russia's ambassador to turkey is shot dead. more turmoil and confusion for the middle east. andrey karlov was speaking at a public reception when he was shot in the back. at the scene, the gunmen show its support for syria. russia calls it a terrorist attack. we bring you the latest on this story. safe passage from the death and destruction of aleppo — they were bussed from the last rebel enclave — as the un calls for its observers to move in. government villages too... also tonight: a week of industrial action — postal workers are the latest to walk out, adding to the disruption already facing travellers. this is the deepest political regret of my time in this house. an opposition walk out at stormont as the first minister explains her role in a £400m scandal. and moving house — the firm hoping to build 20,000 flat—pack homes a year. could it help the housing crisis?

coming up in sport, england concede 759 the cleared and must bat for the final day to stop india winning the series 4—0. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. the russian ambassador to turkey, andre karl of, has been shot dead in the turkish capital. —— andrey ka rlov. the turkish capital. —— andrey karlov. he was speaking at a reception in an art gallery when the gunmen struck. he was heard shouting his support for the people of syria and comes at a highly sensitive time for the middle east. russia is supporting the government and turkey is backing the rebel forces. 0ur

diplomatic correspondent has the very latest. moments before the shooting, behind the ambassador, his assassin waits calmly, rising no suspicion. and then this. the audience scream. the gunman is shouting, he says, do not forget about syria. so long at these places are secure you will not taste security yourself. with the ambassador lying close by his killer shouts at the audience to stay back. get away, only death will take me from here. eventually, security forces intervene and the gunman is shot and killed. amid chaos at the art gallery, moscow is getting reports of what has happened to their ambassador. he was 62 and had

been a diplomat for a0 years. the ambassador to turkey since 2013. the foreign ministry in moscow confirmed the ambassador‘s death. it is a shocking blow to russia's relations with turkey, the countries backing opposite sides in syria's war, with turkey strongly opposed to president assad. 0ur turkey correspondent is in istanbul. reports are coming in even as we speak. i wonder if you can even as we speak. i wonder if you ca n fles h even as we speak. i wonder if you can flesh out any more details on this. events have moved fast. it happened two hours ago and within the last 30 minutes a confirmation that andrey karlov has succumbed to his injuries. we are getting reports that the gunman was a policeman in ankara, having shouted alluha akbar

and aleppo and revenge. the government of russia are calling this an act of terrorism. these governments are key players in the syrian crisis. what do you think could be the wider impact of this shooting? in recent weeks turkey has been making much of its political cooperation with russia after relations came closer together. there was wrap —— there was much play of cooperation with moscow and other brawls in the ceasefire of aleppo, evacuating citizens from the besieged areas. in public you will get turkey saying it will not throw them off course, they will continue with cooperation with moscow, but in private there will be statements to try to ali the anger many are

feeling towards moscow —— try to damp down. public hatred has very much spilled over to mate with tragic consequences. thank you very much. —— tonight. nearly 50 syrian orphans who were left stranded in the former rebel enclave in aleppo were among thousands of civilians who've been given safe passage out of the city today. convoys of buses have been leaving east aleppo, each has been packed with around a hundred people. the evacuation went ahead after government supporters were — in return — allowed to leave nearby areas besieged by the rebels. this report from our middle east editorjeremy bowen on the final stages of a battle that could mark a turning point in the syrian war. the evacuation of beaten fighters as well as civilians started in the early hours of the morning. it has been going more smoothly but is still tense and a small hitch could escalate swiftly into a big problem.

many residents were stranded outside waiting for evacuation. the displaced and distressed looking for warmth and safety have been a feature of every war but this is a crisis and all sites are using the internet. a7 orphans appealed for evacuation from east aleppo in a video posted online. we are afraid, we wa nt video posted online. we are afraid, we want to live like everybody else. the good news is they've got out and they are safe. this seven—year—old girl has been tweeting her fears about what has been happening. her mother, who organised the tweets, spoke of her sadness that they have left their home and their relief that they are safe. the evacuation has been so difficult to arrange because of all the factors that made

the war in syria so hard to solve. it is notjust a deal between those who support the regime and don'ts, it is because foreign powers have intervened, have their own rivalries that go above and beyond the war. in new york the un security council passed a resolution calling for monitors to watch over what is happening and proper access for humanitarian aid in aleppo. it may be too little too late. it is not clear how soon it can be implemented, if at all. right now, it's an important step that i think a couple days ago people would not have thought the russian federation would have allowed to go through the council, but until it is implemented it is just council, but until it is implemented it isjust a council, but until it is implemented it is just a piece of paper. it isjust a piece of paper. the syrians, closely allied with russia, are deeply suspicious of western motives. we oppose the attempts of some member states to draft and submit under humanitarian cover a crafty and vague terms that tolerate

