this is bbc world news. the headlines... an arctic blast is gripping much of the united states and canada with tens of millions of people are facing blizzards and cancelled travel plans at the start of the christmas holidays. here in the uk the railways have come to a standstill, earlier than usual this chrismas, after another walk out by workers over pay and conditions. there have been further disturbances in central paris after the murder yesterday of three members of the kurdish community in what police believe was a racist attack. the taliban have further tightened the restrictions

on women in afghanistan, banning them from working for the ngos, just days they were banned from studying at university. hello and welcome to sportsday — i'm gavin ramjaun. leicester come back to take the honours against gloucester — and win the first ever slater cup in the premiership. brentford get frank. the dane commits to another contract at the club ahead of the premier league's big boxing day return. and we meet the sailor who picked up some of his crew from the pub who's preparing to lead britain's entry in one of the world's toughest yacht races — even if the seas make him a little queasy.

hello there and welcome along to the programme. the premiership match between leicester and gloucester had extra meaning today — to honour theirformer player it slater. ——player ed slater. the 34—year—old retired from rugby this summer, after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease. and it was leicester who fought back — the win the first ever "slater cup". the victory a first for their new interim head coach following the departure of steve borthwick to take the england job. imran sidat reports. a proud day for the family as the on this later cup meet its bow in honour of the men who captained both of the day's teems with such distinction. the trip he will not be contested twice a season with two of english rugby's big hitters hoping to deliver a festive cracker to live up to deliver a festive cracker to live up to the occasion. it took a while for the game to take off. the tigers

had a try choked off before gloucester struck a crucial blow just before the break. the tribe is given after a lengthy check. in the second half of them at home side showed their frustration immediately as he charged over to give them the lead. they never looked back as a brace of tries from anthony watson proved whitby to be —— what proved to be a comfortable win. slater was on hand to deliver the trophy to the winning captain on a day that he will not forget. at this fixture sure to provide the former lock with plenty of encouragement and his fight against motor neurone disease. also in the premiership, exeter beat bath. and there was one game in the united rugby championship, an all—italian affair as benetton beat bottom of the table zebre. benetton have been in the headlines this week — over a racism scandal sfter their prop cherif traore was given a rotten banana as a secret santa present — they played in shirts with "no racism" written on them, as they ran in six tries, to beat their italian rivals by 38 points to five in treviso.

it's feast of a football this weekend, with the premier league back after the world cup break on boxing day, but there were four games in the scottish premiership this christmas eve. celtic went nine points clear at the top again after beating stjohnstone 4—1. st mirren came from behind to win against aberdeen. hearts missed the chance to go third. they scored in stoppage time to draw 2—2 with dundee united. and hibs won 4—0 against livingston. football matches in scotland over this christmas period will see all teams wear their away kits, as part of a project to raise awareness of homelessness. no games in the premier league today, but brentford have confirmed their manager thomas frank has signed a new contract which will keep him at the club until 2027. he's been at the side for four years with brentford currently tenth in the premier league, following their 2—1 win at the champions manchester city before the world cup break. last season, which was frank's first in the top flight, he guided brentford to a 13th place finish with memorable wins over arsenal and chelsea.

manchester city manager pep guardiola says england midfielder kalvin phillips was "overweight" when he returned from the world cup, and that he didn't arrive in the condition needed for training sessions and to play. phillips has featured just four times for city — all from the bench — and came on as a substitue twice for england in qatar. the former leeds player wasn't in the squad for their 3—2 league cup win over liverpool on thursday. he arrived overweight. why is he overweight? _ he arrived overweight. why is he overweight? i — he arrived overweight. why is he overweight? i don't _ he arrived overweight. why is he overweight? i don't know. - he arrived overweight. why is he overweight? i don't know. thenl he arrived overweight. why is he overweight? i don't know. then i he arrived overweight. why is he - overweight? i don't know. then i get is the players — overweight? i don't know. then i get is the players response _ overweight? i don't know. then i get is the players response ability - overweight? i don't know. then i get is the players response ability is - is the players response ability is what you saying? he didn't arrive in the condition to play. the what you saying? he didn't arrive in the condition to play.— the condition to play. the reason i ask is he has _ the condition to play. the reason i ask is he has been _ the condition to play. the reason i ask is he has been away at - the condition to play. the reason i ask is he has been away at the - ask is he has been away at the world cup, ask is he has been away at the world cup. he's _ ask is he has been away at the world cup, he's been around for ceos, nutritionists.— nutritionists. no, no, no, absolutely. _ nutritionists. no, no, no, absolutely. that's - nutritionists. no, no, no, absolutely. that's why . nutritionists. no, no, no, absolutely. that's why he j nutritionists. no, no, no, - absolutely. that's why he cannot play. if you are ready, he would play, but we need him. we need him a

