Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News At Five 20170519

Heres to you norfolk. A white wine from the broads, beats global competition, to be crowned one of the worlds best. And the legend of king arthur gets the guy richie big screen treatment. Our own knight at the round table mark kermode will be giving it his verdict in the film review at 5 45pm. Its five oclock. Our main story Julian Assange the founder of wikileaks and urged on the belt that prosecutors in sweden have dropped their investigation into Rape Allegations against him. He said in a tweet i do not forgive or forget. He has always denied the charges. The development emerged this morning as the swedish prosecutor announced they would discontinue the investigation into an alleged sex offence committed in 2010. Julian assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorean Embassy since august 2012. The met police say they would still be obliged arrest him on a lesser charge if he tried to leave. He has now gone back inside the embassy and has not said what he will do next. Victory is howJulian Assanges lawyer described todays news. Moments after it was announced, wikileaks founder tweeted this photo of himself in the Ecuadorian Embassy. He later tweeted in stockholm, swedish prosecutors announced this morning that the case this afternoon appearing on the balcony off the embassy he was defiant. While today was an important victory and an important vindication the road is far from over. The war, the proper war, is just commencing, the uk has said it will arrest me regardless. In stockholm, swedish prosecutors announced this morning that the case against him was being dropped. Translation today i have decided to revoke the order to remand mr assange custody in his absence and to revoke the european Arrest Warrant that he should be handed over to the swedish authorities. Their dramatic decision was not a statement on whether mr assange is guilty or not. They have just been unable, in the circumstances, to proceed. Translation there are now no further measures remaining which are possible to advance the investigation. In order to proceed, it would be necessary forJulian Assange to be formally served notice of the crimes of which he is suspected. This was a measure that was to have been 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. Its 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 un report which criticised the swedish prosecutors for their handling of his case. But the woman who accused him of rape has said today she is shocked by their decision, that she stands by the allegation. And mr assange Cannot Nowjust 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. We dont know what the next twists will be in this long running saga, but it isnt over yet. Caroline hawley, bbc news. 0ur Correspondent Helena Lee is at the Ecuadorian Embassy in central london. Here payet quite bullish Committee Says it is a victory but he is not going anywhere. He is not and it is farfrom going anywhere. He is not and it is far from over. We going anywhere. He is not and it is farfrom over. We are not going anywhere. He is not and it is far from over. We are not really any clearer as to where he goes next. He appeared on the balcony as you saw for about 20 minutes or so. He came out, he stood there for a while, posed for the photographers to take pictures, there are dozens of cameras from across the world who have turned up to hear what he had to say. And there were a number of questions thrown to him, one of them was will you surrender to a bail hearing in london. No reply from mr assange. He was then asked by a member of the crowd, will you leave the embassy . Again, no answer. He did not take any questions at all. And he said, today is an important victory, but the road is farfrom over, the proper war isjust commencing. As caroline touched on, if he does leave the embassy through the front door he will be arrested by the Metropolitan Police. At his case was earlier and talked about by the Prime Minister theresa may and this is what she had to say. Well, we look at extradition requests, when we receive them, on a case by case basis. And in relation toJulian Assange, a decision that is taken about uk action in relation to him, were he to leave the Ecuadorian Embassy, would be an operational matter for the police. Helena, if he walks out of the embassy and gets arrested on the lesser charge of skipping bail, what sentence could he faced for that . We dont know at the moment. But you are right, if he comes out the Metropolitan Police have been very clear a ll Metropolitan Police have been very clear all along and this remains the case despite the news from sweden that if he does walk out of the door here he will be arrested by them. It relates to a case injune 2012 when Julian Assange breached his bail conditions, he was meant to turn up to court, he did not, therefore he will be arrested. But not only that, and as caroline mentioned, he also has the threat of america still hanging over him. They want him in america to prosecute him and he has a lwa ys america to prosecute him and he has always said he would have gone to sweden to face questioning over the Rape Allegation but he was also a lwa ys Rape Allegation but he was also always worried that america would try to extradite him. So not only is he facing arrest if he comes out, by the Metropolitan Police, but also the Metropolitan Police, but also the extradition by america if that does happen. So we are, i dont think, any clearer as to what his next step will be. Its been a week of manifesto launches from Political Parties in the run up to the election, involving lots of attention 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 attack on vulnerable pensioners. At present, the majority of people aged over 64 are eligible. 