this is bbc news. the headlines: the united states has announced it will require negative covid tests for travellers from china, following growing alarm at the rapid increase in chinese infections. tighter measures have also been announced by italy, japan, taiwan and india. as people flee kherson, kyiv says russia has carried out more than 30 rocket attacks in the past 2a hours. meanwhile, president zelensky told lawmkarers at his end—of—year address that ukraine's defiance had united the european union. 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.

and britain is on course to record its warmest year ever, after a summer of blistering heatwaves and a mild autumn and spring. hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are rachel cunliffe, senior associate editor at the new statesman, and claire cohen, journalist and author. we will say hello to both in just a moment. first, though, let's take a look at the actual front pages. with fresh strikes expected in the new year and reports of new anti—strike laws, the financial times leads with a warning from incoming boss of the tuc, paul nowak, who says unions will fight and make the government "pay a high political

price" for such laws. the independent has gone with a striking image of the impact of recent russian bombardment in ukraine. they're also shining a light on striking chaos, with a warning that the uk could see a year of disruption if the government fails to negotiate. in contrast, the times leads with labour's vow to combat anti—social behaviour as the party promises to "prevent, punish and protect". and the daily express leads with a safer streets pledge from the prime minister. this comes after a devastating wave of murders over christmas. "have the tories given up on cutting taxes?" is the daily mail's leading story, as they go with reports that chancellorjeremy hunt has scrapped a major review of taxation. and the sun goes with "sneaky nando�*s" as their headline — this comes after reports of civil servants being handed £30 million in shop and restaurant gift cards. the telegraph leads with the government's taxpayer—funded de—radicalisation scheme, with reports that it is promoting militant bodies.

welcome. welcome to you both. thanks very much for coming back and agreeing to dupe another edition of the papers —— do another edition of the papers. let's start with the financial times. we're actually going to focus on the story that has been breaking and developing over the last few hours, since we have been on air. the headline there... claire, can you kick us off?- claire, can you kick us off? yes, and as you _ claire, can you kick us off? yes, and as you pointed _ claire, can you kick us off? yes, and as you pointed out - claire, can you kick us off? yes, and as you pointed out at - claire, can you kick us off? yes, and as you pointed out at the i claire, can you kick us off? 133 and as you pointed out at the top claire, can you kick us off? 1&1: and as you pointed out at the top of the programme, the us is now demanding testing for tourists from china as well, so this really is a developing story. it is quite poignant, isn't it, that it is italy thatis poignant, isn't it, that it is italy that is the first european nation to demand these tests? because of course it we cast our mind back to three years ago, it is those images we are memberfrom italy in early 2020, we were watching the scenes in

hospitals, we were watching grieving families, and we were sitting at home in the uk and thinking of where on earth is this going to go, which seems strangely along time ago now, but here we are with a similar headline on the tomorrow about china. of course until last month, china. of course until last month, china had some of the most draconian covid laws in existence, in the world. it had its people in lockdowns, people found it hard to even leave their homes. they certainly were struggling to leave the country. there were extensive quarantine periods. following that period of civil unrest weeks ago, and actually the news that the chinese economy has not grown at the rate it was expected to in 2022, those laws have been scrapped are in the process of being trapped right now —— or in the process of being scrapped. the problem is, cases are rising, which we see in other countries that have locked down in a similar draconian way and have opened up. china or saint have got

it under control of the official line is, it isjust a macron and it is not that serious and anything else is smear campaign against us, but the information coming out of the country and the pictures coming out of the hospitals and funeral homes are telling a different story —— isjust a macron. a pretty worrying picture. we don't have any data. of course the concern is if this spreads amongst a large population, a population that has been vaccinated by and large but has not had boosters club just had the initial vaccine in china, the slightly older vaccine as well, it could spread very quickly, and of course then we could be faced with a new variance potentially. and we have seen before how that goes and how that can impact other countries. so it is really ample that these countries are putting these restrictions into place. ritual, what do

