lontinue ,continue to much good news. we will continue to much over the next 7—10 days, and every extra day gives us more knowledge about whether this is going to cause severe problems —— continue to wash. it all comes back to our individual behaviours and how we can slow the spread of this virus. you are watching the bbc news. hello, i'm olly foster. here's what's coming up on sportsday. more matches are called off becasue of covid, with player welfare a concern in those matches that do go ahead we'll get the latest ashes news from australia ahead of england's must—win boxing day test. and we'll hear from the ice queen...eve muirhead after her teams nailbiting

olympic qualification. this is definitely the hardest we have done it out of the few olympic games have already been asked. also coming up in the programme: a one million pound lifeline has given the bury the chance to return home to gigg lane. and we'll bring you the story behind the unlikely hall of fame at corinthian casuals. good evening, two more premier league matches have been called off, the lunchtime kick—offs on boxing day between liverpool and leeds and wolves watford have both gone. leeds have shut their training ground as they deal with five new positive covid cases as well as a number of injuries. the premier league say watford also have an insufficient number of players to field a team. with 20 fixtures postponed

across the football league as well, over half the boxing day fixtures in england are off. adam wild reports. as regularly as christmas comes around, so do the arguments of beta testing schedule. too many games, too little time. it's the football manager is recurring nightmare. one now complicated further by covid—19. i think that has changed the dynamics. you now have players that suddenly come out of the grip and play is unavailable in your squad get a lot smaller and then players maybe have to play when they are injured by carrying something and that's far from ideal injured by carrying something and that's farfrom ideal and injured by carrying something and that's far from ideal and then you risk long—term damage to players career is. so covid—19 made the dynamically we have to live with for the benefit of everyone.— the benefit of everyone. football does continue _ the benefit of everyone. football does continue for _ the benefit of everyone. football does continue for some. - the benefit of everyone. football does continue for some. the - the benefit of everyone. football. does continue for some. the league games between liverpool and needs and wants in watford were postponed. 16 of the 20 profanity teams have so far been affected. i

16 of the 20 profanity teams have so far been affected.— far been affected. i think everyone ist in: far been affected. i think everyone is trying the _ far been affected. i think everyone is trying the best _ far been affected. i think everyone is trying the best in _ far been affected. i think everyone is trying the best in difficult - is trying the best in difficult circumstances. andy lee it is sometimes like a referee decision or something goes your way it does not but i think everybody is doing the best and i don't think anybody is acting without integrity. plus finance raise _ acting without integrity. plus finance raise questions - acting without integrity. plus finance raise questions over competitive advantage. for example, it will be their first game in a database. bradford played last night. and then arsenal take on the walls on the 28th, it will be their second game in 48 hours. the wolves will have nine days off. manager all with slightly different views on whether the air games should be going ahead. whether the air games should be going ahead-— whether the air games should be going ahead. with the in'uries we have we were * going ahead. with the in'uries we have we were expecting _ going ahead. with the injuries we have we were expecting the - going ahead. with the injuries we | have we were expecting the game going ahead. with the injuries we - have we were expecting the game will be postponed and lacking a lot of wii games trying to keep the integrity of the league because you're losing so many players and now you have to think about if i have 11 players where can i put them

so i'm surprised we are playing this game. so i'm surprised we are playing this came. , ., , y so i'm surprised we are playing this came. , ., _ ., so i'm surprised we are playing this came. _, _ ., ., ,, so i'm surprised we are playing this came. ,., _ ., . ,, ., game. obviously for fairness i would assume we — game. obviously for fairness i would assume we have _ game. obviously for fairness i would assume we have to _ game. obviously for fairness i would assume we have to catch _ game. obviously for fairness i would assume we have to catch up - game. obviously for fairness i would assume we have to catch up and - game. obviously for fairness i would | assume we have to catch up and they have to _ assume we have to catch up and they have to look — assume we have to catch up and they have to look at that to give it a fair finish of the season. i think at this— fair finish of the season. i think at this stage we want to be as fair as possible. at this stage we want to be as fair as possible-— at this stage we want to be as fair as ossible. �* .,, , ., , ., as possible. and those questions of safe and as possible. and those questions of safety and of _ as possible. and those questions of safety and of integrity _ as possible. and those questions of safety and of integrity remain - safety and of integrity remain complex as postponements mark —— mount up and they will not get any easier to answer. for more on the concerns about player welfare, i spoke to tom brownlee, assistant professor in applied sports sciences at the university of birmingham. it isa it is a chance. i think if we look at the premier league over the past ten, 12 years we only see and up and “p ten, 12 years we only see and up and up when we look at all of the metrics that fitness coaches and coaches and managers are interested

