this is bbc world news. the headlines: italy is the latest country to tighten entry restrictions for travellers from china — due to soaring covid infection rates there after beijing relaxed containment measures this month. the us is also considering bringing in restrictions. as people flee kherson, kyiv says russia has carried out more than 30 rocket attacks in the past 2a hours. air raid sirens have sounded across ukraine. people have been asked to stay in shelters. pope francis has asked people to pray for his predecessor, benedict xvi, who he says is very ill. the vatican says benedict's condition has worsened in recent hours. officials say the former pope

is receiving constant medical attention. and britain is on course to record its warmest year ever, after a summer of blistering heatwaves and a mild autumn and spring. every month apart from december has been warmer than average. you are watching bbc news. now it's time for sportsday. hello and welcome to sportsday. i'm holly hamilton. coming up on tonight's programme... can manchester city get their title defence back on track? we look ahead to a potentially crucial game at leeds. a shock exit at alexandra palace, as two—time world darts champion gary anderson exits the third round of the tournament. and australia are in full control of their second test against south africa with a maiden

test century for alex carey. good evening, welcome along to sportsday. manchester city have a tough few weeks ahead — and pep guardiola knows it. they take on leeds tonight for their first premier league clash since the world cup, sitting eight points clear of the top spot. after they were beaten by brentford before the break, tonight could prove crucial if they want to defend their title. joe lynskey�*s here to look ahead to tonight's clash. when you think about that result just before the world cup break and what they've got coming injanuary, the night's game could be pretty important? the night's game could be pretty imortant? . the night's game could be pretty important?— the night's game could be pretty imortant? ., ., , _, important? yeah, lots coming in the next month — important? yeah, lots coming in the next month or _ important? yeah, lots coming in the next month or so, _ important? yeah, lots coming in the next month or so, for _ important? yeah, lots coming in the next month or so, for manchester i next month or so, for manchester city and every team in the premier league, really, the last match in the set of pictures before another

set of games begin on friday onwards, and manchester city had into this game open to chase down that eight point gap with arsenal. that has grown because of arsenal's win on boxing day and also manchester city's defeat to brentford in that last game before the world cup, that dramatic 2—1 victorie back in novemberfor brentford. it means city don't really have much room for ever over this period of games. they did return to competitive action with a positive performance against liverpool in tfl cup last week and they do have a good recent record against leeds. they won this fixture 4-0 against leeds. they won this fixture 4—0 last season and they beat leeds seven have his ear last december. despite that, pep guardiola had a lot of praise for his opponent and knows this is a tough introduction to premier league football. it is the most aggressive team to

permit— it is the most aggressive team to permit a — it is the most aggressive team to permit a leak. they don't give you time _ permit a leak. they don't give you time to— permit a leak. they don't give you time to think and you have to have a hi-h time to think and you have to have a high level_ time to think and you have to have a high level to — time to think and you have to have a high level to deal with the situation you have. how strong is arsenal? — situation you have. how strong is arsenal? we come from behind, but donna _ the distance is bigger, it will be so difficult to catch up. they just have such theyjust have such a good squad, and for me. — theyjust have such a good squad, and for me, the _ theyjust have such a good squad, and for me, the best _ theyjust have such a good squad, and for me, the best manager- theyjust have such a good squad, and for me, the best manager in. theyjust have such a good squad, . and for me, the best manager in the world, _ and for me, the best manager in the world, a _ and for me, the best manager in the world, a very— and for me, the best manager in the world, a very difficult _ and for me, the best manager in the world, a very difficult playing - world, a very difficult playing style — world, a very difficult playing style to — world, a very difficult playing style to prepare _ world, a very difficult playing style to prepare for, - world, a very difficult playing style to prepare for, and - world, a very difficult playingl style to prepare for, and then world, a very difficult playing - style to prepare for, and then when you introduce — style to prepare for, and then when you introduce the _ style to prepare for, and then when you introduce the quality— style to prepare for, and then when you introduce the quality that - style to prepare for, and then when you introduce the quality that theyl you introduce the quality that they have on _ you introduce the quality that they have on the — you introduce the quality that they have on the pitch, _ you introduce the quality that they have on the pitch, it— you introduce the quality that they have on the pitch, it becomes - you introduce the quality that they have on the pitch, it becomes a i have on the pitch, it becomes a monument— have on the pitch, it becomes a monument of— have on the pitch, it becomes a monument of task. _ have on the pitch, it becomes a monument of task. the - have on the pitch, it becomes a i monument of task. the good thing about— monument of task. the good thing about our— monument of task. the good thing about our team _ monument of task. the good thing about our team now— monument of task. the good thing about our team now is— monument of task. the good thing about our team now is we - monument of task. the good thing about our team now is we are - monument of task. the good thing about our team now is we are notl about our team now is we are not afraid of— about our team now is we are not afraid of the — about our team now is we are not afraid of the biggest _ about our team now is we are not afraid of the biggest opponents. i jesse marsch's leeds site come in this 1/15, just two points above the relegation zone. a couple of connection between these two clubs in recent years. we have had kalvin phillips of the story of him

