this is bbc news, the headlines a former police officer who killed a black man in a routine traffic stop — has been found guilty of manslaughter at her trial in minneapolis. kimberley potter mistook her handgun for a taser when she shot daunte wright. a uk government study has shown that people who get infected with the omicron strain of covid are far less likely to end up in hospital. but there is concern the booster jab protection begins to wane after 10 weeks. ecuador has made it compulsory for everyone aged five or over to get the coronavirus vaccine, in response to the increase in covid infections. only those with a medical justification will be exempt. president putin has asked for an immediate response to his demand for nato to stop expanding to the east — to ukraine. he also said he'd initiated high—level talks with the us.

hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are benjamin butterworth, late editor & senior reporter at the i paper, and harriet line, chief political correspondent for the daily mail. now, let me bring you up—to—date on the front pages as we have pretty much all of them now. nobody likes —— everybody likes to get home for christmas, don't they? the financial times leads on new data from the health security agency, which estimates that people with the new omicron variant of coronavirus are between 50 to 70% less likely to be admitted to hospital than people with other strains. the new findings mean that new year's eve restrictions are increasingly unlikely, government sources have told the telegraph. the guardian says doctors are still warning people to keep their christmasses small,

as a large wave of infections may still overwhelm the nhs. the queen will pay tribute to her late husband, prince philip, in her christmas speech, which the daily mail says will be particularly personal this year. the express says the message will resonate with millions who have lost loved ones. while the mirror calls it her poignant salute. herriot, do you want to start us off the sour, and showery begin as we did last erica's neck cases hit record as health agency study finds. a nice photograph they have managed to find on oxford street in london. the shop as santa says relax. fix, bit the shop as santa says relax. a bit of a double-edged _ the shop as santa says relax. 3 it of a double—edged sword, we've got the highest recorded daily infections today, nearly 120,000, but we have got a pretty major a study from the uk health security agency which says that the omicron

variants is up to 70% less likely to lead to an overnight stay and hospital than the delta variant which of course is brilliant news. the question is, doesn't go far enough? is that percentage high enough? is that percentage high enoughin enough? is that percentage high enough in order to prevent another lockdown or more stringent restrictions? the moment, it's made to look that way because this is the third study that we have that in the last two days which points to pretty promising data. we have had other studies from imperial college and the university of edinburgh which looked pretty similar. so, there is a lot of data on the kind of positives from the severity of omicron, but what we do know is it is a lot more infectious and that means the kind of scale a problem could end up dwarfing the benefit of the fact that it is a lot less severe. tricky questions for the government. we know there isn't a decision coming before christmas. it is looking, i would say, a lot less likely that we are going to see restrictions before the new year. the important caveat that that could

change. of course those deadly infection figures as well as hospitalisation figures as well as hospitalisation figures are a big concern for the government because those big numbers keep going up and we are quite possibly in for a rather sizeable problem. possibly in for a rather sizeable roblem. , . , , possibly in for a rather sizeable roblem. , ., , , , possibly in for a rather sizeable roblem. , , , , ., , possibly in for a rather sizeable roblem. , ._ ,,.,y , problem. presumably this story is aood problem. presumably this story is good news _ problem. presumably this story is good news about _ problem. presumably this story is good news about the _ problem. presumably this story is good news about the severity - problem. presumably this story is good news about the severity of l good news about the severity of infection, if you get hospitalised or the chances of you getting hospitalised but it does not resolve those other pressures, the question of the scale of infections in the question of whether the medical staff get infected in the knock on effect to other health treatments that has to be a concern. if you are real cornball hospital which is one in truro and the nearest other hospital is in plymouth. it's a bit of an issue there if you end up with too many covid cases in a way it might not be if you are in central london. .. , �*, ., might not be if you are in central london. , �*, ., , london. exactly. it's a very mixed icture london. exactly. it's a very mixed picture because _ london. exactly. it's a very mixed picture because of— london. exactly. it's a very mixed picture because of course - london. exactly. it's a very mixed picture because of course with - london. exactly. it's a very mixed | picture because of course with the government is very concerned about is this_ government is very concerned about is this idea _ government is very concerned about

