this is bbc news. welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. i'm joanna gosling. our top stories — hundreds flee the ukrainian city of kherson because of intense russian shelling. the hospital's maternity ward is among the locations hit behind me is where an explosion took place just over an hour ago. 5 people were killed here, 20 were injured. every single day, there are people being killed in the city. pope francis says his predecessor benedict xvi is "very ill," and he is praying for him. the vatican says benedict's condition has worsened in recent hours. here in the uk, police investigating the death of footballer cody fisher have

arrested two men on suspicion of murder. the 23—year—old was stabbed at a nightclub in birmingham on monday. the un security council has denounced a ban by afghanistan's taliban—led administration on women attending universities or working for humanitarian aid groups. and building model plane kits for a new generation of fans — we report on the revival of a classic hobby. hello. air raid sirens have sounded across all of ukraine, with civilians being asked to stay in shelters amid reports of russian jets taking off from an airbase in belarus. russia has also stepped up mortar and artillery attacks on kherson, a port city in southern ukraine. kherson is often called "the gateway to crimea," and because of its strategic importance,

it was one of the first places taken by russian forces at the start of the war. it was liberated last month, in a significant gain for ukrainian troops. but civilians are now living with a daily onslaught of russian shelling. our correspondent yogita limaye has spent the last four days in kherson with colleagues. i should warn you — their report contains some distressing images. kherson is being pounded. this is where one of more than a0 mortars fell in a single day. a city haunted by relentless attacks. another shell hit nearby between a block of homes. as the firemen worked, we heard the sound of more explosions. after a brief pause, they returned to the job, dousing the fire before

anyone was hurt. down the road, we found people in a panic. "punish the russians for their crimes. "punish them their whole lives," a woman cried. they'd just seen a neighbour's home being bombed. she had to be rescued from the debris. over and over this cycle repeats. the day before, 56—year—old serhii breshun was killed here while he was sleeping. we met his mother, tamara. serhii was her only child. translation: i must have felt something would go wrong - that morning because i urged him to wake up and leave the house. but he didn't, and that was it. our lives are ruined.

she'd come to look for serhii's passport amidst the rubble, a document to release his body from the morgue. we barely finish the conversation, and there's more bombing. this is a picture of what's happening literally every single day in multiple locations. this is the constant sound that we hear in kherson of artillery fire being exchanged. this city is essentially now pretty much on the front line, close to the river, which has become the de facto front line, in the south. behind me, actually, is where an explosion took place just over an hour ago. 5 people were killed here, 20 were injured. every single day, there are people being killed in this city.

six more died later, ordinary people out at the central market, at a spot where just last month they had celebrated being freed from russian control. surviving in kherson is a matter of chance. viktoria yaryshko, a red cross volunteer, was killed just outside this base, a few feet from safety. in the underground shelter, her mother, luidmyla, showed us the medal of honour she was given. translation: i'm very happy, she helped a lot of people. - she was so kind. but it's also painful for me. i must recover and raise her two children. i tell them they should be proud of their mother because she is a hero. viktoria's son, sasha, and his sister live here, clearly comfortable with other volunteers. war and loss bind them together. dmitro rakitskyi was

viktoria's friend. translation: when someone so close dies, it is difficult. _ but if we give up and stop, then her death will have been in vain. we work to make sure people live. everything else is secondary. the bombs don't stop. while he waits for emergency calls... ..he checks if his wife and children are ok. then he heads out to evacuate those in need. in the few days that we've been here, we've seen the sentiment of relief that there was in the city after it was liberated from russian control in november change very quickly to one of fear and terror. when the russians withdrew, they pulled back to the other side of the dnipro river, and that's where they're continuously bombarding the city from. hundreds have begun

to leave kherson. these roads leading out had been clear till christmas. have you been affected by the shelling? we asked iryna antonenko why she was going. translation: we stayed this whole time and thought it would pass. - but when the home next to ours and my father's home was hit, it was too scary. at the train station, a mother and three daughters, carrying all they can in small bags and boxes. "it's very difficult to leave. i love ukraine and my dear city, but we have to get out of here somehow now," elena selivanova told us. she doesn't know when she might see these friends again. everyone in this city has a painful choice to make. yogita limaye, bbc news. joining me now from odesa is hanna shelest, the director of security programmes at the foreign policy think tank

ukrainian prism. thank you very much forjoining us. welcome. the air alerts maps in ukraine still show the red — highest — alert all over the country. what is the situation right now? luckily the air raid finished just a few minutes ago, thejets started, thatis few minutes ago, thejets started, that is what the russians are doing for the last week a lot. immediately the area that needs to be announced all over the country, because the rent of these missiles could reach any part of ukraine. that is quite a psychological aspect, like in the old fairy tale, when you call out for help many times.—