0ur Political Correspondent Eleanor Garnier reports. 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. Allowance will not be means tested. It states that Social Security devolution allows us to make different choices in scotland and so we will protect universal Winter Fuel Payments for all older people. David mundell, for suggesting that the scottish climate may be part of the reason for protecting the universal benefit north of the border. To explain, our Political Correspondent, iain watson is in westminster. Tim farren accused them of being fourth rate michael fishes. But it is colder north of the border. We should say of course that the Liberal Democrats in principle are also in favour of Means Testing the Winter Fuel Allowance. That did also in favour of Means Testing the winterfuel allowance. That did not stop them attacking the conservatives today, though if i was a fifth rate michael fish i could still tell you that in the west of scotla nd still tell you that in the West Of Scotland it is warmer in winter than it is here in south east england. Properly at this time of year as well. What is interesting about the diverges between the scottish and uk conservative parties, if you follow the logic, Ruth Davidson is appealing to the Scottish First minister, nicola sturgeon, not to introduce a policy favoured by her own Prime Minister theresa may. Now obviously labour are exploiting this and saying the whole policy is unravelling if you have a situation where the party in scotland can do something differently from the party in england. Interestingly there are qualms among conservative mps hereto. The conservative leader of south and council has said to his local paper it seems that choice is to tell pensioners that they can turn their heating off and die. So there has been quite a bit of incoming attack on the conservative policy announced yesterday. As far as we know, what theresa may is arguing is this isnt about how cold you are, but about how wealthy you are, and she is saying very clearly she believes it is fair that the richer pensioners should not be subsidised in this way because there is money that that could be moved into Priority Areas such as health and social care. Thank you. The tv entertainer rolf harris has this morning been released from stafford prison. Mr harris whos 87 was convicted and sentenced in 2014. He is currently on trial facing four counts of Indecent Assault against three Teenage Girls that allegedly took place in the 70s and early 805. He had been appearing by video link but will appear in court in person when the trial resumes on monday. He denies all the charges against him. Some of the other stories making bbc news at 5 a man who drove a car along pavements in new yorks times square, killing a teenager and injuring 22 people, said he had heard voices, according to security sources. Richard rojas, a Us Navy Veteran who was previously arrested for drink driving, is now in custody. 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 0rmond, whos 61, will appear before magistrates in newcastle next month. A man has been charged with six counts of raping a child under the age of 13, following an investigation into Child Sexual Exploitation by Greater Manchester police. Osman ali, is due to appear before magistrates. Last november, stephen port was handed a whole life term in prison for murdering four men with lethal doses of a date rape drug. The former chef lured his victims to his east london flat before plying them with ghb. Police admitted there were missed opportunities to catch the killer sooner. Yet six months on, the independent Police Complaints commission has yet to interview any of more than a dozen officers involved, expressing frustration at the Situation Frustration and anger which is shared by the victims families, as Daniel Sandford reports. The graveyard in barking that was stephen ports Dumping Ground for three of the bodies of the four men he killed. His first victim was a 23 year old, and the last 25 year old. Theirfamilies 23 year old, and the last 25 year old. Their families have been waiting for an investigation by the independent elites Commence Commission into why detectives failed to spot there was a serial killer at work for so long. This week they told me their patience has run out. I dont feel that they are in control of the investigation at all. I think it is the Police Dictating to what stage it goes, what pace. That is disgusting. Stephen port used dating apps to lure the men to his Homecoming Events gave them a lethal doses of gh b. His first victim was found at the door of his flat. The others in oi the door