lot of is that a disappointment to you, a surprise? tottenham manager antonio conte says he's not concerned about harry kane's mentality after the striker�*s penalty miss for england against france in the world cup quarterfinal. kane scored his first penalty in the 2—1 defeat to the finalists, but then missed his second in the last ten minutes, and england couldn't find an equaliser as they were knocked out of the tournament. kane is back training with spurs, just two weeks since that match, they play at brentford on monday and conte says he's in a good place. we are strong. we are strong people who play at this level, you have to be strong. negative or positive situation. to try to address positive or negative events in the right way because you have to be strong. so you're up to date with the latest lines from the premier league, which of course returns after the break for the world cup on boxing day.

joe lynskey reminds us now of how things were left, when play this season was paused for events in qatar. on the 13th of november, manchester united to be to follow him and the premier league had to pause. football went from the banks of the tenants to the stand —— sands of the desert is 133 players left england's template for qatar. through the highs and hurt of the fifa world cup, now the six week break is done. a new of world champions. its argentina, kings of football. a new of world champions. its| argentina, kings of football. in argentina, kings of football. [hi this argentina, kings of football. this part's argentina, kings of football. in this part's cycle goes on. in that this part�*s cycle goes on. in that last weekend, a gap was forged. manchester city lost to brantford, manchester city lost to bra ntford, so manchester city lost to brantford, so arsenal tapped the leak by five points. now they look to stay there from boxing day through to me, for step for them, it is west ham at home. ~ ~' ., step for them, it is west ham at home. ~ ~ ., ., . ., home. we know the importance of startin: home. we know the importance of starting strong- — home. we know the importance of starting strong. we _ home. we know the importance of starting strong. we are _ home. we know the importance of starting strong. we are playing - home. we know the importance of starting strong. we are playing at| starting strong. we are playing at home. it is a very special day in the premier league history, very

specialfamily day to the premier league history, very special family day to play football. it's an incredible atmosphere that day and we want to make the most out of it. ., , day and we want to make the most out of it. . , ., of it. the team behind them at the to could of it. the team behind them at the too could soon _ of it. the team behind them at the top could soon be _ of it. the team behind them at the top could soon be newcastle - of it. the team behind them at the l top could soon be newcastle united. they pick up from five straight means to get a trip to leicester city. this is a fresh start and for each team committee unfamiliar. some players might have burned out while some have barely played. the world cup was squeezed into the winter, but the break at home had to be managed. but the break at home had to be manaaed. , ., ~ ., .,, , but the break at home had to be manaued. , . ~' ., ., , . managed. the break for me has been a aood one. managed. the break for me has been a good one- i _ managed. the break for me has been a good one. i personally _ managed. the break for me has been a good one. i personally enjoyed - managed. the break for me has been a good one. i personally enjoyed it. - good one. i personally enjoyed it. we went to australia, we had a good trip. we won a couple of games. we saw ourfan base trip. we won a couple of games. we saw our fan base out there and we have been working hard on things that we know we can improve on the step and we are looking forward to what is coming up. i know it is intense and they are and if it guarantees out there i intense and they are and if it guarantees out there- intense and they are and if it guarantees out there i can't imagine at arsenal. — guarantees out there i can't imagine at arsenal. i — guarantees out there i can't imagine at arsenal. i can _ guarantees out there i can't imagine at arsenal, i can imagine _ guarantees out there i can't imagine at arsenal, i can imagine at - guarantees out there i can't imagine at arsenal, i can imagine at arsenal| at arsenal, i can imagine at arsenal they cant— at arsenal, i can imagine at arsenal they can't wait to go again this. game _ they can't wait to go again this. game just— they can't wait to go again this. game just eight days and from the