more than one interpretation with the intention of exploiting these resolutions to achieve hidden agendas. the evacuation from aleppo is happening because another set of busesis is happening because another set of buses is being allowed to evacuate another group of civilians from pro—regime villages besieged by rebels. all this is not the endgame for the war. many crises lie ahead but in the sixth year of bloodshed there is still no coherent response that brings things any closer. a strike by post office workers has shut down about fifty big branches around the country today. the members of the communication workers union join staff at british airways and southern rail who are either on strike or planning to do so in the days before christmas. the government said the strikes

showed contempt for ordinary people. postal workers brought a special delivery for the government today. 0utside delivery for the government today. outside the department for business, mail bags containing 70,000 postcards backing a campaign to fight closures of flagship post offices. the dispute has been running for months but the five days of strikes this week represent a major escalation. we are defending postal services across the uk. the very future of high street post offices are under threat. the government are lining up to make further announcements to close more high street post offices. this dispute has been going on for months but the timing of the industrial action is designed to put maximum pressure on the post office. this is the busiest week for handling parcels and letters. but there doesn't appear to be much christmas cheer elsewhere, with another number

of unions calling christmas strikes. holiday getaway could be hit with baggage handler is set to strike on friday and saturday, which could affect some regional airports. thousands of cabin crew are also planning industrial action on christmas day and boxing day. british airways insists it will run a full service. and the months of misery for southern rail passengers continues as a00 conductors began a a8—hour walk—out. should trade union powers be curbed ? a8—hour walk—out. should trade union powers be curbed? there is certainly a growing appetite in parliament and public to do something. we fully respect the right to strike but it needs to be proportional and i believe they have been abusing the power as trade unions and some steps are needed. 2016 has seen a jump are needed. 2016 has seen ajump in the number of working days lost to

strike. at 300,000, it is up 50% on the previous year. but compared to the previous year. but compared to the 70s and 80s, strikes are at historically low levels. we are talking about a tiny number of disputes that we hope can be resolved. what do you say to members of the public who see these strikes and think, what are the unions playing at? i feel enormous sympathy for the public and i really regret the disruption, as do the unions, who feel they have no alternative but to take this last resort. dozens of city centre post offices were closed today including this one in glasgow, but the vast majority remained open and the action is set to continue until christmas eve. the head of the international monetary fund has been convicted over a contentious payment made to business tycoon — but escaped any form of punishment. christine lagarde authorised the award in 2008, but the court decided againstjail or a fine because the money has

since been recovered. the justice secretary thejustice secretary liz the justice secretary liz truss thejustice secretary liz truss has ordered an enquiry into a major disturbance which took place on friday at birmingham prison. she confirmed that 380 inmates had been moved from the prison and admitted levels of violence in prisons were too high but said many of the problems were long—standing and would take time to solve. there were chaotic scenes at the northern ireland assembly today, as politicians from most of the main political parties walked out of the chamber as the first minister arlene foster was preparing to make a statement. she's under huge pressure over her involvement in a botched heating scheme that's expected to go hundreds of millions of pounds over budget. 0ur ireland correspondent chris buckler is at stormont for us tonight. iam taking i am taking no points of order at this stage in the proceedings.

northern ireland's first minister arlene foster went to stormont today to try to grasp control of a financial mess. but instead, there we re financial mess. but instead, there were chaotic scenes with opposition parties walking out and the dup's partner in government, sinn fein, notable by their absence. technically, an official statement does need the support of the deputy first minister, martin mcguinness. but sinn fein‘s politicians were outside the chamber, deliberately distancing themselves from a botched energy scheme that is likely to cost stormont hundreds of millions of pounds. we need to establish all the fa cts pounds. we need to establish all the facts and know who benefited from this field scheme. the first minister should stand aside to allow the investigation to take place. the controversial renewable heat incentive scheme worked like this.

for every £1 of fuel the company uses they are paid £1 60. that was to encourage them to buy environmentally friendly boilers. because initially there were limits it is expected to be £a00 million over budget over the next 20 years. the bbc has seen a confidential report which says the mistakes in its design have allowed companies to abuse the scheme. there is evidence of some firms heating buildings just to make a profit. it was launched under the watch of the current first minister who was then enterprise minister. i'm sorry the scheme did not contain cost control measures and there were fundamental flaws in its design. this is the deepest political regret of my time in this house. after their brief walk-out, stormont‘s other parties returned to the assembly to debate a motion of no—confidence the first minister.