—— rachel, what you make of the return of these restrictions for chinese nationals?— return of these restrictions for chinese nationals? sadly, ithink it is inevitable _ chinese nationals? sadly, ithink it is inevitable that _ chinese nationals? sadly, ithink it is inevitable that governmental- chinese nationals? sadly, i think it| is inevitable that governmental look at what _ is inevitable that governmental look at what is _ is inevitable that governmental look at what is going on in china and panicies— at what is going on in china and panicles whether the restrictions do any good _ panicles whether the restrictions do any good is another question. —— and paniw _ any good is another question. —— and panic... airport — any good is another question. —— and panic... airport testing, you have to do— panic... airport testing, you have to do it _ panic... airport testing, you have to do it quite _ panic... airport testing, you have to do it quite rigorously, we have learned — to do it quite rigorously, we have learned. you probably want to send people _ learned. you probably want to send people into quarantine stations or hotels _ people into quarantine stations or hotels or— people into quarantine stations or hotels or something to make sure that it _ hotels or something to make sure that it does not escape from and also there — that it does not escape from and also there is a huge amount of possibility for it to spread on planes — possibility for it to spread on planes and things like that. so that is why— planes and things like that. so that is why we _ planes and things like that. so that is why we have not had travel restrictions for most of the last year. _ restrictions for most of the last year. have _ restrictions for most of the last year, have kinda decided it was not really— year, have kinda decided it was not really worth — year, have kinda decided it was not really worth it. on the other hand, as claire _ really worth it. on the other hand, as claire said, particularly a country— as claire said, particularly a country like italy, we saw the various— country like italy, we saw the various come from china to initially two years— various come from china to initially two years ago, you can see why people _ two years ago, you can see why people are — two years ago, you can see why people are worried, especially as it isjust— people are worried, especially as it isjust turn— people are worried, especially as it isjust turn to people are worried, especially as it is just turn to feel this year like things— is just turn to feel this year like things have kind of been going back

to normal — things have kind of been going back to normal i— things have kind of been going back to normal. i think it is quite interesting look at how china have -ot interesting look at how china have got into _ interesting look at how china have got into this particular point, with its own— got into this particular point, with its own covid situation, which is partly _ its own covid situation, which is partly the — its own covid situation, which is partly the result of, as you mentioned, a population that is vaccinated but is mostly vaccinated using _ vaccinated but is mostly vaccinated using the _ vaccinated but is mostly vaccinated using the chinese made vaccines. huge _ using the chinese made vaccines. huge reluctance to use pfizer, moderna, _ huge reluctance to use pfizer, moderna, the astrazeneca ones that we are _ moderna, the astrazeneca ones that we are all— moderna, the astrazeneca ones that we are all familiar with here that are more — we are all familiar with here that are more effective. also, the sense in which _ are more effective. also, the sense in which the — are more effective. also, the sense in which the policy of zero covid, the idea — in which the policy of zero covid, the idea that the single covid cases enough _ the idea that the single covid cases enough to— the idea that the single covid cases enough to lock down the entire apartment block or an area of a city or even_ apartment block or an area of a city or even an — apartment block or an area of a city or even an entire city or region, that— or even an entire city or region, that focus— or even an entire city or region, that focus on lockdowns may have made _ that focus on lockdowns may have made people less likely to go get the vaccine because the older people were most— the vaccine because the older people were most vulnerable and mostly did it, were most vulnerable and mostly did it. because _ were most vulnerable and mostly did it, because they felt the lockdowns protected _ it, because they felt the lockdowns protected them and therefore they did not— protected them and therefore they did not need it, and it was kind of only when— did not need it, and it was kind of only when we had the world cup and all the _ only when we had the world cup and all the footage of people watching football _ all the footage of people watching football without masks and crowded