in. the total distance has been covered in great and a high—speed distance and the amount of sprinting is increasing year on year and that's why we look at premier league. when we think about fixture congestion defends levitz, there is a thirst for christmas football but those two things go together and create a perfect storm for making it quite challenging at this time of year. quite challenging at this time of ear. �* ., , quite challenging at this time of ear. ~ , quite challenging at this time of ear. . ,., , ., quite challenging at this time of ear. , ., ., ., year. always complaints from manager is about how — year. always complaints from manager is about how the _ year. always complaints from manager is about how the fixtures _ year. always complaints from manager is about how the fixtures come - year. always complaints from manager is about how the fixtures come think i is about how the fixtures come think and fast but you acted out with squads being stretched by covid—19 and covid—19 itself coming with players coming back from ten days in isolation and whatever the effects they might still be feeling. it does feel as if football is walking a tight rope at the moment. you are riuht. the tight rope at the moment. you are right- the way _ tight rope at the moment. you are right. the way that _ tight rope at the moment. you are right. the way that this _ tight rope at the moment. you are. right. the way that this is combated with their teams that are able to do it is through meditation and covid—19 has it aired on that extra issue around the lack of availability and it's becoming even more challenging than it would be anyway. more challenging than it would be an a . ~ , ., more challenging than it would be an a .~ more challenging than it would be an a. ~ ., , ._

anyway. when you look at the primary uuidelines anyway. when you look at the primary guidelines when _ anyway. when you look at the primary guidelines when they _ anyway. when you look at the primary guidelines when they had _ anyway. when you look at the primary guidelines when they had their- anyway. when you look at the primary guidelines when they had their last. guidelines when they had their last meeting i base that you must fulfil your fixtures if you have 13 players plus a goalkeeper that's the bare minimum. what are the dangers of that in itself?— that in itself? this aims is difficult to — that in itself? this aims is difficult to pin _ that in itself? this aims is difficult to pin down - that in itself? this aims is difficult to pin down an . that in itself? this aims is - difficult to pin down an answer and that's because the research is challenging to do. but there is suggesting that as fixture congestion becomes worse and injury rates increase in the ms as well and that's not something that we want an jordan henderson and lots of the players are instrumented electing the players voices being heard with the players voices being heard with the premier league and they know that there are ongoing meetings this week with the polarity and hopefully that's continuing to happen and will be some continued negotiations and the right things will be done. here are some of the other headlines. it was christmas eve last year that britain and the eu finally

managed to agree the trade and cooperation agreement that they made 19 ofjust six deliveries. they made 19 ofjust six deliveries. they fell short of their targets losing by 39 runs. a famous victory has become something of a cliche, but i think we can get away with it for what happened in florida. usa's cricketers beating ireland by 26 runs in the opening game of what is a historic limited overs series. it's the first time that the usa

have faced a full icc member team on home soil, a test playing nation, and i've spoken to their captain monank patel. iam i am really proud of the team. it's a great achievement and right now we are confident and we are looking forward to this game and we want to finish on a hand—out by winning the second game. it finish on a hand-out by winning the second game-— second game. it did not start well when ou second game. it did not start well when you were — second game. it did not start well when you were at _ second game. it did not start well when you were at the _ second game. it did not start well when you were at the second - second game. it did not start well| when you were at the second ball. second game. it did not start well i when you were at the second ball. it was not what we wanted. the rate our batsmen are balancing and playing it was brilliant and the way we finish and they gave us the in our boarding and they gave us the in our boarding and they gave us the in our boarding and they are really happy. what and they gave us the in our boarding and they are really happy.— and they are really happy. what is the state of _ and they are really happy. what is the state of cricket _ and they are really happy. what is the state of cricket in _ and they are really happy. what is the state of cricket in the - and they are really happy. what is the state of cricket in the us. - the state of cricket in the us. where are you getting your players from. have you got grassroots players out there. we from. have you got grassroots players out there.— from. have you got grassroots -la ers out there. ~ ., ., , players out there. we have a number of different academics _ players out there. we have a number of different academics and _ players out there. we have a number of different academics and there - players out there. we have a number of different academics and there are | of different academics and there are a lot of young talents and there are