of his flat. The others in 01 near the door of his flat. The others in or near the local churchyard in the next 15 months. The police were asked on numerous occasions of the deaths could be linked. The Ip Cc Investigation is designed to work out why detectives were so reluctant to connect them. But 20 months and not a Single Police officer has been questioned. The best explanation but further today is an argument between the ip cc and the Police Officers, the ip cc and the Police Officers, the Police Federation and their lawyers and the other side. 0ver the Police Federation and their lawyers and the other side. Over the amount of time it would take to go through the 7000 pages of evidence and 750 e mails. But why are the two fight and 750 e mails. But why are the two fight while the two sides argue the families get no closer to the truth. The ip cc deny there has been around saying its very frustrating, its disappointing, its like youre being let down all over again. |j think we all feel that. We know we wa nt think we all feel that. We know we want answers to this and the ip cc deb dragging their heels is not helping. The families really want to understand whether the mens murders we re understand whether the mens murders were misinterpreted because they we re were misinterpreted because they were gay 01 because were misinterpreted because they were gay or because of some other reason. They are worried the Police Officers memories will fade further if they are interviewed quickly. This is bbc news at 5 the headlines swedish prosecutors dropped their interest into Rape Allegations againstJulian Assange. Police here say he will be arrested on a lesser charge if he leaves the Ecuador Embassy in london. Labour attacks the conservative plans to mean attacks the conservative plans to m ea n test attacks the conservative plans to mean test Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners. Families of victims of the serial killer stephen port tell the bbc they are appalled at the progress of an inquiry into Police Failings surrounding the case. In sport, Maria Sharapova opts to ta ke in sport, Maria Sharapova opts to take out part in wimbledon qualifier rather than requesting a wild card. The former champion says she will go through a qualifier in which she must ring three matches to rip which the main draw. Arsene wenger future may be decided, they will finish outside the top four in the first over 20 years. And sprinter wins his fourth stage, he was the fastest finisher in To Trinity Take Stage 13. The overall leaders still held by two minutes. We will have more after half past five. President trump is starting the first foreign trip of his presidency. He leaves tonight for his eight day trip to the middle east and europe. Hell take in four countries starting in saudi arabia. 0ur security correspondent, frank gardner, reports from the saudi capital riyadh. The red carpets are out here for a visit like no other. President trump is coming to saudi arabia and his hosts have high expectations. Saudi officials tell me privately that this is ten times bigger than the last us president ial visit they had from barack 0bama. They are hoping it will reset the whole nation ship with washington, forming a combined front against the twin threats they see coming from iran and the so called islamic state. The invitation came from this march meeting in the white house with saudi Arabias Deputy Crown prince and defence minister. Under President Trump the us is drawing closer to saudi arabia and the gulf arab states. At this Press Conference i asked Foreign Minister what help he was expecting from washington in confronting iran . |j believe the president has made it very clear that irans violations of the Un Security Council resolutions related to Ballistic Missile isles must have consequences. The president has been very clear that irans support for terrorism also must have consequences. But saudi arabia has a Terrorism Problem of its own. Ever since 2003 it had to cope with home grown violent jihadists. Saudi specialforces trained by the us and britain have contained the problem but as President Trump prepares to develop a speech on the need to combat violent extremism i put it to an expert, is saudi arabia itself part of the problem . Saudi arabia clearly has a way to go in terms of how it is addressing domestic debate, domestic attitudes, attitudes in schools, in textbooks, and the fried is as well. It is clearly got a long way to go. There is a multiple strata is within the society, there is clearly a determination from elements within government and society to tackle this problem, conservatives who want to resist that change. So what, i asked these men, did they think about this president ial visit . Translation we welcome him to saudi arabia, his coming here is a great honour. With the daytime heat finally subsiding, more families and opinions started to come out. Our people like american products, very much, especially the movies. But we do new not like american policies. There are some rules and policies in particular that disagree with our religion. This is the problem. Saudi arabia is already celebrating this is it before it becomes. In view of President Trumps recent