It could hinge on a Board Meeting after the fa cup final. Good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. Prosecutors in sweden have dropped their seven year long investigation, into allegations of rape against the founder of the wikileaks website, Julian Assange. Hes been a fugitive, living at the Ecuadorian Embassy in london since 2012, avoiding extradition. Mr assange has always denied the allegations, saying theyre politically motivated. Lets go live to richard lister, whos outside the embassy for us this afternoon. Clive, it is four years and 11 months to the David Julian Assange took refuge at the Ecuadorian Embassy. He has remained behind those net curtains ever since. He never left. At today, as the news came out from sweden, he tweeted a Smiling Photograph of himself. That is the only comment he has made an todays developments. As Caroline Hawley reports, he remains a wanted man. Victory as howard Julian Assanges lawyer described todays news. The wikileaks founder tweeted this photograph of himself in the Ecuadorian Embassy. Swedish prosecutors had just said the case against him was being dropped. Translation today i have decided to revoke the order against mr assange and revoke the european Arrest Warrant that he should be handed over to the swedish authorities. There announcement was not a statement on whether mr assange was guilty or not, they have just been unable, in the circumstances to proceed. There are now no further measures remaining to advance the investigation. In order to proceed, Julian Assange must be formally served notice of the crimes, this was a measure which was to be conducted during an interview in london but mr assange refused to make this possible. It is now almost five years sinceJulian Assange took refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy. It is nearly seven years since he was first accused by two swedish women of sexual assault. This was mr assange last year, again claiming victory. In his hand, a report which criticised the swedish prosecutors for their handling of his case. But the woman who accused him of rape today says she is shocked by the decision but she stands by the allegation. Mr assange cannot just walk out of the embassy. The metropolitan police say they are still obliged to arrest him for failing to surrender to a court in london back in 2012. In a statement they said now that the situation has changed, and the swedish authorities have discontinued their investigation into that matter, mr assange remains wanted for a much less serious offence. Ecuador gave Julian Assange political asylum because he says he fears being prosecuted in the united states, over the classified documents published by wikilea ks. Over the classified documents published by wikileaks. We do not know what the next twists will be in this long running saga, but it is not over yet. The worlds press have descended on this corner of london with the hope of getting an answer to the question, what willJulian Assange do now is matt won legal hurdle in front of them has now fallen away but the threat of arrest and possible extradition remains, and it seems unlikely that there is an easy and obvious way out of this building, for now at least. Back to you. Richard lister reporting. Its been a week of manifesto launches from the main Political Parties in the run up to the election, with plenty of focus on the elderly, from pledges on pensions to social care. Now, labour claims plans by the conservatives to means test Winter Fuel Payments, are an an attack on vulnerable pensioners. At the moment, the majority people over 64 are eligible. Lets go live to westminster and our Political Correspondent eleanor garnier. Clive, the gives have gone up a little bit in this weeks general Election Campaign with most of the ma nifestos Election Campaign with most of the manifestos from the Political Parties published, it means there is plenty more for the opponents to pick over. Earlier this week labour claimed the conservatives sums dont add up, now the conservatives say now labour say the conservatives have not done their sums. Please welcome the prime minister, theresa may. She said it herself yesterday, there are big and difficult decisions to make. It couldnt have been closer to the truth. The conservatives say they want to protect the poorest, but plans for a radical shake up of pensioner benefits, including cutting back on winterfuel payments, is proving controversial. They havent set out exactly what they mean by the very poorest, but in the Pension System at the moment we have a thing that does that, its called Pension Credit and it only goes to 2 million of the poorest pensioners. That means that 10 million, the other pensioners, would lose out if that was the system the conservative party chose to go with. At the moment, all pensioners get the Winter Fuel Payment. The allowance is worth between one and £300 a year, and in 2015 16, more than 12 Million People got the benefit at a cost of over £2 billion. This week, labour published its manifesto. Labour say the tories plans are sick and sneaky, and claim many pensioners will end up choosing between heating and eating. This is a savage attack on vulnerable pensioners, particularly