dozens are feared dead after a passenger plane crashes in kazakhstan. officials say 28 people have survived. king charles and the british royal family prepare to attend church at sandringham, without prince andrew. ukrainian cities have come under large—scale russian missile attacks on christmas morning. speaking in the last few hours, president zelensky said russia had launched over 70 missiles and 100 drones at ukraine's energy system. the mayor of kharkiv, in the northeast of the country, said at least three people were injured and that civilian infrastructure had been damaged. in recent months, russia has been intensifying

its attacks on ukraine's energy system, and has accelerated its advance across the east of the country. let's get the latest from our correspondent will vernon. tell correspondent will vernon. us more about these attacks. tell us more about these attacke— attacks. good morning. upsetting _ attacks. good morning. upsetting start - attacks. good morning. upsetting start to - attacks. good morning. - upsetting start to christmas for many ukrainians. a large—scale attack on ukraine's infrastructure, energy infrastructure, energy infrastructure this morning, over 70 ballistic and cruise missiles were fired at ukrainian cities, according to president zelensky who called this attack inhumane and in his statement he said he thanked ukrainian soldiers who are on duty on the front line and those protecting the skies of ukraine. he said russian evil will not break ukraine or spoil christmas. there haven't been any reports yet of anyone killed in these attacks but several people have been injured including in kharkiv,

the second—largest city in the east, where there are a large number of explosions heard this morning, and the ukrainian state energy provider said it will be introducing hourly power outages in several regions across the country. russia has been systematically destroying ukraine's energy infrastructure over the course of seven months, in september zelensky said 80% of it had been destroyed. it is bitterly cold in ukraine, and of course it is christmas day. russia does not celebrate christmas today but ukraine does, they changed, switched to the western style calendar last yea r. western style calendar last year. a really disturbing, upsetting christmas so far for ukrainians. figs upsetting christmas so far for ukrainians.— ukrainians. as the new year approaches. _ ukrainians. as the new year approaches, what _ ukrainians. as the new year approaches, what is - ukrainians. as the new year i approaches, what is president zelensky expecting from 2025, particularly with a new president in the white house?

yeah, of course a lot of what happens in this country next year depends on donald trump. it was interesting speaking to ukrainians, there is a out of very cautious optimism that perhaps something could change for the better under donald trump. ukrainians see him as someone who likes to win, do a deal, and they think that perhaps once donald trump is ensconced behind that desk in the white house, as tunisia realises that vladimir putin is in no mood whatsoever to do a deal or enter any meaningful negotiations, perhaps donald trump might swing his support behind kyiv. —— as soon as he realises. across the front line and many of the hotspots, ukraine is on the defensive, russian forces are advancing, in the last three days they have seized a number of villages, closing in on the strategic city elsewhere, and

these situation for ukrainian forces is incredibly difficult. it is interesting that city, zelensky mentioned it in his christmas message last night because there was a famous ukrainian composer from their composed a christmas song that many of us know very well, carol 0f many of us know very well, carol of the bills. celesia said when people heard it they should remember ukraine. thank you. —— carol 0f should remember ukraine. thank you. —— carol of the bells. let's turn now to a developing story in kazakhstan where authorities say a passenger plane has crashed with 67 people on board. dozens of people are believed to have died. preliminary reports suggest there are 25 survivors, and 22 of them have been taken to hospital. this dramatic footage shows the plane falling towards the earth, followed by a large explosion as it hits the ground. —— more than 20 survivors. the plane, operated by azerbaijan airlines, went down near the city of aktau in the southwest of the country.

these pictures show rescue workers at the crash site. it is not yet known what caused the plane to go down, but it had reportedly been diverted due to fog. the plane was flying from baku, the capital of azerbaija, to grozny in russia. we'll have all the latest details on this developing story as they come in. the war in gaza has led to heavily muted christmas celebrations in bethlehem for a second consecutive year. festivities in the historic square of the church of the nativity were reduced to a prayer service, with no christmas lights or the famous christmas tree, in the place of jesus christ's birth. it comes as israel intensifies its attacks in gaza. the territory's health ministry reports — three hospitals in the north were targeted earlier on tuesday — forcing patients to evacuate.