troubles, if it simply passes off normally that will bejudged if it simply passes off normally that will be judged a success. The South Of England is a conservative stronghold at this election, widely seen as prosperous and protected by Senior Ministers whose constituencies are in the region. But in areas with a high cost of living there are fears about the impact of cuts on those who rely on local services. Along the south coast there was also a strong leave vote. So could we see surprises . Bbc souths Political Editor Peter Henleyjoins us now from the isle of wight. Yes, this Little Island is actually the largest numbers of voters in the country, the biggest constituency, 110,000 people. They have tried several times to split it, each time they fight back. It is a beautiful place with a real island spirit. They agree about some things, disagree very strongly about others. 0n the one hand there are beautiful places like this breezy with tourists, bursting with innovation, and the other hand, where old industry has gone it can feel derelict and industry has gone. The politics goes in all sort of different ways as well. For a small place, there are some big contrasts on the isle of wight. Expensive yachts in cowes harbour, picture postcard villages, and a laid back lifestyle. But on an island, local issues, even the state of the roads, are what gets people talking. A lot of it is down to local situations and issues. Youll find you get a lot of people voting for local causes, schools, education, things that matter to them. Some of the problems are hidden. The Citizens Advice Centre has seen a Record Number of people getting into debt and using food banks. Job security isnt that good, and a lot of the work is seasonal. We are making sure people get their rights, so a lot of people arent getting their holiday pay, not getting sick pay when they are entitled to it. Cutbacks to the local Council Budget means they are less able to support an ageing population. They are increasingly seeing greater numbers of people who are struggling, really struggling, to either Access Services or to have enough money to live. That little strip of water separating the island from the mainland also brings a streak of defiance. 62 voted to leave in the referendum. Fisherman Pete Williams says he is being hammered by eu quotas. We didnt have a lot of options, really. Brexit was the only way we would get Something Better, it couldnt be any worse. Will you get that Something Better from theresa may . She has a difficultjob ahead. I think she seems to be the right person. She has taken hold of a difficult job and she is getting on with it. The island is a microcosm of a divided country. And at the Model Village in godshill, there are people yearning for some Old Fashioned certainty in turbulent political times. You have to feel confident about your leader. If you dont, it doesnt matter how much they say or what they offer in the manifesto, if you dont believe in them you wont vote for them. The younger ones didnt bother to vote. And come the result, it didnt go the way they wanted, come on, lets have another vote. Is that their lookout . Its their tough luck. People say you step back in time when you visit the isle of wight. But with Grammar Schools now on the political agenda and rail nationalisation, perhaps the Political Parties are just catching up on what the public wants. Combine that feeling of disconnection with real economic pressures and, at this political crossroads, you cant completely count on anywhere. So, the runners and riders in the contest here asa as a cross so much of the South Of England is between the conservatives with a Strong Majority and the rest. And that is the problem because there are many alternatives but no clear alternative to that conservative. Here is the whole list of candidates standing on the isle of candidates standing on the isle of white. There is growing support for greens. They tried to persuade labour and Liberal Democrats and the independent to give them a clear run, but they would not play ball. But ukip vote, where that goes, Island Stubbornness might suggest that it wont all go to the conservatives. The Norfolk Broads dont immediately spring to mind when you think of fine wine. But now a family run vineyard, has just beaten competitors from around the world, becoming the first in england to win one of the industrys top prizes. The bacchus 2015, from winbirri vineyards, has been selected the best white wine from a single grape variety. 0ur correspondent alex dunlop has been taking a look at the vineyard in surlingham in norfolk. This is a really charming little vineyard just outside norwich. These are embryonic grapes which hopefully over the summer into the autumn will ripen into this world class wine. This is it. Judges from the world wine award said it had a fresh and fruity nose and a harmonious body. Not bad for a little wine from a quiet corner of norfolk. Its just ten years since the dyer family decided there might be some potential for Planting Vines here on the edge of the Norfolk Broads. It turns out they were right. For while this seasons grapes are just starting to form, 2015s offering is now on everybodys lips. The first still english wine to win such a prestigious award. At the vineyard, while they are delighted, theyre not surprised. The qualitys been there. As english wine producers, we know weve been making world class wines, just now theyre coming forward and getting the recognition and getting known for the high quality that we can make them. Weve known it for a long time. Its just the fourth vintage of the single bacchuss grape varietal which winbirri has produced. Butjudges, among 200 who took part in the tastings, choose it over wines from around the world. Producers who have been doing for decades, if not centuries. 