old fairy tale, when you call out for help many times. people are leavin: for help many times. people are leaving kherson, _ for help many times. people are leaving kherson, but _ for help many times. people are leaving kherson, but when - for help many times. people are leaving kherson, but when you | leaving kherson, but when you described the event of the missiles being so great, it must feel as though nowhere is safe.- being so great, it must feel as though nowhere is safe. yes, but i would say that _ though nowhere is safe. yes, but i would say that you _ though nowhere is safe. yes, but i would say that you cannot - though nowhere is safe. yes, but i would say that you cannot so - though nowhere is safe. yes, but i| would say that you cannot so you're safe absolutely in any part of ukraine because a lot of people moved to western ukraine, but everywhere has some problems, whether it is electricity. you have a close range artillery working against, because the russiansjust moved from another side of the river, so one to two kilometres. most of the artillery relocated is now shooting against the main part.

kherson is strategically important, one of the first place as the russians took, but only very recently, ukraine took it back. yes. recently, ukraine took it back. yes, it was difficult _ recently, ukraine took it back. yes, it was difficult to _ recently, ukraine took it back. yes, it was difficult to liberate _ recently, ukraine took it back. 1&1: it was difficult to liberate it because of those logistics, and what you hearfrom people, people are ready for the suffering because this is is still better than when they were under occupation. the problem is that just a were under occupation. the problem is thatjust a week before the russians left the city, destroyed most of the critical infrastructure in terms of the electricity, supplies, all of the other stuff. it is very difficult to restore info when you are under constant and wee

attacks, some of them extremely heavy. the problem is definitely because of the show and we have experienced the last few days, a lot of people decide temporarily to leave the territory it to stay somewhere else, other places they consider a bit safer. sought to allow the armed forces to secure this, to make the zone and look a bit longer, but also for the facilities to be restored so it'll be easier for them to stay in the region. be easier for them to stay in the reuion. . ~' ,, pope francis has asked roman catholics to pray for his predecessor, pope emeritus benedict, who he said was very ill. francis made the surprise appeal at the end of his general audience at the vatican. the vatican has confirmed in the last few minutes that

pope francis visited his ailing predecessor on wednesday morning right after the general audience. benedict xvi is now 95, and his health has been deteriorating. born in germany, he became pope in 2005 before stepping down in 2013, after nearly eight years, citing a "lack of strength of mind and body" due to his age. he became the first pope in some 600 years to resign. joining me now is christopher lamb, who is the vatican correspondent at the tablet, a catholic publication. welcome. how will this news be received by catholics? fin welcome. how will this news be received by catholics?— received by catholics? on this catholics received by catholics? on this catholics will _ received by catholics? on this catholics will want _ received by catholics? on this catholics will want to - received by catholics? on this catholics will want to join - received by catholics? on this catholics will want to join the | received by catholics? on this i catholics will want to join the in praying for benedict xvi. he is, as you say, 95 years old, and his health has been deteriorating. he has been in decline over recent years, so i think it is something that catholics will want to show their solidarity with in terms of benedict's condition, to pray for

him. and i think catholics in the uk will of course remember very fondly pope benedict's was at in the 2010, one of the highlights of his pontificate, and it went much better than expected. it wasn't an easy pontificate that benedict had, there are certainly ups and downs, and real difficulties and challenges, i think that was one of the reasons why he steps down in 2013. so i think that is how catholics will respond to this news, with concern i think about with prayers and recognising that benedict is 95 years old. we recognising that benedict is 95 ears old. ~ ., ., , , years old. we are of course very rare and unusual _ years old. we are of course very rare and unusual situation - years old. we are of course very rare and unusual situation of. years old. we are of course very . rare and unusual situation of having had for the last number of years two popes coexisting alongside each other at the vatican, albeit one who resigned for the first to resign in around 600 years. it

resigned for the first to resign in around 600 years.— resigned for the first to resign in around 600 years. it has been an unprecedented _ around 600 years. it has been an unprecedented situation, - around 600 years. it has been an unprecedented situation, never l unprecedented situation, never before have we had two men in the vatican wearing white: themselves pope, so that has been something of a challenge i think inside the vatican and for the church, there have been those who wanted to try to create division or make mischief between the two popes, in a sense saying that benedict was somehow in opposition to francis. in reality, benedict has always been very loyal to francis, and francis himself has described benedict as like having your grandfather still living at home, somebody from whom he has sought advice and with whom he has maintained a very good relationship. but it is unprecedented situation, something thatjust on the optics

level sometimes caused confusion, but also i think the way that francis has handled things, has made it a lot more manageable, i think you could have been a lot more difficult, but because the two, benedict and francis, have maintained a very good relationship, i think it has been something that has worked. i think it has been something that has worked-— i think it has been something that has worked. ., ~ , ., , . ., has worked. thank you very much for “oininu us, has worked. thank you very much for joining us, christopher— has worked. thank you very much for joining us, christopher lam. - two men have been arrested on suspicion of murdering a man on the dance floor of a birmingham nightclub on boxing day. 23—year—old cody fisher was stabbed at the crane in the digbeth area of the city. west midlands police say a 22—year—old man was detained in birmingham, while another man, aged 21, was arrested in london. i am nowjoined by our news corespondent phil mackie in birmingham. these arrests were made last night and then the allows of this morning.