spaces. _ football without masks and crowded spaces, that the civil unrest really spiked _ spaces, that the civil unrest really spiked in— spaces, that the civil unrest really spiked in china, and you had people going. _ spiked in china, and you had people going. hang — spiked in china, and you had people going, hang on, what is going on here _ going, hang on, what is going on here the — going, hang on, what is going on here the boy is our covid situation so different — here the boy is our covid situation so different to the rest of the world? — so different to the rest of the world? you have the rapid reopening, sudden _ world? you have the rapid reopening, sudden spike in cases, sudden ability— sudden spike in cases, sudden ability for— sudden spike in cases, sudden ability for chinese people to leave the country, which they have not had, _ the country, which they have not had, which — the country, which they have not had, which is culminating in a panicked _ had, which is culminating in a panicked response from the rest of the world — panicked response from the rest of the world. we panicked response from the rest of the world. ~ . the world. we will see. the eu meetin: the world. we will see. the eu meeting tomorrow _ the world. we will see. the eu meeting tomorrow to - the world. we will see. the eu meeting tomorrow to consider| the world. we will see. the eu - meeting tomorrow to consider their latest response. we will leave international news, come back to the uk. front page of the independent. claire, if you can talk us of the headline there? it claire, if you can talk us of the headline there?— headline there? it has become apparent. _ headline there? it has become apparent, hasn't _ headline there? it has become apparent, hasn't it, _ headline there? it has become apparent, hasn't it, in- headline there? it has become apparent, hasn't it, in the - headline there? it has become apparent, hasn't it, in the last| headline there? it has become - apparent, hasn't it, in the last few weeks, but we all hoped might be a winter of discontent or christmas, new year's strikes, is going go on for much longer than that was not because the government simply has not sat down negotiating with the public sector workers —— much longer

than that? this story in the independent, the new tuc leader paul nowak, saying he could go on until 2023 and could become a general election issue for 2024, so he does not seem like he is seeing an end in sight, albeit he hasjust taken not seem like he is seeing an end in sight, albeit he has just taken over from francis o'grady. effect of the matter is, we are seeing all sorts of different types of public sector workers people whose pay has been frozen over the last decade, certainly has not risen in line with inflation and certainly is not rising in line with inflation at 10% now. we have gotjunior doctors and midwives threatening to strike next year, there been stories this week about real workers potentially doing strikes on consecutive days, rather than the sort of ad hoc approach we have seen the last couple of weeks. this is not going to go away unless the government comes up of the serie solution and sits down and negotiates, and it is not clear at

this point what it is —— comes out with a serious solution. it is not clear it can meet all the pay demands of all the different sectors... demands of all the different sectors - -_ demands of all the different sectors... �*, , sectors... let's pick up on exactly that with rachel. _ sectors... let's pick up on exactly that with rachel. what _ sectors... let's pick up on exactly that with rachel. what do - sectors... let's pick up on exactly that with rachel. what do you - sectors... let's pick up on exactly i that with rachel. what do you make of this assessment of potentially 2023 and the chances of how this gets resolved? it is 2023 and the chances of how this gets resolved?— 2023 and the chances of how this gets resolved? it is sort of a game of chicken. — gets resolved? it is sort of a game of chicken, isn't _ gets resolved? it is sort of a game of chicken, isn't it? _ gets resolved? it is sort of a game of chicken, isn't it? the _ of chicken, isn't it? the governments are hoping that the more disruption _ governments are hoping that the more disruption there is to health services. _ disruption there is to health services, to train services, the people — services, to train services, the people coming back from holiday but to schools. _ people coming back from holiday but to schools, i have made a list of all the _ to schools, i have made a list of all the different groups that are striking. — all the different groups that are striking, and i will not go through because _ striking, and i will not go through because we do not have time, the more _ because we do not have time, the more disruption there is, the more public— more disruption there is, the more public something done except he will -- publican— public something done except he will —— publican but he will diminish... one_ —— publican but he will diminish... one things — —— publican but he will diminish... one things he wants to do is making it harder— one things he wants to do is making it harder for— one things he wants to do is making it harder for people to strike, which — it harder for people to strike, which were not stop the strikes

