this is bbc news, the headlines at 6:30pm. the first visit by a british foreign secretary to russia in five yea rs foreign secretary to russia in five years finish with accusations of lying. there were hopes of meeting borisjohnson lying. there were hopes of meeting boris johnson and the lying. there were hopes of meeting borisjohnson and the russian minister would repair relations but they ended in disagreement. russian attem pts they ended in disagreement. russian atte m pts to they ended in disagreement. russian attempts to interfere in our elections and referendums, whatever they may have been, have not been successful. i think you've made all this up in your western community and you're hostage to this subject. it's very difficult for you to climb down from the fence now. after catalan separatist parties win a majority in the snap elections — spain's prime minister says he will talk to whoever takes over the the regional government. supermarket in skipton. tributes have been paid to a woman stabbed to death in an aldi supermarket in skipton. a 44—year—old man is being questioned on suspicion

of murder ofjodie willsher. now on bbc news it's time for sportsday. hello and welcome to sportsday. hello i'm olly foster at the bbc sports centre, here's what's coming up on sportsday this evening. the festive fixtures are upon us, who'll be top of the tree and who's next for the sack? it's not always the season of goodwill. it's a blue christmas for england's cricketer‘s but one player could be ready to make his mark in melbourne. and driving home for christmas, and hooking and slogging. records tumble in india's t20 win against sri lanka. good evening, for many of you, your christmas break has started but if you can call it work, this is the busiest time of the year for a professional footballer.

for the next fortnight, most teams in the top five divisions will be cramming in five matches. averaging a game every three or four days, and it all starts tonight at the emirates, arsenal against liverpool, and there for us is conor mcnamara withjermainejenas. we are looking forward to arsenal versus liverpool tonight, were the last time these sides play each other on a friday night was 1989, the title up for grabs but it's not up the title up for grabs but it's not up the the title up for grabs but it's not s the title up for grabs but it's not up the gaps for these two but the kind of no little title race will be tethered to get in the top four. not for both of them? i actually thought at the start of the season between liverpool, arsenal and tottenham for the fourth spot, and it's panning out exactly that way. they came to life for both of them, they are going tojudo life for both of them, they are going to judo right life for both of them, they are going tojudo right now in the league. liverpool of the back of

some to pointing results, they picked up that result that will bring up here in confidence. they have scored so many goals away from home, how will arsenal cope without? they will struggle. the good thing about arsenal is they steadily picking up points. it hasn't been fla m boya nt picking up points. it hasn't been flamboyant at times as arsenal fans would like but they've been getting those wins, the big win away at burnley was the huge one. they didn't follow that up with manchester united but again, died in a bit ofa manchester united but again, died in a bit of a dog—eared kind of display, not one i think the fans expected but they got the win. they might struggle tonight against this formidable front line. i probably said that about most teams if i'm honest with you, against liverpool. there's a lot of space out there, it's a beautiful pit and the way liverpool like to play, i think both

teams will have a high—scoring game. jurgen klopp‘s team will have scored more goals against arsenal than any other club saint is good english. it will be interesting to how it goes, to 7:45pm tickle, liverpool away from home at arsenal. what i start to the premier league fixture list. john bennett our football reporter hasjoined us. john bennett our football reporter has joined us. that john bennett our football reporter hasjoined us. that gets john bennett our football reporter has joined us. that gets us going at the emirates against opel, should be a great match the night. then tomorrow, wow, nine premier league fixtures, really packing the men over the next couple of weeks. from 12:30pm at goodison park over to manchester united. christmas has come early for football fan. as a a big—time 1a seconds can you think about who has the toughest run. i played leicester have it tough, they have four games in the space of 230 hours, manchester united said the

conduct of their own research and they say they have fewer rest days, six than any other team, so they are not happy. manchester city have it slightly easier than a number of their rivals at the top of the table but busy time. we will hone in on those, but managers are groaning. they shrugged their shoulders and get on with it though. but here from some of the managers talking about bracing themselves for this christmas kick—off. it's something you get on with comic you learn to do it. as a player, you play two games over three days, or how it's working. it wasn't always that nice. but if you're a professional footballer, you understand if you come to play in this country you want when hear, pa rt this country you want when hear, part of the tradition is that we play over christmas and new year. we trust each other. the team. we are doing. of course we are in a position where the ambition is to be as high as possible. and of course,