both men will be questioned by west middlesbrough was on the suspicion of the murder of 22—year—old footballer cody fisher, who was stabbed on the dance floor of the crane nightclub in the digg button birmingham on boxing day. there was a race taking place. he was stabbed at around 11.45, medics tried to save him but could not, and he died at the scene. we have had tribute from his current and former football clubs as well as his family, who said that their hearts are broken. but we also have an update from west midlands police today, notjust on the rest but also on the progress of the rest but also on the progress of the investigation, they have said they are making good progress and they are making good progress and they have a better understanding of what happened on the night of that code it was stabbed. they are still appealing for information, and want to live in the hundreds of people who would have been in the nightclub. anyone who has not already spoken to them, please get in touch. if you go to west midlands police's various social websites,

you will find a link where you can get in touch with them.— get in touch with them. thank you, phil. sport, and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's jane dougall. good afternoon. marcus rashford has said he was happy with the way manchester united played, following their six week break for the world cup. they beat nottingham forest 3—0 in theirfirst premier league match back. rashford scored the first, then set up anthony martial, while fred got their third. and united missed several chances to score more. rashford said it was an encouraging performance, considering the come—down players experience after a major tournament. football is very up and down, you have to want to try to control your emotions, sometimes it is difficult. obviously going out of the world cup was a massive disappointment, but you have to take your time and try to get your head right before you come back here. you can't afford to build in games and feeling sorry for ourselves, so i am pleased with the

response from everyone to integrating again so quickly —— you cannot afford to be losing games. later in the premier league, manchester city travel to leeds, as they look to reduce the gap on leaders arsenal. city are now eight points off the top—spot with a game in hand, having gone into the world cup break with a defeat at home to brentford. manager pep guardiola is aware that any more mistakes could prove costly in the title race. after our defeat against brentford and how strong is arsenal, you have to be alert carefully to... because if the distance is bigger, it will be so difficult to catch them. australia are closing in on a series win against south africa after day three of the second test, having declared after reaching 575/8. wicketkeeper alex carey scored a maiden century, following on from david warner's 200 as australia replied to south africa's 189. and the decision to declare looked a wise one — south africa lost the early wicket of their captain dean elgar in the second innings,

finishing on 15—1 before play was abandoned because of rain. that's all the sport for now. the un security council has denounced a ban by afghanistan's taliban—led administration on women attending universities or working for humanitarian aid groups. in a statement the council members call for "the full, equal and meaningful participation of women and girls." the statement says the restrictions imposed on female aid workers contradict commitments made by the taliban to the afghan people, as well as the expectations of the international community. live now to mahjooba nowrouzi from the bbc�*s afghan service. is that condemnation and a demand for the reversal of the cycle to have any impact?— for the reversal of the cycle to have any impact? let's hope so. as

ou said, have any impact? let's hope so. as you said. the _ have any impact? let's hope so. as you said, the united _ have any impact? let's hope so. as you said, the united solution - you said, the united solution security council —— united nations security council —— united nations security council —— united nations security council said it was deeply alarmed by increasing restrictions on women's education, and called for the full equal and meaningful participation of women and girls in afghanistan. the un security council urged the taliban to reopen schools and swiftly reverse these policies and swiftly reverse these policies and practices. the council also condemned the ban on women working for ngos, because millions of afghans rely on these ngos to provide the most needed assistance. some medical delicious restrictions on women and girls unjustifiable human rights violations, and said that these restrictions must be revoked. inside afghanistan, people are also showing their anger in that so many different ways. a university

professor tore up as diploma certificate on the live tv in protest at the university ban on afghan women. he destroyed the significance and said that from today i do not have these diplomas any more, because this country is a place for education. if his sisters and his mother cannot study, then he does not accept this education. the master of higher education said in a letter to all government and private universities in afghanistan but you all are informed to immediately and ferment the mentioned orders suspending education of females until further notice. suspending education of females untilfurther notice. over suspending education of females until further notice. over the suspending education of females untilfurther notice. over the past few days, around 60 professors from various universities in afghanistan have resigned from their posts in

response to this education ban, many male students in private and public universities have gone on strike. but the taliban say that they do not intend to oppose education of new generations, but they want to create a system according to the islamic shire law —— chamois law —— you know what i mean. as of april next year, a decision will be made regarding the opening of schools and universities for girls, and this decision will be in line with both afghan and sharia customs. thank

ou. you might think the days of spending the christmas holidays building your new model plane are well and truly over, but the classic hobby is alive and kicking. lockdowns and social media have fuelled a boom in sales, as john maguire reports. before you build a model aeroplane, the kit you use is built here in a factory in east sussex. it marks a return to uk production. molten plastic is pumped into a high pressure press which contains an intricately detailed mould. what comes out and are then checked by eye are the frames known as sprews. they hold the parts ready to be removed and assembled. this is the 1/24 scale mk9 supermarine spitfire, a new kit created by airfix and in painstaking detail. the spitfires were renowned for being incredibly well made. so some aircraft, this kind of effect of the wind is really pronounced. but actually for spitfires, especially when they were newer, it wasn't quite so bad.

