this is bbc news. i'm chris rogers. the headlines at 3pm. tributes to the singer george michael, one of the biggest stars in british music, who has died at the age of 53. his death has shocked fans around the world. they have turned out at his homes in london and oxfordshire to pay their last respects. a very kind person. i grew up with him, but i didn't know him. we were in a same age. very sad news. here on the tens, the pile of flowers outside his home is growing larger and larger, from many people who felt that although he lit in

their mitts, his talents set him apart. flags fly a half mast across russia in tribute those who died when a military plane bound for syria crashed into the black sea. also this hour, millions of shoppers head to the high street for the boxing day sales. these were the crowds flocking into selfridges in london as bargain hunters turned out to bag cut—price deals, although trade could be down due to pre—christmas discounts. and coming up in half an hour, we celebrate the lives of those who left us this year,including muhammed ali, in review 2016: we remember: part one. welcome to bbc news. a merry christmas to you, as well. the music world has been paying

tribute to george michael, who died last night, from suspected heart failure, at the age of 53. the singer sold more than 100 million albums in a career spanning nearly four decades. he leapt to fame with the pop duo wham, enjoying global success in the eighties, before leaving to forge a successful solo career. but he struggled with the pressures of fame and press attention. his bandmate andrew ridgeley said he was "heartbroken at the loss of a beloved friend". 0ur correspondent, lizo mzimba, reports. # wham # bam george michael doing what he did best. even then, he was potentially a music superstar. he and his school friend formed wham in the 1980s. their brand of breezy pop captured a generation.

a string of number one hits followed. # wake me up before you go, go. # as a solo artist, he # as a solo artist, he enjoyed perhaps even greater success. ‘faith‘ sold millions on both sides of the atlantic. his popularity was not limited to his fans. fellow musicians were equally overwhelmed by his talents. here he is rehearsing for the 1992 freddie mercury tribute concert. # somebody to #... according to his publicist, he passed away peacefully on christmas day. on christmas day at his home in oxfordshire. his manager said he died

of heart failure. tributes have been led by his former band mate, andrew ridgeley, who said he was heartbroken at the loss of his beloved it friend. madonna said, farewell my friend, another great artist leaves us. eltonjohn said, i am in deep shock, i have lost a beloved friend, the kindest, most generous soul and a brilliant artist. paul young duetted with george michael. he paid tribute today. he always had an incredible pop sensibility and a voice that could touch people. some people have a voice and you hear it and it cuts straight to your heart. he seemed to have that ability. as well as success over the years, he also had brushes with the law. his car collided with a high street shop, leading to a spell in prison. he was cautioned and fined for drugs possession and received treatment for addiction.

to be a part of people's lives as an artist, that is what i dreamed of and what i'm still grateful for. but, my god, i wish i could cope with the other stuff the way others do. i wish i had been born with that particular suit of armour. cause i wasn't. when george michael revealed he was gay, he said he had kept it secret to stop his mother worrying about hiv. in 2011, he said he had nearly died in vienna after a bout of pneumonia. more music was on the way, a collaboration with producer naughty boy and a documentary was due next march. when it came to pop, george michael had it all, the looks, the voice and the ability to write hit after hit, again and again. ben and oh hasjoined many fans outside george michael's house in

oxfordshire. the crowd sing to keep growing, actually? they do and also the floral tributes. throughout the day, more and more people have been coming here, laying down flowers, cards, and other mementos, trying to express what george michael meant to them. it was very clear that he was an artist who touched many people in an artist who touched many people in a very emotional and empathic way, they felt he was someone who was speaking to them, all conveying emotions they were going through in there and lives. he spent a lot of time here in this village, living in this house behind me, on the banks of the river thames. someone who villagers would leave alone, let him go for walks by the river banks. the

landlady at the local pub said he would go into the pub and mix with the locals as if he was just another resident. it was slightly surreal, we didn't expect such a music legend through our door. he never wanted any special treatment. he was respectful of others around him, and of us, and he was a pleasure to have. his music speaks volumes and he will be remembered. we are all very fond of him and have memorabilia of his, and he was a local himself, supporting a village, supporting the village, spending time in the village and was a very, very lovely man who we'll recollect fond memories. man who we'll recollect with fond memories. george michael was so tragically young at just 53