we know we need to win this period but we have to play and it's not a problem. we've suddenly been hit probably at the worst time of the huge amount of games and we have a lot of bodies in the treatment room, so lot of bodies in the treatment room, so it's not ideal but it is what it is, but we hope none of them are too serious and they can play a part. we know who is going to be top come christmas day and years, we can look at the top of the table but it's the bottom of the table where there could be all sorts of movement around the next week and a half. it's a dogfight down there. a lot of rivals play each other, some great games on saturday at the bottom. swa nsea games on saturday at the bottom. swansea city just sacked games on saturday at the bottom. swansea cityjust sacked paul clement, taking on crystal palace who have had a bounce since sacking their manager and bigging who have had a bounce since sacking their managerand bigging in who have had a bounce since sacking their manager and bigging in lee hodson, is now eight games unbeaten for crystal palace, fabulous win last weekend against leicester city,

3-0 last weekend against leicester city, 3—0 victory. theirfirst last weekend against leicester city, 3—0 victory. their first away victory of the season, they have kept three clean sheets away from home ina kept three clean sheets away from home in a row, roy hodgson has really got them strengthened at the back and they look good going forward with wilfried zaha and christian benteke. and the caretaker role at swansea, he looked frightened, rabbit in the headlights talking yesterday after the sacking of paul clement. let's hear what he has to say about the job he has. i think you'll get respect because they know i've been here long time. ijust they know i've been here long time. i just need to they know i've been here long time. ijust need to get a bit of confidence back in the team. maybe some clarity, just make things clear for the players, and does try and get them back up the table, the confidence back, it's been difficult, you can see it in the games they have played, it is low. but it's down to me, the staff and eve ryo ne but it's down to me, the staff and everyone involved in the football clu b to everyone involved in the football club to get the players back and get the results. it's the third christmas in a row

where this one theology by new manager. they had an incredible turnover. there's the maths for leon britton and swansea fans four points adrift. they were in 19th last christmas, not rock bottom level with hold who went down and paul clement rescued them. they have been some great escapes, it can be down. this was the famous one. west brom kubica be done. the first team to be bottom at christmas and survive. 2—1 against portsmouth on the final amazing scenes at the hawthorns. then sunderland did it as well. they called it a miracle, beating the likes of chelsea and manchester united and finished 14th with a game to spare. another team but at christmas that survived, leicester city, who then in the next season went on to win the premier league title. so it can be done but it is going to be so difficult for swa nsea. going to be so difficult for swansea. they lost some key players in the similar gylfi sigurdsson and

fernando llorente. a feeling that luck has run out for swansea this season? another fixture that really stands out is spoke. a lot of reports wafting around the mark use has one more match to save hisjob. that's against west bromwich. who are also in trouble. it felt that the town said turned against him, —— fa ns the town said turned against him, —— fans turned against him, many empty seats at the end, mark hughes was booed off the pitch. five defeats in six games for stoke, if they lose this game surely he'll be borrowed time. at the moment the owner peter coates is standing by him. west brom and adam party have not won in 16 league games. fixed mother and alan pardew. but marcuse says every thing ok. the longer it goes on the more difficult it gets that from my point of view i don't sense any apprehension about where we are. and apprehension about where we are. and a discreet better than anybody else. i know we have the capabilities of picking up points prior to the west

ham game, like—for—like results, we are still ahead of the game. crucial down at the bottom, here is west ham versus news castle, west ham have had a bit of a bounce and david moyes grizzard defeat in the league but before a great victory against chelsea. great victory against chelsea. great victory against stoke, but newcastle have not won in nine games, rafa benitez has two save it, and the takeover talk is not helping things. letter to the top of the table. manchester city, sitting pretty at the top. but united trying to keep pace. manchester city chasing a record over the festive period, the top—flight in europe is 19, they could break it if they keep winning and beat watford on the 2nd of january. look out for that. burnley:

my word, they are knocking on the champions league places. this time last season just above the relegation zone. an important match at home to spurs. they came for both sides, who would've thought this would be sixth versus seventh talking permian tottenham. burnley joint best defence in a they have a tough christmas. nestling james tarkowski for three matches, an u nwa nted tarkowski for three matches, an unwanted christmas break. looking at it, it is one of the toughest festive fixtures of any team. totte n ha m festive fixtures of any team. tottenham looking to bounce back after defeat against man city. let's hear from sean dyce. we're not getting carried away, we are enjoying it for the fans are enjoying it but there is a reality, we know every game is important when the next is most important, we focus on that. in the bigger picture, i'm happy that we are in a better position than what we were. year—on—year, everything keep edging forward , year—on—year, everything keep edging forward, it's not easy to make massive strides in the premier

league but if we keep edging forward from its a really good sign of progress. everyone likes a pat on the back sometimes, and it's about on the back from outside. sometimes people are linking not much with evidence but that happened. but we see beyond that, i get on with my work, or i enjoy what we do at the challenges, there are plenty of them, but we are aligned with the challenges to the board, the chief exec: myself, 13, these document it all comes together to understand the challenges we are taking on. john, thank you for your thoughts as we look ahead to the festive fixtures. john is with us on our programme at 630 plom tomorrow where we react to all those results. scotla nd scotland are looking to their christmas break. rangers are giving their manager tony end of the season. joe marler today and tomorrow celtic brendan rodgers wa nts to tomorrow celtic brendan rodgers wants to be ten points clear, that

depends how they get on tomorrow against aberdeen in second place. if the dons get the win there'll only be ten points behind. —— two points behind. we wa nt we want to go to centre tomorrow being our best, we know that. we have players that can do that. we have players that can do that. we have a squad to call upon, we have the best chances to put the game forward , the best chances to put the game forward, we've done a lot of work into that and we'll make sure we use that confidence from the last three performances and go in the game looking to get that win. the fee the corruption trial is going to close in new york. three charged with racketeering, money—laundering and demel collection. the verdict supplying food alive to new york. —— the verdicts are coming through, live to new york now. breaking news in brooklyn in the last few minutes,

inside this courthouse. partial verdict delivered in this case. it involves three of the biggest names in south american football, the most powerful men in world football at one stage, the former head of the brazilian football confederation has been found guilty on six out of the seven counts he faced for general fraud and bribery charges. another was the former head of konnor role the confederation which ran the ball in south america, guilty on three out of five of the similar charges that he faced. the head of deep ruby and victim of a peruvian fa faced a charge of racketeering, the jury will go away and continued their deliberations. the big test for the us prosecutors, they start of the press is back in may 2015th with the dramatic dawn raids in may 20 15th with the dramatic dawn raids and zero, fifa officials being

efficient arrested. since then they've tried to pursue the investigation, it's beenin to pursue the investigation, it's been in court for the last five league and the joy has come back in the last few minutes, delivering guilty verdicts partly against the three defendants. one count still to come. thank you for the latest on the fifa corruption trial. more on bbc news this evening. let's move away from the football... the ashes are lost and now england's cricketer‘s have to avoid the whitewash. that's happenned twice in the last ten years. they are in melbourne ahead of the boxing day test and mason crane could make his test debut, at 20 years old, he would become the youngest specialist spinner to make his debut for england since 1927. he has been speaking to test match special‘s simon mann... i feel excited. i think a lot of ha rd

i feel excited. i think a lot of hard work has gone into it, and hopefully it will be a start of a longerjourney if it happened. i've heard nothing, same as the previous three tests, i will train hard and prepare as a fun game to play and hatefully i get a go. —— hopefully i'll get a go. when you last playing clu b i'll get a go. when you last playing club cricket at sheffield, did you think there was a chance at being involved in the boxing day test match? not at all, it never crossed my mind. i like to kind of live in the that moment i was worried about the that moment i was worried about the next game, it never crossed my mind last year. as we got closer it became more of a reality. it's not just about bowling, you've got to that as well, tell us about your batted. i don't really enjoy batting, i like to think i've been better than i have been in the last couple of years with the bat, i'm working at all times, you have to