is this idea that you get some money beds and _ is this idea that you get some money beds and i_ is this idea that you get some money beds and i see you've taken out by people _ beds and i see you've taken out by people who have got covid that you cannot _ people who have got covid that you cannot do _ people who have got covid that you cannot do with those other accidents and health— cannot do with those other accidents and health issues that happen. however— and health issues that happen. however on the flip side, there is a concern _ however on the flip side, there is a concern that — however on the flip side, there is a concern that when gps and medical outlets _ concern that when gps and medical outlets overwhelmingly put onto bidding — outlets overwhelmingly put onto bidding boosterjabs and arms in these _ bidding boosterjabs and arms in these coming weeks that actually might— these coming weeks that actually might be — these coming weeks that actually might be people who are not coming forward _ might be people who are not coming forward for— might be people who are not coming forward for concerns about lumps that might be cancer for example because — that might be cancer for example because there is not the bandwidth with today with them. they might rightly _ with today with them. they might rightly the government says feel like they— rightly the government says feel like they cannot go and see their doctor— like they cannot go and see their doctor about those kind of concerns. so it's _ doctor about those kind of concerns. so it's a _ doctor about those kind of concerns. so it's a very— doctor about those kind of concerns. so it's a very mixed picture but i think— so it's a very mixed picture but i think ultimately this virus has kind of giving _ think ultimately this virus has kind of giving with one hand and take it with another with the omicron variant— with another with the omicron variant because anyone that gets covid _ variant because anyone that gets covid and — variant because anyone that gets covid and the omicron version will be looking — covid and the omicron version will be looking like it's a much dangerous version of the virus and yet there — dangerous version of the virus and yet there still might be as many people — yet there still might be as many people may be selling more getting sick because of the sheer scale of the spread — sick because of the sheer scale of the spread of this virus. it�*s

the spread of this virus. it's complicated. _ the spread of this virus. it's complicated. the _ the spread of this virus. it�*s complicated. the i does it in the tip of its way. may i remind you that this is the weekend edition coming out on a thursday night for friday morning but there you go, it's funny, always throws me which day of the week it is, they give the usual bullet point list and when you read down you actually see experts remain concerned about high case rates, estimated 1.4 million have the virus and nhs facing huge increase in staff shortages and absences in london doubling in a week and 19,000 health workers in england offset because of covid up 54% on a week ago.— england offset because of covid up 54% on a week ago. exactly. i would tend to come _ 54% on a week ago. exactly. i would tend to come out _ 54% on a week ago. exactly. i would tend to come out on _ 54% on a week ago. exactly. i would tend to come out on a _ 54% on a week ago. exactly. i would tend to come out on a friday - 54% on a week ago. exactly. i would tend to come out on a friday to - tend to come out on a friday to make everyone _ tend to come out on a friday to make everyone more confused about what day of _ everyone more confused about what day of week it is this time of year. but the _ day of week it is this time of year. but the i— day of week it is this time of year. but the i hits on a really important point, _ but the i hits on a really important point, which is that we think about the only— point, which is that we think about the only question about the nhs being _ the only question about the nhs being overwhelmed in terms of the number— being overwhelmed in terms of the number of— being overwhelmed in terms of the number of people in nicu beds whether— number of people in nicu beds whether we have enough for the number— whether we have enough for the number of— whether we have enough for the number of serious legal patients but