and sirens could be heard overnight in tel aviv as the israeli military reports intercepting a missile fired from yemen. there are no reports that anyone was injured. 0ur correspondent, emir nader, has the latest on the situation in northern gaza. we've had various warnings and sort of the alarm being raised in the past hours, including regarding those three hospitals you mentioned in an area of northern gaza, which has essentially been under a near—total military siege, as says the un in recent weeks, in particular, there is three hospitals there, one called the indonesian hospital, which was forced to evacuate yesterday, leaving all of the stuff and nearly all of the staff in patients to have to leave that facility. the idf, the israeli military, said that they were conducting military operations against hamas

militants that were operating in the vicinity of the hospital and two other hospitals in that very critical area. 0ne, called the kamal adwan hospital, they've been reporting being attacked directly by israeli forces in recent days there, including the director of the hospital has said that their icu unit has been attacked. and this morning we've also had a statement from the united nations who've talked about, since the beginning of december, their attempts to try and get aid into this really blockaded part of northern gaza and the struggles that they've faced, including applying for the permission for 52 deliveries to get through and only being granted four deliveries, each one of which was impeded. so there are great

worries about the 10,000 to 15,000 gazans' that remain in that area, their ability to access food and also their ability to access medical treatments. now, the israeli military has said that it is continuing to facilitate aid to that part of northern gaza as its military operations are continuing to be conducted in the area. usually, at christmas there would be no rooms available in bethlehem — which christians believe to be the birthplace ofjesus christ. but for the second year running, the streets are nearly empty as tourists are mostly staying away and public festivities have been cancelled because of the gaza war. let's speak to dr bernard sabella, the former executive secretary of the department of the middle east council of churches and a retired professor of sociology at bethlehem university. thank you forjoining us. merry

christmas, what a lovely tree you have. tell us a little about the situation in bethlehem and why the festivities are very far from their normal this year. well, bethlehem... _ their normal this year. well, bethlehem... first, - their normal this year. well, bethlehem... first, merry . bethlehem... first, merry christmas, but bethlehem is a sad town these days. because of the ongoing war continuing over a year now, and with thousands of children really killed. the latest estimate, there are 20,000 children orphaned in the gaza strip. and so this situation is sad, and outwardly, publicly we as palestinian christians cannot celebrate with joy, palestinian christians cannot celebrate withjoy, happiness celebrate with joy, happiness of celebrate withjoy, happiness of christmas, but we do celebrate in our homes, as you

see behind me, this christmas tree. and we do give joy to our children, and the churches, all of the churches have wonderful celebrations within the churches. so inside we celebrate, outside we are sad. with our people. so you still maintaining the tradition of celebrating christmas, it is just very muted this year, again because of what is happening in the war. just tell us how vibrant celebrations would be normally in previous years in bethlehem and around, prior to this conflict.— prior to this conflict. well, in bethlehem _ prior to this conflict. well, in bethlehem usually, - prior to this conflict. well, in bethlehem usually, a i prior to this conflict. well, | in bethlehem usually, a big oversize christmas tree is put with a wonderful nativity set, made by bethlehem rights who

specialise in the arts and crafts of all the food and mother—of—pearl. and you would have people from all around, muslims, jews, would come and take photos with the nativity scene and the christmas tree. add the heads of churches would enter solemnly into bethlehem, boy scouts, the palestinian christian and muslim boy scouts, would sound the music of bagpipes, drums, and it is really something wonderful for children, especially for children. now, this year it wasn't there, it wasn't there. and so when you go to major square, is a dead a couple of

days back, we see no one, shops are closed, we don't have pilgrims, we do not have visitors, tourists from abroad —— manger square. because of the more. and in the situation economically is sad, and holiday wise, well, we celebrate outwardly, we are still sad. and we wish for and in to this war, for peace between palestinians and israelis to hold, but this needs the decision of policymakers, not only in palestine but mainly in israel and the western world. we need to move forward, otherwise it is an endless cycle of violence, war and it will

never. we want it to be ending, and christmas season reminds as, all of us of the need to end all wars. b, as, all of us of the need to end all wars.— as, all of us of the need to end all wars. a great thought to end on. — end all wars. a great thought to end on, thank _ end all wars. a great thought to end on, thank you. - end all wars. a great thought to end on, thank you. i'm - end all wars. a great thought l to end on, thank you. i'm sure everyone there is hoping that christmas in bethlehem will be back to normal next year, thank you. back to normal next year, thank ou. . ~' back to normal next year, thank ou. . ~ , ., y back to normal next year, thank ou. . ~' , ., , . back to normal next year, thank ou. ., ~' , ~ �* , you. thank you very much, merry christmas- _ here in the uk, king charles is expected to refer to his own cancer treatment during his traditional christmas message later today. the royal family will go to church at sandringham this morning but prince andrew will not be joining them. 0ur senior royal correspondent, daniela relph, reports. so much has changed since the royal family gathered at sandringham a year ago. both the king and the princess of wales have had to cope with a cancer diagnosis. and prince andrew, with his ex—wife sarah, duchess of york, will notjoin the family this year to avoid being a distraction after his links to an alleged chinese spy were made public. the king has, unusually,