chris, the designer, has been back to the drawing board. the drawing board that the original aircraft engineers used to design the real wartime plane. you have to be careful, because what was initially planned isn't necessarily what actually came out of the factory, because when they're putting these bits of metal together, they find, "ah, i need to make a little tweak here, i need to adjust that." and in the, kind of, how quickly they had to produce them as well, they found little workarounds. but it's a great starting point to go from the original drawings and amazing thing to be able to get to hold and work with. just check that wing span, make sure it's nice and straight. this kit isn't for the faint hearted. it could take months to build. it's not a cheap kit. it's a considered purchase. and obviously the model has an expectation level of what should be in the kit. and obviously this is a 433 part kit. it represents as a truly authentic scale product. today i'm starting on my first

ever aircraft model. it's a supermarine spitfire mk1. making the models and the dedication, concentration and passion the hobby requires is appealing to a whole new generation. this is building spitfires for the tiktok age. you're into the classics, you're old, you're really old. your social security number is two. for some, it's a voyage of rediscovery. richard spreckly was a keen modeller as a boy and was reintroduced to it by his late father—in—law. a retired police officer who also served in afghanistan, richard says working away in the shed he's converted into a studio is the perfect way to relax. you get engrossed in it. certainly you have to stop when your fingers are stuck together or your paint�*s not quite dry or something like that. but, yes, timejust disappears.

pope francis has visited pope emeritus benedict after revealing he is very sick and asking catholics to pray for him. hello again. as we go through the next few days, up to the end of this year, the weather remains unsettled. we are looking at spells of heavy rain, we have got that today. it is going to be windy, especially so on friday, and there will also be some snow on the hills in the north. so if you are on the move, don't forget you can find out what the weather is going to be like for yourjourney, where you are going, or indeed where you are, on our bbc weather app. now this morning, we have seen a lot of rain around and through the course of this afternoon, it is going to be continuing to push out of most of england, northern ireland

and continue to move northwards across scotland. behind it, there will be quite a bit of cloud left, and there will also be a few showers, but we could see some late afternoon brightness in wales and the south—west. but it is going to be windy. gusty winds, the strongest of which will be in the south—west. temperatures today ranging from seven in the north to around 12 as we push down towards the south. through this evening and overnight, a band of rain, hill snow and sleet continue to push northwards across scotland. you can see how we have got this weather front here, that is going to bring some rain moving from the west towards the east through the course of the night and easing by the end of the night and it is still going to be windy, so we are not anticipating any issues with frost. tomorrow, then, we pick up this band of rain here. you can see we still do very much have it and if anything, it is going to be merging with some more showers and the whole lot is going to be pushing from the west towards the east, falling as snow on higher ground across the grampians and highlands,

and potentially too the tops of the pennines. but there will be a lot of dry weather as we can further south and east with fewer showers. temperatures tomorrow down a touch on today's, so feeling a little bit cooler, still windy. on friday it is pretty wet to start the day, we have got rain pushing northwards and also eastwards, some hill snow for a time. as the rain clears it will brighten up, we will see some sunshine but there still could be some heavy showers across parts of south—west scotland, north—west england and also northern ireland, and temperatures up a little bit, but don't forget, still going to be windy. then on new year's eve, hogmanay, we are looking at further showers. some of those will be wintry, mostly on high ground in the north, but in some of the heavier ones, we could see that down at low levels for a time. and we have also got this band of rain in southern areas which will be moving northwards through saturday and into sunday.

this is bbc world news, the headlines. hundreds of people are fleeing the ukranian city of kherson because of intense russian shelling. bombardment of the city has increased sharply over the past few days. on tuesday a shell hit the maternity ward of a hospital. pope francis says his predecessor, benedict xvi, is �*very ill�* and he is praying for him. the vatican says that benedict's condition has worsened in recent hours. here in the uk, police investigating the death of footballer cody fisher have arrested two men on suspicion of murder. the 23—year—old was stabbed at a nightclub in birmingham on monday. the un security council has denounced a ban by afghanistan's taliban—led administration on women attending universities or working for humanitarian aid groups. the council has called for �*the full, equal and meaningful participation of women and girls'.