the assembly to debate a motion of no-confidence the first minister. we are, collectively, a laughing stock. apologies were replaced by anger. the tone of this debate is not fitting of what the public mood is, and the debate so far is a disgrace to this house. the motion of no confidence was always going to feel because it needed the support of unionists but the fiery exchanges show that the scandal of this scheme could cause problems for stormont. our top story this evening. russia's ambassador to turkey has been shot dead in ankara — moscow is calling it a terror attack. and still to come... and a treble for murray as he wins sports personality of the year. coming up on sportsday on bbc news, merseyside monday as ronald koeman and jurgen klopp go head—to—head as everton host local rivals, liverpool. six months since the referendum,

theresa may has been updating mps on her discussions with eu leaders about britain's departure from the european union. she says she wants a "smooth and orderly exit" from the eu. and her comments come as people in communities up and down the country reflect on what brexit will bring for them and the divisions that the vote exposed. in the first of three reports this week, our special correspondent ed thomas has been gauging the mood, in coventry and warwick. for some, it's all a bit too slow. especially in the west midlands, the most eurosceptic area in the uk. here, even the cities wanted out of europe. in coventry, many who voted for change six months ago now feel a

sense of frustration and mistrust. all i feel is that our vote is a waste of time. and you voted to leave? yeah. have you got any faith in the politicians to get it right? i think they are clap, the government is a joke to be perfectly honest with you. i don't think brexit will go the way we wanted to, either. and what about coventry's new minority, those who wanted to stay in the eu? has time he'll divides. i am deeply disturbed by it, i really am. it is not the country i thought i lived in. sunday was a great opportunity in brexit, do you not see that? now, i see nothing, it is a black, nasty future. this part of coventry is one of the most deprived in england and desperately needs more jobs. of the most deprived in england and desperately needs morejobs. many look to small businesses like this for work, but already the brexit

vote is having an effect. that machine over there is £1 million. it has just had machine over there is £1 million. it hasjust had £200,000 added to it. if we buy a new machine, it has got 20% on it, and it is made in vergeer —— in germany. 20% on it, and it is made in vergeer -- in germany. how serious is that? a lot. and consider this is a boss who voted to leave. it was that meant more to him than pounds. and you still think it was the right decision to leave? yes. even if it costs you your business you think it is the right thing to do? yes. and what next for this lady, a polish work in the uk, a single parent now trying to answer her daughter's questions. i just trying to answer her daughter's questions. ijust said to her if we have to leave, then we leave. what's that like for a mother, having to say that to a child? i know it's not

easy for me, and it will not be easy for her, especially for her. move away from coventry and had to warwick. a historic town, and the only place in the west midlands to boat remain. —— to vote remain. six months on, is brexit any sweeter?‘ lot of people have been listening to a lot of anti—european and racist rhetoric, and some people who look back afterwards and saw what they had done may have actually thought twice if they had known what was going to happen. is that not a bit unfair? i do think so. if it happened again i think the result might be quite different. here, though, there was also optimism even when patient is being tested. all the while we are tidy —— tardy and we hang back we're losing great opportunities. the government never promised a rush and today said brexit is on course and will be a

success. a brief look at some of the day's other other news stories... a man, aged 101, has been jailed for 15 years at birmingham crown court for historical sex offences against children. ralph clark is believed to be the oldest person in british legal history to be convicted of a crime. he'd admitted nine charges and was found guilty of 21 others. the welsh government has been granted powers to change its own income rates, after a deal struck with westminster. the change, that'll come into effect in april 2019, will also see its borrowing cap double. and american broadcaster has used a photo of a seizing ed miliband to illustrate a new story about flu. mr miliband has yet to comment. the shortage of affordable housing is one of the biggest issues facing britain, and modular housing —

where homes are pre—fabricated, then quickly installed on site — has been touted as one solution. today, plans were announced to build six factories in england that could produce 22,000 homes a year. behind the venture is an investment of £2.5 billion, from china, as our home editor mark easton reports. it's a house on the back of a lorry, turning heads in derbyshire today, but in what is hailed as a game changerfor britain's but in what is hailed as a game changer for britain's housing sector, massive new investment in factory built homes may mean this will soon be as unremarkable as a cement mixer on a building site. £2.5 billion of chinese investment in six british factories producing 25,000 modular houses like these every year. that is the deal announced today. in their factory built offices in warrington, one of the uk partners in thejoint venture says the factory built homes will cost less than half of what it takes to build a traditional brick house. currently in this country to build property it is usually about £1000 a

square metre. 0nce our plans are up and running it will come down to about £a00 per square metre, a massive quantum shift in our ability to provide affordable housing. the running cost of these houses because they are highly energy efficient will be reduced by 75%. cost and availability of land will still be a factor but if the consortium can deliver on their promise, something like one new british house in every six or seven won't be built on a building site but in a factory. in the jargon, today's announcement is said to be "sector disruptive", changing the uk housing market forever. the billions in new investment come from the china national building company based in beijing. theirfactory made homes areafamiliar beijing. theirfactory made homes are a familiar feature beijing. theirfactory made homes are a familiarfeature in beijing. theirfactory made homes are a familiar feature in the beijing. theirfactory made homes are a familiarfeature in the far east may have seen an opportunity to expand the business to the uk. six factories are planned across britain, one in scotland, another in south wales and cornwall dotted