anyway. — which were not stop the strikes anyway, but the message he is sending — anyway, but the message he is sending is, i anyway, but the message he is sending is, lam going anyway, but the message he is sending is, i am going to be tough on it _ sending is, i am going to be tough on it the— sending is, i am going to be tough on it. the problem with that, and we have done some quite extensive pulling _ have done some quite extensive pulling on— have done some quite extensive pulling on this, is that public support_ pulling on this, is that public support for these strikes is quite high. _ support for these strikes is quite high, surprisingly high, compared to where _ high, surprisingly high, compared to where public support for industrial action— where public support for industrial action usually is. partly, you've -ot action usually is. partly, you've got to— action usually is. partly, you've got to break down by sector, you cannot— got to break down by sector, you cannot compare simply for nurses for simply— cannot compare simply for nurses for simply with— cannot compare simply for nurses for simply with rail workers, but when you look— simply with rail workers, but when you look at— simply with rail workers, but when you look at who the public blame for this, you look at who the public blame for this. it _ you look at who the public blame for this. it is _ you look at who the public blame for this. it is not — you look at who the public blame for this, it is not the unions, although they do— this, it is not the unions, although they do say— this, it is not the unions, although they do say unions have a role, it is the _ they do say unions have a role, it is the government. there is a sense of the _ is the government. there is a sense of the government has allowed things to get— of the government has allowed things to get to _ of the government has allowed things to get to this point, to fall apart, and the _ to get to this point, to fall apart, and the fact that it is so many different— and the fact that it is so many different areas striking at once kind of— different areas striking at once kind of compounds that sense. so this sense — kind of compounds that sense. so this sense in tory party circles we can sit— this sense in tory party circles we can sit tight — this sense in tory party circles we can sit tight and channel our inner margaret— can sit tight and channel our inner margaret thatcher and the unions will fold _ margaret thatcher and the unions will fold because public empathy will fold because public empathy will diminish, that is not really the trend — will diminish, that is not really the trend at the moment, that is not

the trend at the moment, that is not the directory. the worse things get, the directory. the worse things get, the more _ the directory. the worse things get, the more public services crumble, the more public services crumble, the more — the more public services crumble, the more that public anger is turned on at _ the more that public anger is turned on at the _ the more that public anger is turned on at the unions but at the government who are allowing to happen — government who are allowing to happen. we government who are allowing to ha en. ~ , government who are allowing to ha en, . , ., , government who are allowing to hauen. ~ , ., ., happen. we will see as we head into the new year- _ happen. we will see as we head into the new year. we _ happen. we will see as we head into the new year. we are _ happen. we will see as we head into the new year. we are going - happen. we will see as we head into the new year. we are going to - happen. we will see as we head into the new year. we are going to stickl the new year. we are going to stick with politics, but we are going to the front page of the daily mail. they posed a question, claire, you're going to give us an answer... it is a big question, isn't it? what the tories have given up on is trussonomics, i think it's fair to say for so we already have seen jimmy hunt take a scalpel to anything remotely to do with her mini budget —— what we have seen his jeremy hunt take. this is a review of the treasury tax system that has fallen by the wayside, quietly ditched, says the daily mail, raising fears amongst stories that ministers not serious about cutting tax. this is another example of the truss and was a kwarteng economic plan just being seen as complete toxic byjeremy hunt and by the

party, there is an argument that a review of britain's convoluted tax system would be quite sensible and in fact, when kwasi kwarteng pledged to do it in september, he said he wanted to review the system to make it simpler, more dynamic and favour, which is a pretty admirable aim, and certainly it does... some business leaders suggest does need it, but to even suggest that is just complete the on thing a bull forjeremy hunt, and we've already had this spring budget date given for the 15th of march next year, we have been told there will be tax changes —— completely unthinkable. every he can do to distance himself from that. ie. do to distance himself from that. is a fascinating position conservatives find themselves in. i will ask you the same question. have tories given up the same question. have tories given up on cutting tax, in your opinion? we have got our highest tax burden since _ we have got our highest tax burden since the _ we have got our highest tax burden since the second world war, it is certainly— since the second world war, it is certainly is — since the second world war, it is certainly is the case taxes have been _ certainly is the case taxes have been creeping up and up and up, and it depends— been creeping up and up and up, and it depends who's taxes you're