there is— number of serious legal patients but there is this other important part of that— there is this other important part of that which is the nhs and medical staff are _ of that which is the nhs and medical staff are just as likely if not more likely— staff are just as likely if not more likely given when they were in hospitals to get sick from covid in the number of people who as you say you're _ the number of people who as you say you're up— the number of people who as you say you're up 54% of the previous week of health— you're up 54% of the previous week of health workers who were off with covid _ of health workers who were off with covid and _ of health workers who were off with covid and there is 19,000 people off i’ilht covid and there is 19,000 people off right now— covid and there is 19,000 people off right now due to having configure the virus — right now due to having configure the virus if— right now due to having configure the virus. if we are going to have a situation _ the virus. if we are going to have a situation where those figures keep going _ situation where those figures keep going up— situation where those figures keep going up every day, the last day it was 119,000 new cases, the highest ever recorded number, actually you run the _ ever recorded number, actually you run the risk— ever recorded number, actually you run the risk that as you get into january— run the risk that as you get into january when we really have that winter _ january when we really have that winter crisis that we have in the least _ winter crisis that we have in the least worst— winter crisis that we have in the least worst years that you might actually — least worst years that you might actually not have enough staff because — actually not have enough staff because so many of them have had to self-isolate — because so many of them have had to self—isolate. and i think that's the real risk— self—isolate. and i think that's the real risk and to some extent i think that explains the government decision— that explains the government decision to cut the stuff isolation period _ decision to cut the stuff isolation period from ten days down to seven days because that helps lots of industries are particularly that could — industries are particularly that could be — industries are particularly that could be crucial help to nhs

staffing _ could be crucial help to nhs staffing levels.— could be crucial help to nhs staffin: levels. . ., ., .,~ ., staffing levels. what do you make of the front of the _ staffing levels. what do you make of the front of the i, _ staffing levels. what do you make of the front of the i, harriet? _ staffing levels. what do you make of the front of the i, harriet? full- the front of the i, harriet? full marks for clarity, you could not resent it more simply than that really with the bullet points which is their house style these days as we remarked on before.- is their house style these days as we remarked on before. yeah, i think a bullet points _ we remarked on before. yeah, i think a bullet points are _ we remarked on before. yeah, i think a bullet points are very _ we remarked on before. yeah, i think a bullet points are very clearly - we remarked on before. yeah, i think a bullet points are very clearly set - a bullet points are very clearly set out but what they have demonstrated is this is a really quite muddled picture. it's a very difficult and quite finely balanced decision for the government as to exactly what they do because you have got so much data on the positive side and then you have got a lot of unknowns and some quite damning data as in the figures referenced on the nhs staff as it rate which obviously mix the module it makes it a much more collocated picture as to whether or not we need restrictions. and the sheer number of people with a virus, will .4 million, is extraordinary. so i quite the highs layout actually though i'm missed those bylines or deep detail on the front.

but it is and does layout this very numerous different things government is having to consider. you numerous different things government is having to consider.— is having to consider. you could almost to _ is having to consider. you could almost to a _ is having to consider. you could almost to a ledger _ is having to consider. you could almost to a ledger on _ is having to consider. you could almost to a ledger on the - is having to consider. you could almost to a ledger on the front | almost to a ledger on the front page. like borisjohnson working out whether to support brexit, here are the pluses and minuses and you can almost do that with covid. what about the guardian? keep your celebrations small, doctors to britain. my impression is many don't need to be urged to do this with them many people have almost extensively scale down. i think some of the shops, i was in a branch of a high street supermarket chain and it was deserted. i was in about 8pm at night and it was very much asserted and i said to the people as they were not the details and i said to the woman in the shop that i'm fairly sorry i'm holding it getting my shopping and she said you were not holding us up to him that we are here until midnight. so clearly shopsjust here until midnight. so clearly shops just like hospitality venues had excited people kind of to go

crazy after last year, this liberation and ash people seem to have been quite cautious at whether that will last. have been quite cautious at whether that will last-— that will last. people have been very cautious — that will last. people have been very cautious up _ that will last. people have been very cautious up to _ that will last. people have been very cautious up to chris - that will last. people have been very cautious up to chris but. that will last. people have been very cautious up to chris but it i very cautious up to chris but it seems the doctors here in the garden are saying be careful at christmas as well and it seems many people have mentioned in socialising order to save their christmas. but actually if you have got numerous relatives of different generations all coming together, actually could those events in that being quite dangerous as with the guardian say but i don't like that's something the public really want to hear after the public really want to hear after the last christmas particularly being ruined with covid restrictions but people don't want to be told they cannot seek their grand or nieces and nephews or whatever. they would be able to see the whole range of family all at once and have what they missed out on last year. so it's an interesting call i think from the doctors, perhaps quite brave of those at the head of the pack to just say it but clearly