concentrate on everything with batting and fielding, so i work on everything. australia hope wicketkeeper tim paine will be able to play in the fourth test despite delaying his arrival in melbourne due to family reasons. they haven't called up a replacement yet. but they are likely to need cover for mitchell starc. the leading wicket taker in the series has a heel injury. as they target a 5—0 win, peter handscombe, who could keep wicket in melbourne, and who played with england captain joe root at yorkshire, expressed some degree of sympathy for the tourists. obviously i feel forjoe but on the flip side we are not going to win this ashes 5—0 and we said that from the start. we are going on the right track but it is tough forjoe, his second or third series as captain of his country and i dare say he would be feeling the pressure at the moment. he's a smart cricketer. he has a good head on his shoulders and he will bounce back with his team as well. a slight change of pace now,

india's rohit sharma has equalled the fastest century in t20 history. he reached three figures in just 35 balls against sri lanka. his second 5010 of 12 balls. the same as south africa's david miller. he was eventually out for 118... india is 260—5 of the t20 record. they won by 88 runs to take the series. they have a game to spare. there is a big game at the bottom of the aviva premiership this evening as worcester host london irish. irish are six points adrift at the foot of the table so will be desparate for a win to stay in touch with warriors who are second bottom. to bea to be a team that can compete to be a top 16 in that competition, if that's what you intend to be, then

you have to live with those expectations, do have to be consistent in your performance and we haven't been. and i'm the first to admit that. that's probably the biggest challenge. we know we are a good rugby team on our day, we can play some good rugby, but we need to do it more consistently, if we are going to climb up the table. although fixtures are zig zag at all the fixtures are on the website. glasgow bursar ‘s edinburgh should bea glasgow bursar ‘s edinburgh should be a good match. let's return to football now, barcelona are six poinst clear at the top of la liga, but atletico madrid and valencia are their nearest rivals, real madrid are 11 points off the top in fourth. el clasico is always highly charged but as ronaldo and messi prepare to lock horns once again, in the current political climate, there could be even more at stake in tomorrow's match. joe lysnkey reports chance for ronaldo! they are the

superstars who do find that era, the players on each side of the book was not the greatest game. with messi emma naldo, fans tend to pick a side but in spain now, there are great divisions. this is the first el classico since october's band independence referendum. it comes just days since catalonia went to the polls. among the voters was gerard pique from barcelona, a prize asset for brazil beaten and spain. translation: to be able to vote historically has not always been possible in this country. now it is, we have to defend that always. this isn't a rivalry used to bringing sides together but football sometimes can heal some of the wounds. this comes after the election that took place yesterday. that situation was hot in both sides, more in catalonia but at this

week, everyone feels more relief and everyone wants to focus on sport. this will be common ground, at peace for everybody and of course, barcelona will want to win this game because this is a big step for la liga. with the tension now on the pitch, rail have turned to british roots. the greatest game requires the greatest aid and labour call blackpool professor paul burgess the best groundsman honour. the madrid is the dream surrey the pitch will be in great condition notjust the real madrid but for barcelona. ill bea real madrid but for barcelona. ill be a nice pitch and the best team will win. it is past to let barcelona dominating at present, they lead real madrid by 11 points. those points won't fix everything but the joys both can share. on saturday the world's eyes turn to

madrid to see the superstars. now, what could be simpler than running, surely the most pure and natural of all athletic disciplines. but not for those those with visual impairments. loughborough university has developed a running line, to help children, allowing them to run safely without the need for a guide. gemma collis—mccann reports. i have only 5% vision so i can't see anything straight ahead.“ i have only 5% vision so i can't see anything straight ahead. if you can imagine pulling your to fist in front of your face that's how i see the world. tim is a former paralympic champion in the 800 metres and has competed in four paralympic games in new zealand. he lost the majority of his functional site 88. and they reliant on familiarities, and very boring as a runner, i run the same course once or twice a week. that gives you the confidence that and there were ongoing. ona confidence that and there were ongoing. on a sunny day like today, ifi ongoing. on a sunny day like today, if i was to run and go through a shady past, i would be in complete

darkness so there's a lot of apprehension when i run on a sunny day. just 11.596 of people with little impairments are involved —— physical activity. less than any disability group. but at last design school they want to change that. the defender running line they hope will get visually impaired children up and running. when you see somebody use it for the first time you really appreciate how we benefit them. children blind from birth have no perception of running, jumping, hopping and skipping. they get all their information about the outside world through their feet. and they don't want to let go of their world through their feet. we allow them to be supported by the line. the line features a dumbbell shaped handle which allows visual impaired children to easily feel for themselves where to hold on. tambourine buffers abridge the end of the line and springs health and

