack of wind. that means we'll start with a little bit of mr. with a little bit of mist and fog. once that clears, it looks brighter and dry for the majority of wales central and southern parts of england. further north though, north wales north was really some thicker clouds and drizzly rain, but the most persistent over the highlands of scotland. but it's much milder at 13 or 14 and that mild weather stays with us through wednesday night. so too the rain on our weather front, which starts to meander southwards during the night and into thursday. so behind it, brighter, scattered showers on thursday to the south of it, a mist clearing and then bright, too. but we do have this line of rather more persistent rain. it's the dividing line between the mild air to the south and that colder air i hinted at earlier to the north. so we're starting to feel the effect of that arctic blast by the end of thursday across scotland. and it will be right the way across the country friday, saturday to start on sunday. but there's just the hint now that we'll see a temporary low pressure coming in sunday, but a bright, cold, crisp start friday. the showers will be of sleet and snow by the end of the day, even at lower levels in the north and rain and hail on the coast in the east and it will feel colder. these are the daytime temperatures that much temperatures that are much lower than we'll have all week and add on that strong wind, particularly for scotland and eastern england. that's where we'll see the chilliest feeling weather. yes, a cold day for all and a cold night following friday night into saturday with perhaps a few more showers coming onshore near the north sea coast. a little ridge of high pressure, though, keeping things settled for the start of the weekend. just that area of rain coming into the north on sunday. so still a question mark on the outlook, but certainly a cold snap for most. live from london. this is bbc news. israel's prime minister meets his war cabinet to discuss details of a deal to release at least 50 hostages held in gaza. we're now very close, very close, we could bring some of these hostages home very soon. police searching for four teenagers find the bodies in a car in north wales. and king charles welcomes south korea's president and first lady to britain for a three—day state visit. hello, i'm lewis vaughan jones, welcome to the daily global, where we'll bring you the top stories from around the world. benjamin netanyahu benjamin neta nyahu meeting benjamin netanyahu meeting is top for the already met his war cabinet, it's been going on for a few hours now. we understand they are considering a deal to potentially release hostages. let's take it live to tel aviv. these are people who are families, friends, relatives, loved ones have taken hostage by hamas.