reflects the concern that omicron while there is positive data is not not a threat. while there is positive data is not not a threat-— while there is positive data is not not a threat. what do you make of the guardian's _ not a threat. what do you make of the guardian's story? _ not a threat. what do you make of the guardian's story? it _ not a threat. what do you make of the guardian's story? it picks - not a threat. what do you make of the guardian's story? it picks up i not a threat. what do you make of| the guardian's story? it picks up on im ortant the guardian's story? it picks up on important point _ the guardian's story? it picks up on important point that _ the guardian's story? it picks up on important point that even - the guardian's story? it picks up on important point that even if- the guardian's story? it picks up on important point that even if you - the guardian's story? it picks up onj important point that even if you are a 50-70% _ important point that even if you are a 50—70% less wanted to get in the hospital. to — a 50—70% less wanted to get in the hospital, to avoid these case numbers— hospital, to avoid these case numbers ending in this a number of hospitalisations, it would need to be 90%_ hospitalisations, it would need to be 90% less likely so actually there's — be 90% less likely so actually there's a _ be 90% less likely so actually there's a very real chance that we end up— there's a very real chance that we end up back— there's a very real chance that we end up back in the pic of infections we've _ end up back in the pic of infections we've had — end up back in the pic of infections we've had in— end up back in the pic of infections we've had in the past with the danger— we've had in the past with the danger point of hospitals being overwhelmed also i think the case of people _ overwhelmed also i think the case of people making their own arrangements, people are being cautious— arrangements, people are being cautious but still trying to celebrate. in the past few days, 1 million _ celebrate. in the past few days, 1 million covid tests, lateral flow rapid _ million covid tests, lateral flow rapid tests, have been sent out each day and _ rapid tests, have been sent out each day and pharmacies received 11 million — day and pharmacies received 11 million covid rapid test last week was of— million covid rapid test last week was of those are enormous numbers of what that— was of those are enormous numbers of what that suggests is not simply that all people who have got covid

but actually i know this anecdotally from my— but actually i know this anecdotally from my own special circle that many people _ from my own special circle that many people have been doing daily tasks before _ people have been doing daily tasks before they head home to see loved ones and _ before they head home to see loved ones and i_ before they head home to see loved ones and i think that's the balance they struck. you mentioned about how supermarkets have been busy and certainly _ supermarkets have been busy and certainly pubs and restaurants and i imagine _ certainly pubs and restaurants and i imagine not close and i've not been therewith _ imagine not close and i've not been therewith for a couple of weeks but i therewith for a couple of weeks but i imagine _ therewith for a couple of weeks but i imagine they are all much less busy— i imagine they are all much less busy most of actually think if we had not — busy most of actually think if we had not had the spike in macro at one you _ had not had the spike in macro at one you would've seen what those retailers _ one you would've seen what those retailers expected and i think you would've — retailers expected and i think you would've seen quite a big lavish expensive — would've seen quite a big lavish expensive christmas while its people — expensive christmas while its people. but that was just ground it to a halt _ people. but that was just ground it to a halt after that and did a halt after— to a halt after that and did a halt after that sending out address from the prime minister last week. | after that sending out address from the prime minister last week. ijust the prime minister last week. i 'ust sa that's the prime minister last week. i 'ust say that-s fl the prime minister last week. i 'ust say that's one that i the prime minister last week. i 'ust say that's one that as i the prime minister last week. i 'ust say that's one that as you i the prime minister last week. inst say that's one that as you say a lot of the businesses are ruing that and will be feeling even more as you say when they look at the staff now but you have said that out very well. the telegraph says new year's eve likely to escape new curbs. i mean