70,000 wines are entered into this competition, alljudged blind by International Experts from around the world, so to have picked up this award is quite, quite exceptional. Its a huge achievement. Englands sparkling wines have been winning awards for some time now and make up two thirds of the 5 million bottles produced here every year. Most are grown in kent and sussex. Now, with a worlds best award to its name, winbirri has firmly put east anglia on the wine producing map. So why has it done so well . It is down to a very dry climate and very careful managing of the vineyard and grapes, but most importantly it shows English Vineyards can and do produce world class wines. Time for a look at the weather heres sarah keith lucas. Weve had some heavy bursts of rain out there today and for some of us it is pretty welcome. There has been also some hail and thunderstorms particularly across parts of wales and southern england. Further north east we have more cloud and persistent rain affecting North Eastern parts of england and eastern scotland. Most of the heavy showers will fade through the evening and overnight, so many of us will start today and saturday on a largely gay, quite fresh note. We still have showers across the north east england and North Scotland for a time. Then elsewhere it is sunny spells and scattered showers, perhaps some thunderstorms. Sunglass ares one minute umbrellas the next. Sunday it looks like a better day of the weekend. If you have outdoor plans. Light winds, dry weather, still a chance of a few showers on sunday, particularly across the north west, but the south and east are warmer with temperatures up to 20 degrees. This is bbc news. The headlines. Swedish prosecutors have dropped their investigation into Rape Allegations againstJulian Assange. Mr assange, who remains inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in london, said he was prepared for dialogue with british and us authorities. Seven yea rs seven years without charge, why my children combru up without me, that is not something i can forgive. It is not something i can forgive. It is not something that i can forget. Labour have criticised conservative plans to means test Winter Fuel Payments. The shadow chancellor, john mcdonnell, said the change could affect ten million older people. The conservatives say that figure is guesswork. Families of victims of the serial killer stephen port tell the bbc they are appalled at the progress of an inquiry into Police Failings surrounding the case. Time for the latest sports news now with Lizzie Greenwood hughes. Good afternoon. Maria sharapova will not attempt to precure a wildcard for wimbledon instead opting to enter via qualifying. The former champion has relied on wildcards to play since returning to competition last month after a 15 month doping ban. She was denied a wildcard to the french open this week but her ranking allows her to enter wimbledon qualifying in which she needs to win three matches in a row to reach the first round. Arsene wenger is still keeping everyone guessing about his future as manager of arsenal. Its been a difficult season for wenger with his side likely to finish outside the top four for the first time in his 20 years at the club. His contract expires after the fa cup final next saturday when the board are expected to discuss his position. Arsenals final league match is at home against everton on sunday so that could be his last match at the emirates. Of the season, yes. Laughter ever . I can not tell you that. I think what is most important for us is to win the Football Game to play on sunday. After that, what happens to me is less important, i think. I am here to serve the club and the best way to do it is to win the next game. Meanwhile, lots of managers have been giving their final prematch News Conferences of the season. Jurgen Klopps Liverpool need to Beat Middlesbrough On Sunday to be sure of a top four finish. Regardless of the result, klopp says theyll be strengthening the squad during the summer. We we re we were working not only on the pitch, because as i said a few times, my day is 24 hours, i have a lot of good people around, we were working really hard and having a really good position for different players but its not a day about this, we want to make this team better. First of all it should be every year, probably, and i wanted to say its not that easy, because we have already a really good side and if our first we have already a really good side and if ourfirst11, we have already a really good side and if our first 11, 12, we have already a really good side and if ourfirst 11, 12, 13, 14, players are