george michael was so tragically young atjust 53 years old. 0ne george michael was so tragically young atjust 53 years old. one man said he'd seen george michael while he was fishing down by the river, and he didn't look terribly well. many people here are worried —— wondering what happened here. we know he was found in his bed just after lunch and he was unresponsive. he was declared dead inside the house. the cause of death is allegedly heart failure, but we anticipate that over the coming days, we will learn more about what caused george michael to pass away. thank you, ben. let's get some more reaction. we are going to speak to darren scott from the gay times. we are so sorry. darren scott from the gay times. we are so sorry. it's a huge loss to so many fans across the world. a really sad christmas for many. we want to talk to you because george michael is famous for coming out as being 93v, is famous for coming out as being gay, one of the first in his generation, but it goes beyond that

what he did for the l g bt community. he was a great supporter of lg bt charities and hiv charities, he was himself an unashamedly gay and open about it, they can put the many young, gay men who didn't have any role models, especially in the early 90s. do you think role models are still needed 01’ think role models are still needed or has he helps now? he has helped, but they are still needed. we need people to be open and proud and really embraced their sexuality like george did. he was unashamedly gay, and he said two people, if you can't deal with it then you can't deal with it. he often had problems with the tabloids, not all positive. he

hit back in his music and videos as well, had a good sense of humour about it, but he did have a battle, didn't he? he had a horrific leave awful battle. he had a terrifically awful battle. but i like the fact that george took the shaming that he took from the tabloids from coming out and the incident in the public toilets, he made a number one single out of it and turned it round in everyone's faces and was unashamed, as we all should be. his struggles with the tabloid wasn't really because of his sexuality, but more of his struggle with fame and the press attention? definitely. he did have an awful time of it, but he was one of those

people who was such a legend, living with the pressures of that what comes with his talent and his incredible skill that he had, and this fantastic voice, and what goes hand—in—hand with that is just something people don't really appreciate. they don't necessarily get left alone to do what they do well. there's a whole other side to things which he didn't really like. he didn't do very many interviews. he didn't do very many interviews. he didn't do very many interviews. he did a coverfor gay times he didn't do very many interviews. he did a cover for gay times a few yea rs he did a cover for gay times a few years ago, and that was a rare thing. it strikes me with the interviews that come to light, when someone interviews that come to light, when someone like george michael dies, but he didn't want to come out as being gay because he was worried about his mother and hiv. perhaps that's a sign of the times he went through, and maybe a sign of how things have changed? we got a better

understanding our hiv? things have changed substantially since the 80s. george has said in the past that he didn't want to come out because it would ruin his career. and i think he was quite right. you see how the tabloids reported things back then. it was awful. really bad. the homophobia that existed, it's still really quite recent, so it didn't surprise me that george wanted to keep those things secret, even though he knew he was gay. thank you, darren. we will appeal coverage in the gay times. have a merry christmas. while george michael will be remembered for his chart—topping hits he was also able to make fun of himself and appeared on the bbc‘s comic relief programme in 2011 with james corden. love this one, don't you?

# call me good, ah—ha. # call me bad. # call me anything you want to, baby. george! # and i know, ah—ha. # that you're sad. come on! # and i know i made you happy. # with the one thing that you never had. # baby, i'm your man. i love it! # baby, i'm your man. # you better. # if you're gonna do it, do it right, right, do it with me. cheering and applause do it right, right, do it with me. right, i'm going in. do it right, right, do it with me. you wait here, 0k? do it right, right, do it with me. don't go wandering around looking for trouble. all right, where am i going to go? be back in a bit. love you. don't be long! you can see more about george

michael's life in pictures on our website. russia has recovered some fragments of a military plane, which crashed in the black sea with 92 people on board. a huge search operation has been taking place near sochi where the aircraft had taken off from. the first of the bodies have this morning been airlifted to the russian capital. 0ur moscow correspondent, steve rosenberg reports. across russia, they prayed for the dead for the 92 victims of yesterday's plane crash. there was a special service today in every orthodox church in russia. this is a day of national mourning. as a sign of respect, russian flags were flown at half—mast. this is thought to be the last picture ever taken of the

aircraft. a few hours later it crashed into the black sea. the search operation continued today. not for survivors but for the bodies. and also for the plane's black box flight recorders. russia's transport minister says technical failure or private ever is thought to have caused the crash. terrorism is thought less likely. killed in the crash, more than 60 members of the russian army's choir group. they had been on their way to syria for a new year's concert. outside the musician's headquarters in moscow, there is never a shrine that grows bigger by the other. a shrine that grows bigger by the other. as well as bringing flowers, icons and candles, people have been leaving messages. this says, you were killed on take—off, so farewell, friends. you won't be returning.