looking — it depends who's taxes you're looking at, but especially if you are getting most of your income from this radical— are getting most of your income from this radical thing called working, or you _ this radical thing called working, or you have a salary, there is then — or you have a salary, there is then your— or you have a salary, there is then... your taxes, or you have a salary, there is then... yourtaxes, compared to somebody— then... yourtaxes, compared to somebody who gets there income off dividends— somebody who gets there income off dividends or being a landlord or other— dividends or being a landlord or other sources of income, your taxes working _ other sources of income, your taxes working really are at an unprecedented high level. if you compare — unprecedented high level. if you compare that with the quality of public— compare that with the quality of public services we are getting, which — public services we are getting, which we — public services we are getting, which we just discussed a moment ago. _ which we just discussed a moment ago. it— which we just discussed a moment ago, it does feel there is an imbalance here. the us has very little _ imbalance here. the us has very little in _ imbalance here. the us has very little in the — imbalance here. the us has very little in the way of public services but very— little in the way of public services but very low taxes, you can be like the nordic— but very low taxes, you can be like the nordic countries which have a very high—tech spring but university quality— very high—tech spring but university quality public services of an elsewhere... —— very high tax burden but universally quality. i am all for simple _ but universally quality. i am all for simple finding tax code, not least _ for simple finding tax code, not least because the week i have to do my self—assessment tax return, which

i my self—assessment tax return, which i really _ my self—assessment tax return, which i really not _ my self—assessment tax return, which i really not looking forward to! just doing that process shows you it is really— just doing that process shows you it is really unnecessarily complicated, and that— is really unnecessarily complicated, and that is— is really unnecessarily complicated, and that is forjust one, let alone if and that is forjust one, let alone it you're — and that is forjust one, let alone if you're trying to run a small business _ if you're trying to run a small business. the idea of simplifying is one of— business. the idea of simplifying is one of the — business. the idea of simplifying is one of the few things liz truss really— one of the few things liz truss really got _ one of the few things liz truss really got right, but there is not the political capital to do it. she did not— the political capital to do it. she did not have the capital. jeremy hunt _ did not have the capital. jeremy hunt wants to distance himself as much _ hunt wants to distance himself as much as— hunt wants to distance himself as much as possible from her, sol think— much as possible from her, sol think it is — much as possible from her, sol think it is going to be another decade — think it is going to be another decade before we are talking about tax reform — decade before we are talking about tax reform anyway really need to be. interesting _ tax reform anyway really need to be. interesting stuff. we are going to go to the sun now. the headline is sneaky nando's. you have to spend 100 this is all about. this sneaky nando's. you have to spend 100 this is all about.— 100 this is all about. this is vouchers — 100 this is all about. this is vouchers being _ 100 this is all about. this is vouchers being given - 100 this is all about. this is vouchers being given to - 100 this is all about. this is| vouchers being given to civil servants. vouchers being given to civil servants-— vouchers being given to civil servants. , ., ., ., ., vouchers being given to civil servants. ., ., ., ., servants. -- you are going to have to explain- — servants. -- you are going to have to explain. rachel— servants. -- you are going to have to explain. rachel and _ servants. -- you are going to have to explain. rachel and i— servants. -- you are going to have to explain. rachel and i have - servants. -- you are going to have to explain. rachel and i have got l to explain. rachel and i have got stron: to explain. rachel and i have got strong views _ to explain. rachel and i have got strong views on _ to explain. rachel and i have got strong views on this _ to explain. rachel and i have got strong views on this service, - strong views on this service, because i would say it is pretty inaccurate that this is been made up, this voucher scheme, including

nando's voucher, has been somehow made up to make up for the civil service pay freeze or, it is said, of wages somehow. it was in place under the last labour government phrases like gravy train vouchers are just completely, a completely confected outrage, really. our civil servants are as exasperated as any of the other group of workers we been talking about in the programme. they have been overstretched and underpaid for many years and particularly since the pandemic. many feel quite rightly that they kept the country going in many ways and now they are being squeezed like the rest of the nation during a cost—of—living crisis, so this kind of slightly confected outrage, cheeky nando's headline, when it is a scheme of reward and recognition that has been in place for many years, to be on the front of the sun, i think it is a little unfair. rachel? l sun, i think it is a little unfair. rachel? ., , ,': ::