fit, then its its not full of players, 0k, they make us not full of players, 0k, they make us better immediately, but maybe there are a few out there and you can be sure we spoke to them. Cardiff blues are hoping to keep alive their hopes of a place in next seasons Champions Cup. Theyre taking on Stade Francais in the semifinal of the qualifying play offs. The blues are in control in paris with two quick fire tries. They lead 143. The winner will play either they lead 143. Northampton saints or Connacht Saracens captain brad barritt will miss tomorrows premiership semi final against exeter with a calf injury. Hes the only change to the fifteen that won the european Champions Cup last weekend. Barritt actually picked up the injury in the final. Duncan taylor comes in at Inside Centre to replace him. Some good news for 0spreys and the lions this summer, skipper Alun Wynjones is back for the pro 12 semi final at munster tomorrow. He hasnt played since picking up a Shoulder Injury in the six nations in march. The first of the semi finals between leinster and scarlets is tonight in dublin. Colombian sprinter Fernando Gaviria is continuing to impress at the giro ditalia winning his fourth stage of this years race today. By over two minutes. But it was all about the sprinters on stage 13 the last flat one before the race hits the mountains in the north of italy. Earlier today Mark Cavendish tweeted he was thankful that gaviria isnt competing in this years tour de france. Thats all sport for now. You can keep up to date with all those stories on the bbc sport website. We will have a round up at 6. 30pm with sportsday. Back now to our main story, the decision by swedish prosecutors to drop the Rape Investigation into Wikilea Ks Founder Julian Assange. Hes been in the Ecuadorian Embassy in london for around seven years where he claimed political asylum saying he feared extradition to the us to face charges over his work with wikileaks. A while ago he addressed journalists from the balance one. Today is an important victory for me and for the un human rights system. But it by no means erases seven years of detention without, in prison, under house arrest, and almost five years here in this embassy without sunlight. Seven years without charge, why my children grew up without me, that is not something that i can forgive. It is not something that i can forget. The move has been met with despair by some but welcomed by his supporters. Before entering the embassy, in breach of his bail conditions, he was hosted at this house by vaughan smith, a journalist and friend of mr assange. We can speak to mr smith now. He joins us via webcam from norwich. Good evening to you. Good evening, simon. He talks of a victory but its a pretty piraq one because he is still going nowhere. Yes, its a big move, its a victory in many ways, the case against him has collapsed. And it seems that unless the americans come in with an extradition, which of course is possible, perhaps even likely, there isa possible, perhaps even likely, there is a good chance he will be a free man again. You say the case has collapsed, its collapsed because they cant pursue it because he wont go to sweden. The woman who made the original allegation says that shes shocked by this. Well, no, her lawyers do, yes. Buti that shes shocked by this. Well, no, her lawyers do, yes. But i think its a little more complicated. Sure, there is a victim of injustice. But last year the United Nations Working Group For Arbitrary Detention determined mrassange was the victim and prosecutors had failed to prosecute. At best, either the woman has been denied justice or julian has been denied the opportunity to clear his name. The problem is he cantjust walk out because he has committed a crime in terms of skipping bail. You know that because you put the bail up in the first place. Yes, i am short 12 grand on that one and i doubt i am going to get it back. But i think the british authorities, the police have already said that theyre withdrawing the Police Observation of him, and theyre scaling it down. They acknowledge its a much lesser crime that is alleged. But also the United Nations as i come back to, a Working Group For Arbitrary Detention would entirely support his diplomatic, his diplomatic asylum that he got, so the fact that you know thats still a charge, i am sure that can be dealt with. Know thats still a charge, i am sure that can be dealt withm know thats still a charge, i am sure that can be dealt with. If he just walks out, he is arrested by police, goes to court, he faces a court on that charge of skipping bail, the maximum sentence is a year, he has effectively served that one way 01 year, he has effectively served that one way or another, why doesnt he risk it . Well, the we have to go back to why he got his Diplomatic Asylu M back to why he got his diplomatic asylum and why the un have supported that. He believes that this is political. He believes that the americans want him for his work at wikileaks which is entirely possible. In fact the reuters reported that is the case. U nfortu nately, reported that is the case. Unfortunately, he probably faces a greater problem with the americans than he ever had to deal with with the