obviously hogmanay celebrations cancelled in edinburgh and the fireworks cancelled and london but most pubs open for new year and those who choose to have advance will reasonably be doing them as they normally do them. although subject to all the kind of covid passport stuff that's not come into effect. it passport stuff that's not come into effect. , ., ., , . effect. it is quite hard to predict. on the effect. it is quite hard to predict. 0n the one _ effect. it is quite hard to predict. on the one hand, _ effect. it is quite hard to predict. on the one hand, the _ effect. it is quite hard to predict. on the one hand, the telegraphl effect. it is quite hard to predict. i on the one hand, the telegraph and the daily— on the one hand, the telegraph and the daily mail are reporting that there _ the daily mail are reporting that there will be restrictions by new year's eve — there will be restrictions by new year's eve but i think various practical— year's eve but i think various practical barriers for pulling those restrictions and i don't happens in england _ restrictions and i don't happens in england and i do so you might get party— england and i do so you might get party tourism with scots and welsh to me _ party tourism with scots and welsh to me over— party tourism with scots and welsh to me over the border if they want to me over the border if they want to celebrate for new year's eve. when _ to celebrate for new year's eve. when i — to celebrate for new year's eve. when i wonder to what is it will be a normal— when i wonder to what is it will be a normal new year's eve people making — a normal new year's eve people making the military isolation and choosing — making the military isolation and choosing to reduce the number of contacts— choosing to reduce the number of contacts and out i think a lot of pubs _ contacts and out i think a lot of pubs and — contacts and out i think a lot of pubs and restaurants and nightclubs will have _ pubs and restaurants and nightclubs will have a _ pubs and restaurants and nightclubs will have a dilemma because one of

the nightmare of such a shift change has been _ the nightmare of such a shift change has been that they have ordered all the alcohol and all the food and some _ the alcohol and all the food and some of— the alcohol and all the food and some of the items perishable and i think there — some of the items perishable and i think there could be quite nervous about— think there could be quite nervous about the — think there could be quite nervous about the investment they put in ahead _ about the investment they put in ahead of— about the investment they put in ahead of new year's eve because it's so hard _ ahead of new year's eve because it's so hard to— ahead of new year's eve because it's so hard to predict what people are going _ so hard to predict what people are going to _ so hard to predict what people are going to really turn up. now i would make _ going to really turn up. now i would make one _ going to really turn up. now i would make one mild forecast, which is people _ make one mild forecast, which is people might be less cautious post—christmas and they were before because _ post—christmas and they were before because i_ post—christmas and they were before because i think there are people who wanted _ because i think there are people who wanted to— because i think there are people who wanted to protect their christmas and actually are not that nervous about _ and actually are not that nervous about getting an seven is a home is not that— about getting an seven is a home is not that disruptive to their lives. especially— not that disruptive to their lives. especially if you have a legitimate excuse and say i'm so sorry i wanted to come but i cannot afford to effect my dear colleague i am very virtuous in pulling up the duvet. what you make of it harriet? i

virtuous in pulling up the duvet. what you make of it harriet? i wrote a similar story _ what you make of it harriet? i wrote a similar story in _ what you make of it harriet? i wrote a similar story in the _ what you make of it harriet? i wrote a similar story in the daily _ what you make of it harriet? i wrote a similar story in the daily mail- a similar story in the daily mail for tomorrow and it does seem as the restrictions pre—new year's are pretty unlikely at this stage with the caveat that if there is some really quite damning data that comes out over the next few days, that could change. with the logistics again as benjamin mentioned are really quite against having more restrictions. it's rather the point to me made that they are rather running out of time to recall parliament because a number of things and to be got through so need the data and then you then need to cabinet to come to some kind of conclusion on that data as to what restrictions should be brought forward. we know the cabinet are rather at war about what if any restrictions should be brought. there is a bit of a ruckus over plan b alone so further than that will be very tricky. then you have to have about 40 hours for profit to be recalled to get all of the relevant people and notjust mps back their place. so looking pretty unlikely i