returning from england duty unfit, according to his manager, and overweight, pep guardiola said. he is a former leeds united player. lots of excitement about erling haaland going to elland road. this is the club his father spent three years at the consequently where erling haaland was born. he is the premier league's top scorer, 18 for him in 13 games. you can keep track of whether he adds to that tally at a club, elland road, close to his heart, on the bbc website. jae. heart, on the bbc website. joe, treat to heart, on the bbc website. joe, great to chat- — heart, on the bbc website. joe, great to chat. thank _ heart, on the bbc website. joe, great to chat. thank you. - chesea and england defender reece james says this year has been the toughest to date after he suffered a second knee injury in chelsea's win over bournemouth yesterday. james had to be taken off in the 53rd minute in what was his first game since returning from an initial knee injury which ruled him out of the world cup. he wrote on social media that it had affected him mentally and that he was trying to cope

with the cards he had been dealt. a busy one in the scottish premiership this evening. six games tonight, with leaders celtic away to hibs as celtic look to record a record 12th successive league victory. nine points between them and rangers, who are at home to motherwell. in the wsl, brighton have named jens scheuer as hope powell's successor as head coach, subject to the german being granted a work permit. if everything goes to plan, scheuer�*s first match in charge will be a crucial one, with brighton playing at the wsl�*s bottom club leicester city when the season resumes on 15 january. he won it in 2015 and 2016, but gary anderson's bid for a third world championship is over. he's been beaten at alexandra palace

this afternoon 4—1 by chris dobey in the third round. it's the earliest exit the scot has suffered in the tournament since 2010. he took the first set 3—0 but failed to continue his dominance before being knocked out. dobey will face either rob cross or mervyn king in the last 16. earlier in the afternoon, 17th seed jose de sousa staged a remarkable comeback against ryan searle, surviving a match dart at three sets down. the special one took out double two to book his place in the round of 16, where he will face gerywn price. let's have a quick look at some of the other stories making the sports news today. novak djokovic is back and training in australia almost a year after he was deported over his covid vaccine status. the nine—time australian open winner had an automatic three—year visa ban overturned in november.

america's mikaela shiffrin secured a giant slalom double in austria to claim her 79th world cup victory, moving her within three wins of compatriot lindsey vonn's women's record of 82. she leads the overall world cup standings by 305 points. the nfl and their players union are conducting a review after miami dolphins quarterback tua tagovailoa suffered his third concussion in sunday's game against the green bay packers. it's the third time he has been concussed this season. the league say he showed no signs of the injury during the game. on to cricket now, and australia are in full control of the second test with south africa, declaring at 575—8 in theirfirst innings. a great moment for aussie batter alex carey, who scored his maiden test hundred to help his side