those who are just about managing. It is disgraceful, and we are calling upon the conservative party now to withdraw it today. Well, i think taking the Winter Fuel Payment away from pensioners who have worked hard and paid in all their life is just wrong. The Winter Fuel Payment is not a kings ransom, its about giving pensioners whove contributed all their lives a little bit of extra help during the cold winter months. Are they warm enough, them radiators . Its the most in need the conservatives say they are focusing on, with savings from the Winter Fuel Payment going into social care. But without giving more detail of their plans, they face accusations 10 million would be hit. Thats guesswork. Were going to consult on the exact level, exactly how we do the means testing. But let me be plain about this, the only people who will lose the Winter Fuel Allowance are people who can afford it. There are well off pensioners as well as poor pensioners. Were going to protect the poor pensioners. But without exact calculations, the conservatives opponents have filled the gaps. And until theyve got some answers, its likely the questions will keep coming. Notjust questions overwinter notjust questions over Winter Fuel Payments the conservatives are facing. On immigration, ministers will not put a target on when they will not put a target on when they will get net migration down to the tens of thousands. They will not give a timetable insisting it is a name they do insist they will meet. Of course, manifestos are broad contracts with the electorate and it is unusual not to put a detailed breakdown of every policy out and politicians do not want to set themselves too many tests they later find impossible to keep. Thank you. The bbc understands the release of figures for the Budget Deficits of nhs trusts in england, may be delayed until after the general election. The Health Service regulator apparently wants to publish the figures soon, but has been advised by whitehall officials to wait. Well, throughout the Election Campaign, were taking a look at some of the issues most important to you, and hearing from our specialists. Today, our heath editor, hugh pym, has been assessing the state of the nhs. The big challenge for the nhs is coping with rising demand for care, partly because of a growing and ageing population. Lets take a look at some figures which illustrate this. Last year in england there were more than 23. 5 million visits to a e units, thats an increase of 3200 per day compared to the previous year. But funding hasnt kept up. Traditionally, demand for health care rises at around 4 per year, but annual Funding Increases in england have been around 1 . Many Health Leaders now say the nhs has to have more money. Some, though, do point out that the Health Service could be more efficient, and more ways could be worked out to make resources go further. One way of ensuring that the nhs can make its money go further is treating more patients away from hospitals. Thats where gps have a really Important Role to play. In many areas, local doctors are working with social care staff to ensure that people can be treated in their communities or, if possible, at home. Well, thats the theory, but it may take a while to get any savings from this process. The nhs is under serious financial pressure right now. In some parts of the Country Health commissioners are restricting the care theyre prepared to fund. Well, thats england, where the focus of the Health Debate has been during this general Election Campaign. Scotland, wales and Northern Ireland run their own nhs services, and there are no elections for the devolved administrations this year. As hugh said, in some parts of the Country Health commissioners are restricting the care theyre prepared to fund. Our health correspondent, dominic hughes, has been to meet one patient, whose surgery has been delayed. Louise baines is a busy woman, running an Equestrian Centre while bringing up young children. And, at the age of 40, she needs a hip replacement. But six months ago her local nhs said before that happens she should try losing weight. I appreciate that i do need to lose weight, but the fact is im becoming more immobile because of my bad hip. And thats probably going to have a knock on effect, that im going to find it more difficult to lose weight when i cant be as mobile as maybe id like to be. Louise lives in a region where the local nhs delays some treatments for patients who could lose some weight or give up smoking. Its partly about saving money, but they also argue its better for patients and helps speed their recovery. More and more patients are coming to the nhs for help, and yet resources are limited, so Health Service managers are having to make some tough decisions. But the consequences of those decisions for patients like louise are very real. My daughters just started riding, and she wants to go out on her pony, and i cant go very far because i cant walk with her for that long because it starts hurting. Its obviously very difficult for you, isnt it . Yes, its hard, itsjust. The pain im in everyday isjust really, really debilitating. The nhs calls this health optimisation, giving patients help and