think for new year's eve restrictions but it does not mean though that we are completely out of the woods so could be restrictions into january and i think benjamin makes a really good point as well of that one government source made a point to me that post—christmas wrapping off of mandate effect is everyone being cautious to protect christmas because there were their own loved ones but after that if you are young and not very vulnerable to covid or you had your booster, then perhaps people to go out and party and celebrate new year's and not like them or what probably picking a lateral flow just like them or what probably picking a lateral flowjust before like them or what probably picking a lateral flow just before they like them or what probably picking a lateral flowjust before they go but put a bottle of wine in your bag and a lateral flow test kind of thing. i a lateral flow test kind of thing. i got 20 minutes until i have to go, yes, absolutely. we are going to end with real stuff which is on all the papers pretty much a lot surprisingly because buckingham palace has released some photos from the queen's address. queen shares

pain of her loss came a photograph of the queen and festive red but by her side the photograph of her and her side the photograph of her and her husband, probably about ten years old that picture, but it's a lovely picture of the two of them. which will actually be in focus on your tv screen hopefully at some point but i do focus on this piggly screen grab it. by, point but i do focus on this piggly screen grab it.— screen grab it. a picture of the queen and _ screen grab it. a picture of the queen and prince _ screen grab it. a picture of the queen and prince philip - screen grab it. a picture of the queen and prince philip of - screen grab it. a picture of the i queen and prince philip of course died in april this year. celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary in hampshire and clearly quite a poignant picture to the queen and she is wearing the same brooch and i read on the photograph that she is in the picture but the brooch has moved to the other site which i think is seen as a bit of a symbolism of some widows move their wedding ring to their right hand after the death of their husband. so what we have been told of the palace is that it is quite a personal tribute to prince philip and we have not really heard the queen speaking i don't think since his death. about him in a very personal way which i

think will strike a chord with the nation and many people of course have lost a loved one this year. a number of people will be spending christmas apart from their families as the queen is. she is hunkered down in winter and not attending them with her rather large family as normal he will be the case. and it is a beautiful set... i normal he will be the case. and it is a beautiful set. . ._ is a beautiful set... i think it's usually with — is a beautiful set... i think it's usually with the _ is a beautiful set... i think it's usually with the queen - is a beautiful set... i think it'sj usually with the queen shares is a beautiful set... i think it's - usually with the queen shares pain of her loss because she has explained about the print some time ago when he left public life and she did her big tribute to him but she does not do sharing her loss. that's not her style. she smartly to say i know from my experience how terrible it is too loose and i know many of you have experience to that and more in the way she conducts herself i thought a public life but a good headline... thought a public life but a good headline. . ._ thought a public life but a good headline... , ., ., headline... exactly and if that sort of very english _ headline... exactly and if that sort of very english way _ headline. .. exactly and if that sort of very english way of— headline... exactly and if that sort of very english way of sharing - of very english way of sharing emotion— of very english way of sharing emotion in a way that arguably is a bygone era — emotion in a way that arguably is a bygone era for most of us. but you

should speak about her late husband in her— should speak about her late husband in her speech to cop 26 and she was sort of— in her speech to cop 26 and she was sort of surprisingly frank when she spoke _ sort of surprisingly frank when she spoke about his commitment to environmental as him how much that meant _ environmental as him how much that meant to— environmental as him how much that meant to her. so she sort of hinted at this— meant to her. so she sort of hinted at this but— meant to her. so she sort of hinted at this but we don't know is having what she _ at this but we don't know is having what she says yet but i think it will be as— what she says yet but i think it will be as welljust as it typically is for— will be as welljust as it typically is for her— will be as welljust as it typically is for her christmas day address and i is for her christmas day address and i think a _ is for her christmas day address and i think a lot — is for her christmas day address and i think a lot of people at home will feel the _ i think a lot of people at home will feel the emotion of what the queen is going _ feel the emotion of what the queen is going through because you honestly— is going through because you honestly had seven people lost in the last _ honestly had seven people lost in the last two years from covid him and he _ the last two years from covid him and he will identify with her and of course _ and he will identify with her and of course it's— and he will identify with her and of course it's her first christmas without — course it's her first christmas without her husband for 73 years. i think— without her husband for 73 years. i think i from — without her husband for 73 years. i think i from the incredibly hard to imagine — think i from the incredibly hard to imauine. ., , , think i from the incredibly hard to imauine. , ., . imagine. people will be watching toni . ht imagine. people will be watching tonight who _ imagine. people will be watching tonight who have _ imagine. people will be watching tonight who have lost _ imagine. people will be watching tonight who have lost loved - imagine. people will be watching | tonight who have lost loved ones, imagine. people will be watching i tonight who have lost loved ones, a partner or husband or wife and our thoughts are with all of you because particularly at christmas, is a terribly difficult time in first losing a loved one, so thinking of the queen in which nothing about those we know and love as well at