world cup final. in this unique season, one thing has stayed the same, forfans season, one thing has stayed the same, for fans at top—flight games on boxing day, it is good to be back. let's have a quick look at some of the other stories making the headlines today... argentina's world cup winning captain — lionel messi — has reportedly reached an "agreement in principle" to renew his contract at paris saint—germain. the 35 year old's contract was due to run out injune next year. liverpool have re—signed defender gemma bonner — from us side racing louisville, subject to international clearance and approvals... bonner captained her side to two women's super league titles in her first six—year spell with liverpool, beforejoining manchester city in 2018. and the hobart hurricanes won by eight runs against one of the big bash league favourites, the melbourne renegades. the victory puts them fourth in the table, with the renegades still second. and finally to a yacht race that's known as one of the most difficult in the world. the sydney—hobart race begins on boxing day.

and despite its reputation, it often has some unusual recruits. one participant won their place in an office lucky dip, while the british entry also has some surprising crew members. tom kneen leads them — as britain attempts to win the race for the first time since 1969. and with his yacht sunrise winning the prestigious fastnet race last year, he's looking forward to the challenge. i haven't really recovered from winning the last one, which is the first major race that we one with sunrise. and i think that you take on these challenges with trepidation, but we are fully aware of what we are in for. we are also aware that this particular race can be absolutely terrifying, to be

honest, the whole weather system is difficult, and you end up with big waves and lots of wind. and if you are lucky, the lots of wind is behind you, and that become slightly less difficult, but if you get a situation where you are having to go into the wind in big cities, it can be very rough and i get seasick. i'm lucky because the crew are about as prepared as i possibly could be, and ultimately, i am prepared as i possibly could be, and ultimately, iam personally concerned at the moment that i am going to be the weak link. ultimately, i will get there, i've often described sunrise as a mental health wash for me. as soon as i get on the boat and start steering, i feel hugely better and more confident. i need. i need to get down there and start sailing again. it is a daunting prospect to take on a 600 mile race in a 37 foot boat where the weather could be pretty

nasty. most of my team have been found in pubs along the south coast of the uk if i'm perfectly honest. we first started sailing together, the core of the team first started sailing together in 2019. we are a young team of mates, basically, but because we are doing it because we love it, everybody is obsessed, and you know, you get messages from people at midnight in the whatsapp group talking about a slight tweak we could make to a certain bit of the boat that might give us a competitive edge. i think that the expectation of winning is fairly low. we go to when our class. we are going to think it's fair to try to beat the boats that are similar to us. try to take on the super professional crude vessels and have huge budgets is very difficult. but

what we have proven over the last couple of years is that we are able to take those guys on and beat them. so i'm certainly not going with the view that we haven't got a chance, but i am, i would pinch myself if we pulled it off. but i am, i would pinch myself if we pulled it off-— pulled it off. that is 'ust about it from us here h pulled it off. that is 'ust about it from us here on _ pulled it off. that isjust about it from us here on sportsday. - rock version of we wish you a merry christmas plays. well, ho... ho! ..hoand...

both: merry clickmas! it's the first one from our new glasgow base, so we are here in the middle of pacific quay in the studio. yoo—hoo! good, innit? and we've got all of the latest tech decks... low carbon log fire... ..cgi baubles. ..and sustainable signage. now, this is our last show of 2022 and i think we can all agree it's been a year, hasn't it? it's been a year. here we go. so he's doing the launch sequence now. ten.| nine. seven. six. i five, four, three, two, one. launching. whoa! i started it with the maddest idea i've heard of in ages — launching satellites into space by throwing them into orbit. right. eating on camera is always very messy. i had some cocoa—free chocolate. but is that still chocolate? really good. mmm, lovely. i beg your pardon? iyou had help from the likes of me —| the trimmer, younger—looking virtual

version of you that has helped with all of these _ stories on the telly. marc met younger marc to try to make sense of the metaverse. it's really, really weird. it isn't at, like, a racetrack or testing facility. we are fully in the centre of san francisco. and james went for a ride in a title for driverless taxi. later, it will be present—giving time — although i have to give you this now. catch. ooh, thank you! it's like one of those massage balls i had to use after my shoulder operation. it is not — give it a bounce. ball beeps in different tones. oh, musical! it is, indeed. i'll explain more later. nice! yeah, i'll have it back now, thanks. but first, we're gonna hear a different kind of high note. yes — nick kwek has been on a flying visit to france. remember this? yes! whoa! what about this? galop infernal by offenbach plays.