rachel? i did some maths. £30 million in _ rachel? i did some maths. £30 million in gift _ rachel? i did some maths. £30 million in gift tokens, _ rachel? i did some maths. £30 million in gift tokens, which - rachel? i did some maths. £30 million in gift tokens, which if. rachel? i did some maths. £30 i million in gift tokens, which if you divide _ million in gift tokens, which if you divide it— million in gift tokens, which if you divide it by— million in gift tokens, which if you divide it by the number of civil service — divide it by the number of civil service we _ divide it by the number of civil service we have, about half a million. _ service we have, about half a million. is _ service we have, about half a million, is about 60 quid per person. _ million, is about 60 quid per person, which is not a huge amount of money _ person, which is not a huge amount of money. they are not paying ticket price. _ of money. they are not paying ticket price, because they are gift vouchers. as claire said, this is not a _ vouchers. as claire said, this is not a new— vouchers. as claire said, this is not a new thing. but ijust love the way it— not a new thing. but ijust love the way it is— not a new thing. but ijust love the way it is phrased. i am going to read it— way it is phrased. i am going to read it out. _ way it is phrased. i am going to read it out, they handed out good performance amid pay freeze. they are knocking a pay rise, they're getting — are knocking a pay rise, they're getting a — are knocking a pay rise, they're getting a voucher worth on average about— getting a voucher worth on average about 50 _ getting a voucher worth on average about 50 quid, yet half works from home _ about 50 quid, yet half works from home and — about 50 quid, yet half works from home and they were huge feelings in whitehall departments. most of us have been doing at least some working — have been doing at least some working from home during the pandemic, that is kind of how the pandemic— pandemic, that is kind of how the pandemic working works, and you might— pandemic working works, and you might say— pandemic working works, and you might say huge failings in whitehall the partners might have had something to do with 12 month of abject— something to do with 12 month of abject political chaos, three prime ministers. — abject political chaos, three prime ministers, four chancellors, five education — ministers, four chancellors, five education secretaries and two full— blown tory leadership contests. navy that _ full— blown tory leadership contests. navy that had some say in its. and

he of— navy that had some say in its. and he of some — navy that had some say in its. and he of some guy from the taxpayers alliance. _ he of some guy from the taxpayers alliance, who are usually quite good on this— alliance, who are usually quite good on this thing, saying, it is a slap in the _ on this thing, saying, it is a slap in the face. _ on this thing, saying, it is a slap in the face, when everything from adding _ in the face, when everything from adding a gp appointment and solving crime. _ adding a gp appointment and solving crime, seems broken. this is completely irrelevant to my wonder whether— completely irrelevant to my wonder whether the generalist at the sun might— whether the generalist at the sun might have been taking some time off this week. _ might have been taking some time off this week, in the wake of christmas. ifully— this week, in the wake of christmas. i fully defend the right to do so. there _ i fully defend the right to do so. there is— i fully defend the right to do so. there is not very much news this week _ there is not very much news this week they— there is not very much news this week. they struggled for a front page and — week. they struggled for a front page and went, but some vouchers on their because there is a completely advocated — their because there is a completely advocated story designed to induce outrage. _ advocated story designed to induce outrage, when there's really nothing to add _ outrage, when there's really nothing to add out— outrage, when there's really nothing to add out all. outrage, when there's really nothing to add out all-— to add out all. rachel and claire, next time. _ to add out all. rachel and claire, next time. you — to add out all. rachel and claire, next time, you should _ to add out all. rachel and claire, next time, you should let - to add out all. rachel and claire, next time, you should let us - to add out all. rachel and claire, | next time, you should let us know to add out all. rachel and claire, i next time, you should let us know if you really think of the papers! we are out of time, but thank you both very much for talking through the serious and perhaps not so serious doors on the front pages —— what you really think. claire and rachel,

thanks both very much indeed. and that is it for this edition of the papers. we will be back again tomorrow evening with aubrey allegretti, political correspondent at the guardian, and asa bennett, former government speech writer. dojoin us then if do join us then if you dojoin us then if you can. for now, though, that is it. i am lewis vaughanjones and is bbc news. —— and this is. good evening. i'm holly hamilton with your sports news tonight. and a dominant manchester city have beaten leeds united 3—1 away from home to close the gap on premier league leaders arsenal to five points. and it was a tense wait for the visitors, with the first goal coming just before half—time courtesy of rodri. two goals then from erling haaland means he's become the fastest player to score 20 goals in premier league history, taking just 14 appearances.