this difficult time. lovely picture to end up and i your comments on it because we are out of time but it looks like dear old prints archie, son of harry and meghan, but they put a ball of henna over his head as he has got cracking red hair so there you go, a lovely picture as we have seen of him the back of his head in the first photo of little bit of course named after a childhood name of queen elizabeth. that's it for the papers in alaska for favourites now be back next week immediately after christmas but i think to benjamin and harriet and thanks to you forjoining us and the sport and weather coming up next and then i will be back with the midnight hour. hello there. i'm olly foster with the latest from the bbc sport centre. the premier league has held

a meeting with managers and captains at all 20 clubs in the top division with concerns around player welfare with the majority of squads depleted because of covid. the boxing day matches at liverpool and wolves are both off because their opponents leeds and watford are unable to field teams over half the fixtures in the english football league have also been postponed adam wild reports. as regularly as christmas comes around, so too the arguments of beta festive schedule. too many games, too little time. it's the football manager's recurring nightmare. one now complicated further by covid. i think that has changed the dynamics. you now have players that suddenly come out of the group and players unavailable, then your squad gets a lot smaller and then players maybe have to play when they are injured or carrying something and that's far from ideal and then you risk long—term damage to players career is. so covid—19 is the dynamic we have to live with for

the benefit of everyone. football does continue for some. today the league games between liverpool and leeds and wolves and watford were postponed. 16 of the 20 premier league teams have so far been affected. i think everyone is trying the best in very difficult circumstances. the way it is sometimes like a referee decision or something goes your way or it does not, but i think everybody is doing their best, and i don't think anybody is acting without integrity, put it that way. postponements do raise questions over competitive advantage. for example, when brighton play brentford it will be their first game in 11 days. brentford played last night. and then arsenal take on wolves on the 28th, it will be their second game in 48 hours. the wolves will have nine days off. managers all with slightly different views on whether their games should be going ahead. with the injuries we have, - we were expecting the game will be

postponed and like in a lot of games trying to keep the integrity - of the league because you're losing so many players and now you havel ito think about if i have 11 players. fit and where can i put them so i'm surprised we are playing this game. obviously for fairness, i would assume we have to catch up and they have to look at that to give it a fair finish to the season at some point. i think at this stage, we want to play as much as possible. and those questions of safety and of integrity remain complex as postponements mount up, and they will not get any easier to answer. adam wild, bbc news. for now, the prmier league continues, manchester city boss pep guardiola and his manchester united counterpart ralf rangnick have both been talking about how the problem could be eased.

it should be, you know, the players and the manager altogether to make a stride to make something, if it's just for them, it won't be solved, because the welfare, fifa, the primarily, the broadcasters, the business is more important than their welfare. a simple example, this institution here, tell me one argument to take care, to give more welfare to the players for this one. here everyone deciding for themselves, we didn't do it. i think it would be of great help to have five substitutes. this would also increase and improve the situation, the emotional situation within the squad because it's a big difference if you can get five players game time, it's also about game time, and therefore i would be much more in favour of having five subs, as i said. in other countries, they do that. i think we should seriously think about that once again. brazilian soccer legend pele has been discharged from hospital. the 81—year—old has been having more