swedes. Something important has happened. We can now talk about whats really important in my view which is the treatment of Whistle Blowers, how we deal with Digital Security in our society. These are important issues that he brought to the fore. Theyre good arguments on both sides and thats where i think this should be going. The argument if you want to have those arguments, the best place is for him to face extradition to the United States and fight it. Yes, thats a decision for himself. If you look. Do you think he would consider that . I think if he thought that he would be treated fairly. The americans have been putting a lot of Whistle Blowers in prison recently. I think Donald Trumps been pretty unstable, at one point hes Cheered Julian and now at other points hes been rather rude. Its very unclear that he will be treated fairly in america. Interestingly, Chelsea Manning who of course was the person who provided he was a Whistle Blower Behind much of what assange was known to have put out has been released by 0bama. I think if he had guarantees, i have never thought that julian was if he had guarantees, i have never thought thatjulian was afraid of the argument. Vaughan smith, thank you very much for your time. 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. 0ur 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 rogue drones near the airport and light the runway at night. My initial reaction was sceptical because im used to being at an airport. They give the controller more information in terms of what they can see, what they can hear, how they can identify targets, how they can track targets. The awareness that the controller gets, its all about being heads up, theyre no longer looking down. A tower controllers job is we get paid to look out of the window, so it makes thatjob much easier. Now, i know exactly what youre thinking. The number one question ive been asked by everybody ive told about this is, what if the tv screens go down, what if the system is hacked . How secure is it . So, highly secure. The system has been independently stress tested by security specialists. We have three cables that are in place between the airport and swanwick, in the control centre. If one of those was to fail, theres a back up. And in the event that that fails, theres another cable. And theyre all routed, taking different routes between the airport and swanwick. London city is convinced the new system will make their operation more efficient and more safe. The idea of the control tower miles from the airport may seem odd, but it isnt far away. Richard westcott, bbc news. This is bbc news. The headlines. The wikileaks this is bbc news. The headlines. The Wikilea Ks Founder this is bbc news. The headlines. The wikileaks founderJulian Assange says its a victory for him that sweden has shelved a Rape Investigation but he says his legal conflict with britain and the United States continues. Labour attacks conservative ma nifesto pla ns Labour Attacks Conservative Manifesto Plans to Labour Attacks conservative ma nifesto pla ns to mea ns test Labour Attacks Conservative Manifesto Plans to means test Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners. Families of victims of the serial killer stephen port tell the bbc they are appalled at the progress of an inquiry into Police Failings surrounding the case. Hello. Coming up, we look ahead to a crucial final weekend in the Premier League for those teams trying to secure a top four spot and a place in next seasons champions league. Manchester city, liverpool and arsenal will all discover their fate. Theres promotion to be decided elsewhere and the hunt for silverware in rugby union with the premiership and pro12 semifinals on the way. And we will tell you why Maria Sharapova wont be needing a wildcard for this years wimbledon. Thats all on sportsday at 6. 30pm. Now on bbc news, its time for the film review. Hello and welcome to the film review on bbc news. To take us through this weeks Cinema Releases is mark kermode. Mark, what do we have this week . Its the definition of a mixed bag. We have king arthur, guy ritchies ta ke we have king arthur, guy ritchies take on the legend. We have a very drama set in tehran, called inversion. And colossal, anne hath away meets godzilla. Well, we start with king arthur. We saw in the brief clip there one David Beckham. We better start and just say is he an eric cantana . He isnt. This is guy ritchie taking on the legend, if you are old enough to remember 19805 novelty records, King Arthur Daly I5 not all right. Charlie is the young hero whose Wicked Unclejude Law has seized power, leaving him to grow up ducking and diving and he is keep ago low profile until David Beckham no less tells him to and i quote, he 5ay5, no less tells him to and i quote, he says, put ten fingers around the blunt end of that sword and give it a tug. He does, blimey, wouldnt you know it, it comes out. Next thing he i5 know it, it comes out. Next thing he is having to be answerable because it turns out he might be the rightful heir, here is a clip. Youve got the wrong man, sire. I was born in a brothel on a bridge in londinium. The sword can only be drawn by Uther Pendragon or his direct heir. You felt it, didnt you