different players from a different part of the world that are coming here and trying to put a good career and in cricket and it's a pathway to where they can show their talent and practice in different academics and its growing day by day. but there are different academics coming up on right now at least more than 50 are out there in the us.— out there in the us. some big moments _ out there in the us. some big moments coming _ out there in the us. some big moments coming up - out there in the us. some big moments coming up for - out there in the us. some big moments coming up for at. out there in the us. some big| moments coming up for at this out there in the us. some big - moments coming up for at this point as well. co—hosting the 2024 t world cup with west indies and the hopes to get a t—20 professional league going as well and it seems the sport is moving in the right direction. if you play this kind of cricket and good cricket consistently we are definitely playing the world cup in our home country and a hope for it

to increase the cricket in the country. to increase the cricket in the count . , to increase the cricket in the count . ., ., , country. history in florida. they have never— country. history in florida. they have never recovered _ country. history in florida. they have never recovered tilt - country. history in florida. they have never recovered tilt win . country. history in florida. they have never recovered tilt win an j have never recovered tilt win an ashes series and they will start that's in melbourne on sunday. here is our reporter ben crouch are. boxing day ashes test is something very special. england have been anything but so far. runs, wickets, made —— they have liked all three so far in the series. if we start with the runs, england have struggled at the top of the order so we are expecting some changes to this team. if we take a look at the open air so far in this series they have struggled. rory burnsjust far in this series they have struggled. rory burns just 51 runs at an average of 12.75 and the left—hander is out in that series.

just 58 runs for him. the potential for exacta coming to the side is growing. however he's had a dreadful 2021 so far. he made ten single figure scored at a high score of 53 with an average of 11 but he is generally quite good at games pace bowling so that may come into his favour and elsewhere in this england team all has struggled to potentially an chirs woakes with the ball has really struggled just three wickets for him and he was arrested for that game and is likely to return to the team and what potentially the spin options that england have. he did not play in adelaide and likely to come back into the team in place of potentially steroid. all of the selection dilemmas that england have to contend with over the next couple of days. chris silverwood the head coach was asked about the selection problems they've had so far in this series after that defeat and he said he would not have changed a thing, a

question for henry in australia to answer. he question for henry in australia to answer. , ., ., , ., , answer. he turns around the islands as we all got — answer. he turns around the islands as we all got it _ answer. he turns around the islands as we all got it wrong _ answer. he turns around the islands as we all got it wrong was _ answer. he turns around the islands as we all got it wrong was incorrect | as we all got it wrong was incorrect and that any exploding questions forward as to what direction this team is coming in. it's probably easier to say that we have got the right team out there but we did not execute exactly what we wanted to do and from what david mann said today this is an experience that as they are going along for the story they need to start getting that knowledge and understanding to not play an aggressive shot is perfectly ok and what's not ok is finding yourself in the pavilion watching others go out there scoring hundreds of rounds. it would be crucial that the england team selection on boxing day morning in australia quite rightly should be very happy and very settled in the direction they are moving. travis

and david also impressing but he's overtaking joe ruth at the top of the icc rankings and particularly impressed his coach. he's got an incredible appetite for cricket. he loves incredible appetite for cricket. he: loves it. he absolutely love it and he loves biting and he is as fixed as any athlete in australia. he has us every time. england rained really hard but the way he played he stayed calm and he continues to get better and better. 50 calm and he continues to get better and better. ., ., and better. so what of the australian _ and better. so what of the australian selection? - and better. so what of the i australian selection? marcus and better. so what of the - australian selection? marcus had a poor series so far but he is expected to keep its place in the team and australian captain into the team and australian captain into the team after he was identified as a close contact to somebody a particle that just close contact to somebody a particle thatjust before the test match in josh hazlewood has a side strain and is expected to miss out again to that present an opportunity to keep

their place in the team and so many quick bowlers are not expected to be a wickets at the mcg and that could play into their hands. the? a wickets at the mcg and that could play into their hands.— play into their hands. they both in a wa that play into their hands. they both in a way that players _ play into their hands. they both in a way that players do _ play into their hands. they both in a way that players do in _ play into their hands. they both in a way that players do in australia | a way that players do in australia with such success in meeting deadlines and getting that zip and causing problems so what we know is who have australia put out there in terms of their fast loading bay will be good and oppress talk about this boating cartel and they are proud of this group of bowlers that they have got but the key difference between the two sides has been picked up from me by the media and australia have three batteries that can bring you a game. all of those players have come good so far and they have thought this group of fast bowlers as well that are so effective. so it's been a sense from the australian media that there was some nerves ahead of time but this is how it goes and australia in recent times and they get absolutely