surpass the 500 mark. it leaves south africa trailing by 371 runs heading into the fourth day, which they'll start on 15 for one after dean elgin was dismissed by pat cummins late on. new zealand ended day three of their first test with pakistan leading by two runs. kane williamson hit triple figures for the black caps. he was batting for the first time since relinquishing the test captaincy and was 105 not out at stumps. pakistan will hope to wrap up the remaining four wickets and keep new zealand's score of 440 down on day four. the university of bath is already home to some of the world's finest sports teams. now the first ever dedicated training facility for the great britain wheelchair fencing team has opened at the site, as cheryl dennis reports. piers and dimitri are world

champion wheelchair fencers. with at least 13 gold medals each, this was a close—fought duel. 0nly last week, they were competing at the european championships. they brought home another four gold medals towards their tally. we were rusty off the flight. it was a nice, fun fight for us and we both enjoyed it. domitri is a great fencer, so it was nice to have a great match. until now, paralympics gb's fencing squad have had to practice in other spaces available at the university of bath. now, they have their own purpose—built, permanent training centre there, kitted out with world—leading facilities to analyse and improve their performance. this facility is a huge thing for us. it symbolises that the work we have put in and the consistency we have put in to earn the right we have something we call home. it is an exciting future for wheelchair fencing in this

country to hopefully see more young people up and coming in the sport, continuing it on, because it is one of the most incredible sports i have seen and done. it's the first time we have had a purpose—built space for us, and the fact that we can make it as we want and also make it a home for us, we have got medal tables, we've got photos of us performing, and i think that makes it an inspiring environment as well. the team are now working towards the next paralympics, paris 2024, and hoping to furnish their new home with even more medals. cheryl dennis, bbc news. justjoin us later on this evening for more on today's sport. there will be all the build up to deny�*s premier league clash between manchester city and leeds on the bbc website, but that is all from sportsday. good night. —— tonight's premier league clash.

after you've been through something like we've been through and ourfamilies have been through, you've got to try and get something positive out of it. you've... it's a mind—set. you've just got to. you've just got to keep going, keep going as a human being. but if you can make it slightly better for another person, that gives you hope and it gives them hope, as well. when it happens to you — you know, this thing that doesn't happen, doesn't come into your lives suddenly has — one of the very first things that you discover off the back of that is that suicide is the biggest killer of young people in the uk. if that's the case, why aren't we doing something about it? what are we? we're three dads.

i suppose you get the male. stereotype that doesn't talk. we do talk. we will talk about what's happened to us and how we feel. _ we believe we can prevent so many young suicides. . you know, if the government really want to and they debate this, - if we can push it, it'll make a massive difference. - right, let's try as though we mean it. 0k. look like three old men. in september 2022, these three dads set out on a mission. it was the second time they'd put on their walking boots to try to bring about change, having each lost a daughter to suicide. raising money and awareness was not enough. they wanted a change in legislation, a change in the way young people learned about the risk they pose to themselves. tim, andy and mike — the three dads walking. three dads to three daughters who all took their own lives — emily, sophie and beth.

it all started in 2021, when they were brought together by their grief and decided to shine a light on the issue. there they go. andy, mike and tim walking 300 miles over the next 15 days _ to raise money and awareness about suicide prevention. - on that walk, they raised almost £1 million. but the dads knew that finishing that challenge was not the end of their work. and there seemed to be a glaring gap, that we should be talking to our young people, and one of the solutions would be to actually get the schools involved. i think when we crossed the line and showed them. you know, when you said to me, "what's it like to finish?" it's like, well, we're not finished. we knew then we weren't finished, but we didn't know what it was going to be. you didn't know the shape of it.

not at all. it was a logical progression to, where do we take this next? we'd done our homes. we needed to take it to london. so, ijust always saw us walking into westminster. well, if it's to do with maps, i might as well they laugh the plan took shape. the three dads would walk 600 miles between all four uk parliaments to try to get suicide prevention made a compulsory part of the school curriculum. on their first walk, they'd caught the eye of celebrities, like daniel craig and nicole kidman, who each donated £10,000 to the cause. nicole kidman saying she'd been moved after seeing their story on tv. the evening before their dad set out on this latest challenge, they sat down to messages from their friends, family