around england. 1000 morejobs and a boost for suppliers, including britain's steel industry. if we are going get this country to build the homes we need we need to make maximum use of their —— modern methods of construction, but also homes can be built much more quickly. in britain, we tend to associate factory made homes with cheap and drafted post—war prefab plural fackrell but 20% troop modular homes are very different, designed to be aspirational places to live. these factory made homes being launched in south london are seven to the kind of product the new factories will produce. residents say they love them. i invited my friends to say come and see, they said wow, is this your house? it is very spacious. i did not expect it, properly soundproofed, i live on the high street and you can hardly hear any noise. some might question why britain needs chinese investors to solve its housing crisis, but if

actions match the words, today may go down as the day when british homes no longer meant bricks and mortar. football's world governing body, fifa, has fined the football associations of england, scotland, northern ireland and wales for displaying poppies during world cup qualifying games last month. england was given the biggest penalty — more than thirty—five thousand pounds. the world governing body the foot regards the poppy as a political symbol, something that is banned. the fa has said it intends to appeal. it's been a year in which he won wimbledon, claimed olympic gold, and became the world number one. and now andy murray's become the first person to win sports personality of the year for the third time. he described 2016 as "an amazing year" for both him and british sport. andy swiss reports. andy murray! 0ne

andy murray! one final victory for perhaps 2016 fozz schmid winner, so what has become the secret to andy murray's sensational year? tactic ts, murray's sensational year? tactic ‘s, technique? the answer lies closer to home. back in february, he and his wife kim became parents to baby sofia, a moment, which changed his mind said. family is the most important thing. when i win tournaments, it's really nice, it is a great feeling, but i'm still there and looking forward to getting back to see my wife. when i lose, i'm down, obviously, but it'sjust not as drastic as it was before. and i feel like that has helped my tennis a lot. the last six months on the court has been the best of my career. 0mid reading he's there! his wimbledon triumph back injuly proved the start of a remarkable success story. andy murray is a

double olympic gold medallist!‘ string of trophies took him all the way to the world number one spot. murray now says he is looking forward to spending christmas with his mum, even if the presence may not be particularly exciting. she a lwa ys not be particularly exciting. she always struggles a bit with presents, but we are always get in our stocking, we get what is now i think a £2 coin, it used to be 50p. a couple of tangerines, and then the usual stuff, socks, pants. but that is about the only ordinary thing about his extraordinary year. undoubtedly the christmas 11. andy swiss, bbc news. nice one. time for a look at the weather. here's thomaz schafernaker. in the run—up to christmas the weather will change its children. we had a spell of settled weather and now things will be developing across the atlantic at a rate of knots. i will show you first the jet stream, which will be roaring out of the

united states across the north atlantic, making a beeline in the direction of the uk. all of these ripples of a jet screamed tend to spin up areas of low pressure below. there is one nasty low here around about christmas eve, and then during christmas there will be another one from behind me developing heading our way. so now is the time just to have in the back of your mind that during the christmas period, things will turn quite unpleasant as far as the weather goes across the uk. but in the short term it is a lot quieter. so across england and wales, this evening and tomorrow, not talking about any bad weather yet. there will be some mist and fog around and some drizzle but that is it. across scotland and northern ireland it is a different story, a touch of frost. it has been a clear end to the day. clear night, frosty morning. these are the gales in the north, they will be pushing this weather front through in that election of scotland and northern ireland, so we are in for some rain here, a bit of sunshine developing

across england and wales. that last calm day, if you like. and then from tuesday night and certainly through wednesday, gale force winds that are really ramping up in the atlantic, they will push this first weather front through. this is a cold front. hide it comes a shot of cold air. we get some snow showers across the hills of scotland and then some sunshine as well stop gale force winds midweek. still for a time relatively mild across the south, and then from thursday, friday, saturday into sunday, the weather is just going to go up and down, up and down. remember it could be even disruptive. we did not want to hear that. that is all from us. now on bbc one begin joined the bbc‘s news teams where you are. goodbye. this is bbc news. the headlines. russia's ambassador to turkey has been shot dead. at the scene, the gunman shouted his support for syria and the people of aleppo. russia, which backs the syrian

government in the civil war, has called the shooting a terrorist attack. evacuations in syria are underway again from east aleppo in government held areas, including nearly 50 orphans brought to safety after being trapped for months workers at main post office branches have been on strike today, at the beginning of a week that will see baggage handlers at airports, staff on southern rail, and some cabin crew at british airways, also walk out. the very future of high street post offices are under threat. we know the government and