thrashed and a colleague of mine said if there's one thing australian cricket fans and of more than anything else is beating england 5-0. ., , , 5-0. the last time they were in australia at _ 5-0. the last time they were in australia at 814-0. _ 5-0. the last time they were in australia at 814-0. it's - 5-0. the last time they were in australia at 814-0. it's a - 5-0. the last time they were in australia at 814-0. it's a long l 5-0. the last time they were in i australia at 814-0. it's a long way australia at 814—0. it's a long way back for england from here. team gb have today finalised their curling squad for the winter games. the women's team only qualified for beijing last week, coming out on top in a dramatic olympic qualification event in the netherlands. for skipper eve muirhead, a bronze medallist in 2014, this will be her fourth games, and i spoke to her earlier (vt) this is definitely the hardest we have done it out of the few olympic games have already been at and emotions are still pretty high to be honest and i'm not sure it's

entirely sunk in and aching today being the day of the announcement i think that's when it will sink in that me and the team are going to the olympic games but as you see we did not do it the hard way but the most important thing is we got there in the aims and we have got back seat on the flight to beijing. he seat on the flight to bei'ing. he will to seat on the flight to beijing. he will go back to 2014 to regular on the podium in sochi. what would it mean for you to get back up there because it's been a tough few years since the last games for you as well personally. since the last games for you as well ersonall . , ., , ., ., , personally. yes, to get my metal was somethin: personally. yes, to get my metal was something very _ personally. yes, to get my metal was something very special _ personally. yes, to get my metal was something very special and _ personally. yes, to get my metal was something very special and since - something very special and since then there has been some great times but there's also been some very tough times and having a shot to get a medal in pyeongchang in 2018 and missing that was hard and it took me a long time to get over that. of course covid—19 hit us all pretty hard and lockdown was tough but i think we are in a good place now and we managed to qualify our spot for

team gb and now named as a team so i'd like to think that everything right now is going very well and i can't wait to get out there and start hurting again. you mentioned covid-19. start hurting again. you mentioned covid-19- so _ start hurting again. you mentioned covid-19. so many— start hurting again. you mentioned covid-19. so many sports - start hurting again. you mentioned covid-19. so many sports have - covid—19. so many sports have struggled over the last year and a half or so. what would it mean to get into beijing, it will be a covid—19 game and he will be able to have friends and family there. irate have friends and family there. we are used have friends and family there. - are used to competing without friends and family there. we've played several events that that being the case and be paid several events with it being a bible environment and that's one part we are used to. for me i've had my mum and dad at every game i played so without and it will be different but i know they'll be supporting me home and i think the game will be a different olympic game with a covid—19 situation but it's still a

game and it's there and experience of a lifetime and it's still the best of my team first olympic games and i can't wait to be there with them and up and experience their first time being at the games. andy murray has been given a wild card for next month's australian open, the first grand slam of the year. he's been runner up in melbourne five times but last played there in 2019. he missed this year's tournament after testing positive for covid. it's the last day of action at the world darts championship before they break for christmas. the number seven seed from portugal — jose de sosa, the special one, came back from two sets down to win his second round match against jason lowe. and 20 years after making his debut, 40 year—old joejohnson made an nba comeback for the boston celtics in their win over cleveland last night, with the league badly affected by covid. he's been given a ten—day contract.

christmas has come early for bury supporters. the government has promised a million pounds of levelling up money to help fans buy the club's historic gigg lane stadium. it's been lying empty since bury fc was expelled from the football league 2 years ago after its financial collapse. kayleigh waterson reports. they called it one of the saddest daysin they called it one of the saddest days in the history of the football league. days in the history of the football lea . ue. �* ., , days in the history of the football leatue. i, , _ days in the history of the football leatue. , _ , days in the history of the football leatue. , , , ., league. barry etsy expelled after 125 ears league. barry etsy expelled after 125 years of _ league. barry etsy expelled after 125 years of membership. - league. barry etsy expelled after 125 years of membership. the i league. barry etsy expelled after. 125 years of membership. the loss league. barry etsy expelled after- 125 years of membership. the loss of the club was mourned by the whole town but today news of an early christmas present and £1 million of revving up money to bring football back. it’s rewing up money to bring football back. �* , ., ., rewing up money to bring football back. �*, ., ., ., , ., , back. it's one of the oldest grounds in the entire _ back. it's one of the oldest grounds in the entire league _ back. it's one of the oldest grounds in the entire league and _ back. it's one of the oldest grounds in the entire league and itself - back. it's one of the oldest grounds in the entire league and itself it's i in the entire league and itself it's really, really great to be able to say that which was threatened with being turned into a housing development and with this much fun being be able to buy back the grounds and save the club after all