support to make changes that will improve their health. Others see it as health rationing, denying patients the treatment they need in order to balance the books. Itjust, it makes me quite cross and upset. You almost feel like youre just being chucked on the side and youre not worth repairing because youre a little bit fat, or a little bit overweight, or whatever it is. Its really not very nice. The nhs is having to balance growing demand with limited resources. That means new ways of delivering care and a focus on prevention, but also tough choices that have a real impact on real people. Dominic hughes, bbc news, north yorkshire. A former Youth Team Coach at Newcastle United has been charged with 29 Sexual Offences alleged to have been committed between 1973 and 1998. George ormond, whos 61, will appear before magistrates in newcastle next month. American warplanes operating in syria have attacked a convoy carrying militia fighters supporting president assad. The Us Led Coalition says the convoy was heading towards a base used by western Special Forces near the border with iraq. The attack comes as President Trump prepares to visit saudi arabia, his first overseas trip since becoming president. Our Diplomatic CorrespondentJames Landale reports. Us warplanes launching air strikes against so called Islamic State targets in syria. But now they are also attacking Ground Forces loyal to the syrian government. Ostensibly the air strike was designed to protect british and American Special forces like these. They are based in the south east of syria, where they are Training Opposition groups fighting is. These pictures were taken last year. The pro syrian convoy that included iranian backed militias was heading toward a Military Base near a strategically important Border Crossing with iraq and jordan. Unlike many previous strikes such as this, us officials said the Coalition Warplanes warned the convoy to turn around before attacking. There were reports that some tanks and trucks were destroyed and a number of troops killed. President assads spokesman condemned what they call an act of government terrorism, which they said showed that americas claims it was fighting only is were false. Russian ministers said the attack was a completely unacceptable breach of syrian sovereignty. The us claimed russia tried but failed to dissuade the convoy from heading south. The American Defence secretary james mattis insisted that the air strike did not mark an escalation by the us. Well, were not increasing our role in the syrian civil war, but we will defend our troops, and that is a Coalition Element made up of more than just us troops, and so well defend ourselves from people who take aggressive steps against us. The diplomat said that as President Trump prepared to head to saudi arabia the us was sending a strong signal that last months attack on the syrian air allegedly used for Chemical Warfare was not a one off and that the us was now prepared to use force to stop iranian backed militias taking territory in syria. That is a message that will go down well in riyadh this weekend, where they are laying out the red carpet for the us president. Both sides are hoping the visit will improve relations between both countries that have been strained in recent years. James landale, bbc news. Our top story this lunchtime. The founder of wikilea ks, the founder of wikileaks, Julian Assange will not face rape charges in sweden after prosecutors drop their seven year investigation. And coming up raising a glass to a home grown tipple were in norfolk, where a local white wine has just won a big global prize. Coming up in sport in the next 15 minutes on bbc news the end of the road for Geraint Thomas the welshman has had to pull out of the giro ditalia with knee and shoulder injuries following a crash over the weekend. London city airport is set to become the first in the uk to replace its air Traffic Controllers with a digital system, operated from more than 100 miles away. Instead of sitting in a tower overlooking the runway, controllers will watch live footage from High Definition cameras in hampshire. The new system will be operationalfrom 2019. Our transport correspondent Richard Westcott reports now, on this brave new world. Modern airports are dynamic, fast flowing, hundreds of pieces being moved around every minute and all of those movements must be tightly choreographed to keep it safe. This is London City Airport and that is just one of the 300 or so take offs and landings that happen here every day. Until now, all of those flights have been coordinated by a group of controllers who look out of these windows here. But in the future those windows are going to be replaced by these High Definition tv screens. Controllers wont just see the airport, they will be able to hear it as well. The thing is, this Digital Control Tower is 120 miles away from the airport. Weve been shown this simulation, but by 2019 controllers will be sitting here directing traffic for real, using pictures fed from a new camera tower next to the runway. Unlike the old tower, they can zoom in for a better view, put radar data onto the screen to track aircraft. Critically, for safety, the cameras can pick out ro