slowdown in the final five metres.|j think it gives me a lot more confidence. because i won't have to rely on anyone to guide me all the time. it was a little scary the first and knowing when i'm going to hit the bell but after that sort, it's good actually cook as you know where your running. my brother and sister really enjoyed it.|j where your running. my brother and sister really enjoyed it. i think it helped them understand that this is what it is like not to see and the running line is really did. getting it into schools will not only have a positive for young people with visual impairment but also an level it will give all young people an opportunity to maybe experience something different. though it doesn't allow cornering, it can set distances of up to 100 metres giving visually impaired children free rein to run like they never have before. the boxerjordan reynolds has had a fantastic year, he's became british amateur champion last week and hopes to fight at next yea r‘s commonwealth games.

three years ago he was working as a baggage handler at luton airport. the secret of his rise to prominence in the ring — it could be dancing. jordan reynolds love a big entrance. but few bowling boxers do it to glenn miller. jordan dances to escape the pressures of the rings only talented into the charleston in luton town centre in the run—up to christmas. and he said yes. luton town centre in the run—up to christmas. and he said yeslj luton town centre in the run—up to christmas. and he said yes. i feel more nervous than multi—into a boxing ring to have a fight. but it's about challenging yourself, taking yourself out of your comfort zone, it's good to come to your hometown, i'm looking to but luton on the map whether it's boxing dancing. what do you think is

dancing, how can dancing help him become a better boxer? fast feet, you have to have our street when you're dancing. exit more athletic. you need to be fit, don't you? his family are often roped into a step around the kitchen, just ask mum debbie. he loves it. he's relaxing, but before it used to be boxing and the gym but now he has something to focus on. the whole family is proud, everybody at work, everybody in luton is behind him. we first met jordan three years ago, a baggage handler at luton airport who quit school and escaped a drug and gang culture, forced to leave home at 18 to start all over again. this month, he became gb champion and the commonwealth games and olympics are one step eyelid back to see where i've come from. i stay humble because you

never know something could go wrong, imight never know something could go wrong, i might have to go back again. we area i might have to go back again. we are a long way. it's just the beginning. give him a stage and he'll put on a show. jordan reynolds, the dancing boxer. that's all from sportsday. arsenal and liverpool team news coming in, they're both going for it, should be some goals, the kick off in the next hour. whatever sport you are following, have a great weekend. have a great christmas to, good night. hello. more likely to be a credible killing micro grey white one. overnight are overnight tonight, cloudy and grey skies, the wind is picking up some northern parts with some drizzle into western

scotland, more persistent rain into north. but a mild scotland, more persistent rain into north. buta mild night, tambe scotland, more persistent rain into north. but a mild night, tambe not falling much from we had today, typically eight to 10 degrees. saturday starts cloudy, strong winds across the north punching a few more holes in the cloud hopefully especially to the east of high ground, basically brighter skies, funds and further south, over the hills and west it's misty all day. this rain pushes back southwards into scotland, not far from northern ireland by the end of the afternoon. another mild one, 10—12d. the christmas eve, again, some stronger winds or many parts of the uk feeding ina winds or many parts of the uk feeding in a lot of cloud and rain. and an northern ireland, most of reynolds and wales will be dry, highs of ten or 11 celsius. —— england and wales. this is bbc news. i'm reeta chakrabarti . the headlines at seven. the first visit by a british foreign minister to moscow for five years ends in public disagreement — as russia accuses the uk of fabricating allegations against it. you should recognise that russian attempts to interfere

in our elections and our referendums — whatever they may have been — have not been successful. translation: i think you've made all this up in your western community and you're hostage to this subject. it's very difficult for you to climb down from the fence now. after catalan separatist parties win a majority in the snap elections — spain's prime minister says he will talk to whoever takes over the the regional government. the woman stabbed to death in a supermarket in skipton is named locally asjodie willsher — a 44—year—old man is being questioned on suspicion of murder.