the difficult things they've been through over the last few years it's a fantastic bit of news. rht through over the last few years it's a fantastic bit of news.— a fantastic bit of news. a friend that group _ a fantastic bit of news. a friend that group has _ a fantastic bit of news. a friend that group has been _ a fantastic bit of news. a friend that group has been awarded i a fantastic bit of news. a friend i that group has been awarded the money to take control of the 12,000 stadium. i money to take control of the 12,000 stadium. ., money to take control of the 12,000 stadium. ~' , ., money to take control of the 12,000 stadium. ~ , ., , stadium. i think you will be delighted — stadium. i think you will be delighted that _ stadium. i think you will be delighted that is _ stadium. i think you will be delighted that is a - stadium. i think you will be l delighted that is a possibility stadium. i think you will be - delighted that is a possibility of returning which is the home of the bury football club and for many years and i think it would be a sense of relief that he feels as though everybody within the town is moving in a certain direction. this site to a house _ moving in a certain direction. this site to a house and _ moving in a certain direction. this site to a house and a _ moving in a certain direction. this site to a house and a peach and other facilities to be used by local schools and members of the public it's all dependent on the fans in securing further cash including some from the local council. it’s securing further cash including some from the local council.— from the local council. it's part of the condition _ from the local council. it's part of the condition of— from the local council. it's part of the condition of getting _ from the local council. it's part of the condition of getting this - the condition of getting this funding. the council has also committed to some financial support and we will now get on with working with the details and find a nice but that support would look like so that's going to be our part of the

deal. that's going to be our part of the deal that's going to be our part of the deal. ., , ., , ., ., deal. there has not been a game -la ed deal. there has not been a game played here _ deal. there has not been a game played here since _ deal. there has not been a game played here since may _ deal. there has not been a game played here since may 2019 - deal. there has not been a game i played here since may 2019 but with today's music fans are hopeful that football may return to this iconic ground. the council will not work with fans and the government but it already looks like a brighter new yearfor deplagne. what links non—league corinthian—casuals, who play in the seventh tier of english football, with corinthians one of brazil's biggest clubs — who are based in sao paolo? caroline de moraes can tell us more. today i am exploring a story that's close to home in more ways than one. taking me back to where my love for football truly began. and in southwest london and on that mission to find out what links this english club with one of the greatest football is brazil ever produced.

let's meet the corinthian casuals. on the surface this is like any other non—league club you have got a few hundred people coming down to watch us play in the stadium. but what's different about this club is the impact they had on the spread of football around the world. in the late 19th century the corinthians were the best team in the world. they had all 11 of the england team on two occasions which i don't think any club has produced before or since but what really is relevant about today is a 1910 they went to south america and they played in brazil and after one game in sao paulo they were so impressed with their performance that these local railway workers that were watching were inspired to form their own side and they decided to call it corinthians. some of those fans are now based in london, and support that corinthian casuals so it's brilliant. . ., . ., that corinthian casuals so it's brilliant. . ., , brilliant. the connection between the two clubs _

brilliant. the connection between the two clubs is _ brilliant. the connection between the two clubs is celebrated - brilliant. the connection between the two clubs is celebrated really| the two clubs is celebrated really widely on the other side of the atlantic and it's almost like a pilgrimage because they see this as a spiritual home. in pilgrimage because they see this as a spiritual home.— a spiritual home. in 1939 corinthians _ a spiritual home. in 1939 corinthians merged - a spiritual home. in 1939 corinthians merged with | a spiritual home. in 1939 - corinthians merged with fellow amateur side casuals just before the outbreak of the second world war. the new team, corinthian casuals was formed. in the new team, corinthian casuals was formed. :: , ., ., ., formed. in the 50s he had a great team. so formed. in the 50s he had a great team- so the _ formed. in the 50s he had a great team. so the cup _ formed. in the 50s he had a great team. so the cup final— formed. in the 50s he had a great team. so the cup final in - formed. in the 50s he had a great team. so the cup final in those i formed. in the 50s he had a great i team. so the cup final in those days was almost as big as the fa cup final and there were 80,000 people at wembley. the; final and there were 80,000 people at wembley— final and there were 80,000 people at wembley. as well as sharing their club name it — at wembley. as well as sharing their club name it will— at wembley. as well as sharing their club name it will be _ at wembley. as well as sharing their club name it will be an _ at wembley. as well as sharing their club name it will be an iconic - club name it will be an iconic brazilian player that would further inspire even closer links with this seemingly small theme. socrates was