we couldn't save you. natalya's sun used to work in the ensemble but left. natalya's son used to work in the ensemble but left. translation: we mourn with everybody else. there is pain deep in my soul. officially, there is one day of national mourning but for many russians the sense of loss from this disaster will last much longer. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. the headlines on bbc news: tributes continue to be paid to the singer and songwriter george michael, one of the biggest stars of british music, who died at his home on christmas day. he wasjust 53. russia recovers some of the fragments of a military plane which crashed into the black sea with 92 people on board. bargain—hunters hit the high street for the boxing day sales. it comes as figures show the economy grew by 0.6% between july and september

faster than predicted. show we catch up on all the sport? let's do that. hugh has got it all there for you. a very busy day indeed, chris. sam alla rdyce returned to football as the new manager of crystal palace, in their 1—1 draw at watford in the premier league. allardyce stood down as england manager after just one match in charge, after a newspaper sting caught him making controversial comments. it's a good point for struggling palace but as ben croucher reports, he'd have really hoped for more... if crystal palace's 2016 form had left them sliding towards the abyss, optimism has emerged. with sam alla rdyce, optimism has emerged. with sam allardyce, there are survival instinct. this effort wasn't quite enough to get sam allardyce out of

his seat. it turns out it was just a side to. after alan pardew was sacked, palace looked like they would go ahead. what would his boss made of this feeble penalty? watford had lost four of their last five games, so had lost four of their last five games, so went for this but where handled this penalty chance. this 100 watford goal. palace drew what they could add watford. a better palace display on the whole, with sam alla rdyce picking palace display on the whole, with sam allardyce picking up and making a point. i'm impressed with how many chances we created the gate, and missing a penalty when we could've

gone 2—0 up, that was a big moment in the game. when we looked like we we re in the game. when we looked like we were going to hold on, we gave away a soft penalty. we just haven't finished and seen it off, sadly. it's a point, and you always respect the point away from home, but in any ways it's encouraging for me to say we've dropped two points today. there are eight games in all in the premier league this afternoon. six of them kicked off at 3pm. arsenal are trying to avoid three league defeats in a row — they are currently goaless

at home to west brom. burnley take on middlesbrough leaders chelsea straight pl win... they are at home to bournemouth champions leicester are at home leicester are at home to everton relegation—threatened swansea host west ham and in the late kick off pep guardiola's manchester city go to a hull side who are currently bottom of the table. they all have quality, the difference is a personality, how they react in the bad moments. i don't have any doubts. frenchman toma coville, has knocked 12 days off the world record, for singlehandedly sailing around the planet, without stopping. it took him, 49 days, 3 hours, 7 minutes and 38 seconds. the previous record was set by fellow frenchman francis joyon, who took it from britain's ellen macarthur in 2008. coville set off from brest in france on, the 6th november, and will rarely have slept for more

than three hours at a time. that is all the sport for now. we will be back in the next hour. 50,000 people in england at risk of type—2 diabetes could be helped by an nhs programme that's being extended from today. the advice on better nutrition and exercise has already helped 20,000 people. it forms part of a package of new measures to curb type—2 diabetes, including funding for more specialist nurses. millions of bargain hunters are expected to head to the boxing day sales today, although retail analysts say extended discounting earlier this month may mean the shops won't be as full as last year. we will find out later. meanwhile, the former governor of the bank of england, lord king, has suggested britain would be better placed to make trade deals with countries outside the eu if it left the single market completely. our economics correspondent, andrew verity, reports. after one day's respite,

1a million of us are expected to hit the shops today, drawn in by the theory that goods are significantly cheaper than they were two days ago. there are just so many bargains. from birmingham to belfast, £3 billion is expected to be spent in shopping centres in the high street, up to another billion online. i always do it, every boxing day morning. why? ijust love sale shopping. i'm normallyjust looking for a really good deal, like half price. we were here last february and the exchange rate was 1.5 and it is much less now. we get a lot more for our money this year than last. the international visitors joining the crowds in london's west end aren'tjust coming for the boxing day sales. the brexit vote has weakened the pound and that means that their money buys about a fifth more here than it did year ago. that their money buys about a fifth more here than it did a year ago.