pascal struijk headed in for leeds, but city never really looked too ruffled to take all three points. liverpool have confirmed cody gakpo willjoin the club from psv eindhoven. the dutch forward scored three times for his country at the world cup, including this one in the opening game of the tournament against qatar. the move will become official at the start of the january transfer window, subject to a work permit being granted, after agreeing personal terms and successfully completing a medical. in the scottish premiership, celtic have beaten hibernian by 4—0. aaron mooy scored twice, one of which was from the penalty spot, with his goals coming either side of this brilliant effort from daizen maeda before the break. it keeps celtic nine points clear at the top of the division.

elsewhere, it was a comfortable night for rangers as they beat motherwell 3—0. there was a vital three points for dundee united at tannadice. and hearts move up to third with their first away win against stjohnstone in 12 years and a fourth straight defeat for aberdeen. full results from tonight's six spl matches on the bbc sport website. 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. 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.

he's been practising in adelaide ahead of the first grand slam of the year in melbourne injanuary. he won it in 2015 and 2016, but gary anderson's bid for a third world championship is over. he has been beaten at alexandra palace 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 gerwyn price. and michael van gerwen is into the fourth round after beating mensur suljovic 4—2. the austrian pulled off a 161 checkout to deny mvg and pull it back to 3—2, but the dutchman took the decisive set. joe cullen also flew through to the next round, beating damon heta 4—0. 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. only last week, they were competing at the european championships. there, they brought home

anotherfour gold medals towards their tally. first day, we were rusty off the flight. it was a nice, fun fight for us and we both enjoyed it. dimitri is a great fencer, so it was nice to have a great match as well. 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 milestone, almost. 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. i think it is an exciting future for wheelchair fencing in this country as well, to hopefully see more young people up and coming in the sport and 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 exactly as we want and also make it a home for us. we've 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. and that's all the sport for now. enjoy the rest of your evening. good night. hello there. new year's eve, just around the corner. and if your plans involve being outside, please keep watching the forecast. there's a lot of rain in the story over the next few days. the winds will be a feature as well. gale force gusts on exposed coasts not out of the question. the only snow is really to the tops of the mountains in scotland,

so we're not too concerned about that for the time being. but as this low pressure moves away, plenty of isobars on the southern flank, the winds very much a feature. so for thursday's weather, that's going to be blowing in plenty of showers from the word go, most frequent across scotland, northern ireland and northwest england. but there will be some across west—facing coasts of wales. the only good news is with the strength of the winds, gusts in excess of 40 to maybe 50 miles an hour in exposed coasts, it's going to push those showers through at quite a pace. top temperatures as we go through the day on thursday ranging from 6 to 10 degrees, so just a degree or so down on what we've seen just recently, but still not too bad for the time of year. there's more wet weather to come, though, as we move towards the end of the week. as you can see, these weatherfronts pushing in. they will for a time on the leading edge bring some snow, but that moves away quite quickly and turns to rain across scotland as that frontal system moves through. and then it will leave a trail of showers through friday

afternoon for many. 4 to 7 degrees in scotland, highest values of 13, perhaps, in the southeast. as we head towards the new year's eve and the weekend, well, we're going to see this milder air clinging on across england and wales, the cold air sitting in place in scotland. that's in some ways where the driest and the brightest of the weather, any showers here to higher ground still wintry, but these frontal systems still open to uncertainty as to exactly where they'll be sitting through new year's eve and into new year's day. so keep abreast of the forecast if you do have outdoor plans because the rain mightjust be that little bit further north or south. but it looks likely that it is going to be unsettled, wet and windy at times for england and wales, crisper and a little bit colder but drier into scotland. but then those frontal systems will start to push their way steadily north for the start of 2023. so, lots to play for at the moment. but look at the temperatures, still on the mild side by new year's day, with highs of 12 degrees. happy new year.

this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the us announces it will require negative covid tests for travellers from china, as alarm grows at the rapid increase in chinese infections. tighter measures are also announced by italy, japan, taiwan and india amid concern china's case numbers aren't accurate. it's sparked an angry response from beijing. translation: the argument. you mentioned is a biased smear campaign and political manipulation with a hidden agenda, which does not stand up to scrutiny or facts and runs counter to the truth. as people flee the ukrainian city of kherson, kyiv says russia has carried out more than 30 rocket attacks in the past 24 hours alone.

pope francis asks people to pray for his predecessor, benedict xvi — who he says, is very ill.