bitter seemingly small theme. socrates was bi . . er than seemingly small theme. socrates was bigger than football. _ seemingly small theme. socrates was bigger than football. he _ seemingly small theme. socrates was bigger than football. he was - seemingly small theme. socrates was bigger than football. he was a - bigger than football. he was a political activist and social activist and he fought for democracy in brazil and he was a revolutionary player and a revolutionary guy. fill" player and a revolutionary guy. our connection to socrates comes about from a _ connection to socrates comes about from a friendly game that our team played _ from a friendly game that our team played in _ from a friendly game that our team played in brazil in 1988 and socrates paid in that game and in the second — socrates paid in that game and in the second half he played for the casuals — the second half he played for the casuals |t— the second half he played for the casuals. ., , ., ., , casuals. it was the team he really loved and it _ casuals. it was the team he really loved and it was _ casuals. it was the team he really loved and it was a _ casuals. it was the team he really loved and it was a great _ loved and it was a great illustration _ loved and it was a great illustration of— loved and it was a great illustration of the - loved and it was a great - illustration of the friendship between _ illustration of the friendship between the _ illustration of the friendship between the two _ illustration of the friendship between the two teams. - illustration of the friendship between the two teams. , . , ., between the two teams. december four of this ear between the two teams. december four of this year marks _ between the two teams. december four of this year marks the _ between the two teams. december four of this year marks the tenth _ of this year marks the tenth anniversary of socrates death. the team are wearing a special outfit which is based on the shirt that team where wearing in 1988. iauti’itli which is based on the shirt that team where wearing in 1988. with an estimated 30 — team where wearing in 1988. with an estimated 30 million _ team where wearing in 1988. with an estimated 30 million fans _ team where wearing in 1988. with an estimated 30 million fans globally, l estimated 30 million fans globally, corinthians are among the biggest clubs in the world. for the members of the support is group getting to

give their new local print inside theirfull support and give their new local print inside their full support and voice is something really special. you know the link now between corinthian casuals and the corinthians. finally if you make a promise it's only right that you come good on it — and that's exactly what a teacher did in the united states. here is kathleen fitzpatrick a former university basketball player turned teacher who promised all her pupils hot chocolate if she could hit this long range effort in the playground. and she did exactly meaning she had to provide a lot of hot chocolate for all of her class. they celebrated for a long time. that is it. i will point you back to the bbc sport website because games are getting called off now. a lot

are getting called off now. a lot are off on boxing day. two more in the premier league. before you travel anywhere at all check the bbc sport website and all your local bbc news but for me that's all for now. if you are planning to be up early tomorrow morning visiting friends and family for the christmas holiday it's worth bearing in mind that they be some early mist and fog that will lift into low cloud and take its time in doing so. a damp start in scotland and north improving in aberdeen may see some sunshine in the afternoon. at the end of the day into southwest england and south wales it would be windy with heavy rain for a time although it will be

brief but here we will have mild air, 11 or 12 degrees into scotland to stay on the cool side. we will start of christmas day with an early winter mix of rain and snow across the pen names and able to easily. cloudy conditions and wet and windy again into northern ireland and wales and the best of the sunshine perhaps likely on christmas day across aberdeen here it will stay on the cool side to keep the mild weather further south. merry christmas.

hello, i'm kasia madera with outside source. more evidence the omicron variant is less severe in the uk. the preliminary research suggests someone infected with omicron rather than the delta variant is between 50—70% less likely to be admitted to hospital. it's very early days. only a small number of individuals, but nonetheless, it is the first signs of cautious optimism. cases, meanwhile, continue to rise across europe — with france reporting 90,000 new infections in the past 24 hours. as tensions rise in ukraine, president putin demands western countries make a promise not to extend their influence

in russia's back yard.