it's effects like that that create the hope that the brexit vote could lift exports and provide, at least in the short term, a positive economic effect. one legacy of the credit boom of the last decade and the bust that followed was consumers borrowing unprecedented amounts to buy imported goods while exports trailed behind. today, the man that presided over that boom and bust was hoping that brexit might throw that into reverse. there are many opportunities and we should look at it in a much more self—confident way than either side is approaching it at the moment. i think that being out of what has been an unsuccessful european union, particularly in the economic sense, brings us opportunities as well as obviously great political difficulties. to the incoming us commerce secretary, brexit is an opportunity notjust for us, butan brexit is an opportunity notjust for us, but an opportunity for others. the man appointed by donald

trump has said. it has said to be a god given opportunity for businesses like frankfurt to take business away from the uk. japan's prime minister will visit pearl harbour today, 75 years after the japanese attack on us battleships there, which drew america into the second world war. shinzo abe, will meet president obama at the naval base in hawaii, and will reaffirm ties between the two countries as laura bicker reports. december the 7th 19111. a date which will live in infamy. the japanese attacks came in waves during a deadly two hours. bombs ripped through us battleships, crippling the pacific fleet and killing over 2000 americans. survivors recalled that the once bustling port burned for hours. i had a fire hose in one hand trying to put out the fires, and with the other i went around memorising these nametags so i could write to their parents and tell them what happened to their sons.

after 75 years, there is now a solemn promise between the two countries never to repeat the horrors of that war. and the us and japan have developed a close relationship. barack obama was the first sitting president to visit hiroshima, a powerful symbol of reconciliation. we force ourselves to feel the dread of children confused by what they see. we listen to a silent cry. shinzo abe spoke of an alliance of hope as the first japanese prime minister to address the us congress. i offer my eternal condolences. cheers, kanpai. questions remain about the strength of any future relationship with the next president. newsreel: those who lost their lives at pearl harbor will never be forgotten. but these few days will be about remembrance and laying to rest the final ghost of a world war which brought out the worst in humanity. laura bicker, bbc news, washington.

let's listen back to some of george michael's greatest hits — starting with his first appearance with wham on top of the pops. # see me, single and free # no tears, no fears, what i want to be # one, two, take a look at you # death by matrimony! # wham! # bam! #iam! # a man! #job or nojob, you can't tell me that i'm not # do! # you! # enjoy what you do? # if not, just stop! # don't stay there and rot! # you put the boom—boom into my heart # you send my soul sky high when your lovin‘ starts #jitterbug into my brain # goes a bang—bang—bang till my feet do the same. # club tropicana, drinks are free # fun and sunshine, there's

enough for everyone. # all that's missing is the sea but don't worry, you can suntan! # last christmas, i gave you my heart # but the very next day, you gave it away # this year, to save me from tears # i'll give it to someone special. # oh, when that love comes down without devotion # well, it takes a strong man, baby # but i'm showing you the door # cos i gotta have faith # i gotta have faith # cos i gotta have faith, faith # i gotta have faith, faith, faith. # to the heart and mind # ignorance is kind # there's no comfort in the truth # pain is all you'll find

# i'm never gonna dance again. # but if you're looking for fast love # if that's love in your eyes. # let's go outside # in the sunshine # i know you want to but you can't say yes # let's go outside. # you smiled at me # likejesus to a child #. good afternoon. time for a check on the weather and it's been a big day of contrasts. further north, we've seen some showers. of contrasts. further north, we've seen some showers. they've been falling as rain in some significant snow across scotland. show was being

driven in by strong wind. all associated with storm corner. all associated with storm connor. most of the showers across scotland will ease later run. under clear skies however we will see some widespread frost, one of the coldest nights we've seen. quite a whether to ta ke nights we've seen. quite a whether to take us through tuesday and on wednesday, dry weather, some fog patches. if you are going out on the roads then dense fog could cause some problems. hello. this is bbc news. the headlines: musicians and fans have been paying tribute to the singer george michael, who died at his home in oxfordshire from suspected heart failure at the age of 53.

russia says the bodies of 11 victims of the military plane crash in the black sea have been recovered and flown back to moscow. all 92 passengers and crew on board died when it came down shortly after taking off from sochi. the former governor of the bank of england, lord king, says britain should be more "self—confident" about leaving the eu. he's suggested the uk would be better off if it was completely out of the single market. well, what a year it's been fully using some of our greats. —— for losing. now on bbc news, muhammed ali, sir terry wogan and prince — just a few of those who left us this year, and whose lives are celebrated in review 2016: we remember, part one.