treatment for a colon tumour and was readmitted to hospital earlier this month. sao paulo's albert einstein hospital said he was "stable", but would require further medical treatment. eve muirhead will be going to her fourth winter olympics after being named as the skip of the british women's curling team for beijing. muirhead won a bronze medal in 2014 in sochi, but finished fourth at the last games. she's the only one with olympic experience in the quartet heading to china for the games in february, but they came through a tough qualification event last week and are also european champions. to get my medal in sochi was something very special, and since then, there has been some great times, but that's also been some very tough times, 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. i do think we are in a good place now. we have managed to qualify our spot for

team gb. we are named as the team. so i would like to think that everything right now is going very well, and ijust can't wait to get out there and start curling again, what i love doing. eoin morgan will captain a 16—man squad for england's t20 series against west indies next month. morgan will have a few new faces and a different coach, with paul collingwood standing in for chris silverwood for the five games in barbados. the squad includes 11 players who were at the t20 world cup in november. uncapped — left arm bowlers george garton and david payne have also been called up. three years after tea rfully suggesting it would be his final appearance at the australian open, andy murray will be back in melbourne for the 2022 tournament. the former world number one has been given a wild card after missing the most recent edition because he'd tested positive for covid. he last played at the event in 2019 when he thought it might be his last match as a professional because of a hip injury. he's been runner—up five times in melbourne. and that's all the sport for now.

hello there. snow has been falling across the hills of scotland through the night. that will continue, although it is tending to peter out. we could have several centimetres lying towards morning. also fog is going to be an issue for those travellers on friday morning, quite thick patches in places, reducing the visibility, and that's because we've had a lot of mild and moist air move northwards during the day on thursday. still with us friday, but so too that cold air, and where those weather fronts bump into the cold air, as i say, across scotland at the moment is where we are likely to see the snow. but that boundary may come further southwards into christmas day. so, several centimetres over the hills, relatively low levels, that's 100 metres or so, some fog though into the clearer skies further south where it's at least a milder, but it's the light winds that we've got an issue with here. so going through the day on friday, we've got that mild air with us, the fog issue slow to clear, and then our rain starts to sweep into the southwest

across wales later. some drier weather, just drizzly rain for northern ireland, our weather fronts petering out across scotland and northern england, but the best of the sunshine will be in the far north here after a frosty start with some fog patches here too. but it's here where we keep that cold air through the day, whilst for most, because we've still got that legacy of atlantic air, it is a little bit milder, 9—11 celsius. but that cold air looks like it may well be on the move, so as we head through friday night, christmas eve into christmas day, that may well push a little bit further southwards. our weather fronts still with us coming into that cold air. so the likes of the pennines possibly the hills of north wales just might see a smattering of sleet or snow. but it looks like some good spells of sunshine across the north and perhaps northern england, and then further south on christmas day, we've got some more wetter...some more rain to come in. so, again, we will have the contrast, still that mild air across western areas, but perhaps a crisp start in northern and eastern parts, a little bit of wintriness, as i say, over the hills.

so we are not going to be the records of christmas day across the four nations, they are not going to be that high, the temperatures, as i say, more likely 4—5s in the north, 11—12 in the south, but the next few days, we are most likely to see if we see snow, it will be over the high ground of the northern part of the country from north wales northwards. at lower levels, most likely we'll see some rain. so for boxing day, still that cold air around with us, and you can see we've got some unsettled weather as well. you can keep up to date online.

this is bbc news — i'm shaun ley with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. a former minnesota police officer is found guilty of manslaughter — for killing daunte wright during a traffic stop. the moment that we heard guilty on manslaughter one, emotions, every single emotion that you could imaginejust running could imagine just running through could imaginejust running through your body at that moment. an official uk government study shows people who get infected with the omicron strain of covid are far less likely to end up in hospital. in russia, president putin insists on immediate guarantees that nato will not expand further to the east. you must give us guarantees, you must— you must give us guarantees, you must elect, immediately, now — you must elect, immediately, now we _ you must elect, immediately, now. we want to be palmed off

with decades of idle chatter about— with decades of idle chatter about the