chosen to deliver his christmas message today from a former hospital chapel in central london, rather than a royal residence. it's a sign that his own health problems will form part of the broadcast. fitzrovia chapel is a community space, and the power of bringing people together is also likely to feature. the themes of health and community have run through much of the king's work in recent months. his final engagement of the year in northeast london last week celebrated community, diversity, and cohesion — but there was also a passing reference to his health challenges. good morning. how are you? i'm still alive! after the royal visit to australia and samoa in october, more international travel is planned for the king in the coming months. his cancer treatment is ongoing, but palace sources say he ends 2024 feeling optimistic and positive about the year ahead. daniela relph, bbc news. around the world and across

the uk, this is bbc news.

let's update you on the news that dozens of people have died after a plane crashed with 67 people on board, you can see crashed in kazakhstan. the emergency ministry in kazakhstan said that 25 people have survived that crash. it is in azerbaijan airlines plane, it caught fire as it went down near the city of akhtar, but the cause of the crash isn't known. there was an explosion as it came down. it was azerbaijan airlines flightj 28243 azerbaijan airlines flightj 282113 en route from baku, to grozny in russia. reports say it was debated because of fog,

there is video verified by reuters showing the plane heading towards the ground at high speed with its landing gear down, seconds after it attempted to land there is a big fireball from the plane. it is a 190 plane for my city to passengers and five crew members on—board, but we think at least 25 people have survived that crash. we will bring you more as we get it. the archbishop of york, stephen cottrell, will focus on the importance of actions over words in his christmas sermon. it comes as the church of england faces criticism over its handling of abuse scandals. last month, the archbishop of canterburyjustin welby resigned after he was criticised for not doing enough to stop a prolific abuser. mr cottrell has himself faced calls to step down. 0ur religion editor, aleem maqbool reports. give hope, peace and joy as part of his plan. lovely. christmas is when the church is at its most prominent in british life, and its most

joyous. churches up and down the country are filled with the story of hope defying darkness. but this year there is a troubled backdrop, and local clergy are hearing the frustration. it is just a magical time for the community, but this month has been really hard to be in the church of england because of all that's going on. it's an institution that's probably in crisis, really. so there is a sense that people feel really confused and disappointed with what's gone on, and just longing for some leadership to get things sorted out. last month, justin welby resigned as head of the church after a report pointed out his failings in dealing with a prolific child abuser. well, this year there will be no christmas sermon at canterbury cathedral from the archbishop of canterbury. he will, we're told, be spending private time with his family. instead, all eyes will be on york minster — and the archbishop of york,

stephen cottrell. he, too, is now under scrutiny for his handling of a child abuser in his charge, though he says he did everything he could. in his sermon today, he's expected to talk of putting first the needs of the vulnerable. ijust feel that he's not the right person to give that message at this time. she doesn't want to be identified, but one of the abuse victims of the priest that continued in post for nine years under stephen cottrell is having her say, after decades of suffering trauma in silence. i will find it difficult to listen to stephen cottrell and not separate the message that he's putting across from what i know he hasn't done. and i don't think that's what the christmas message should be about. for victims — notjust in this case, but others — there is a sense this can't be a christmas where it's business as usual, and where they end up

getting forgotten again. aleem maqbool, bbc news, in york. at least two journalists and a police officer have been killed in haiti as gang members opened fire at the country's biggest public hospital. the journalists were waiting for the arrival of the health minister for the reopening of the general hospital when the shooting began. several people were injured. mimi swaby, from bbc world service, has more. general hospital was meant to reopen on tuesday in a very celebratory move by the government. it had been closed since march after gangs had coordinated and launched attacks across the city, really increasing their presence. it was occupied and destroyed by them. the government then recaptured it injuly and were really hoping to create a new lifeline for the thousands of haitians who are grappling with this gang violence, which is spreading across port au prince.

however, at least three people have died — two journalists and one police officer — as they were waiting for the health minister to arrive and really symbolically open the hospital once more. why would gangs target the hospital when it's a much—needed facility? the gang alliance have come forward and say they take responsibility for this attack. this gang controls much of port au prince. they say they hadn't given authorities the permission to reopen this lifeline for many haitians in the capital. they said that it is also acting as a warning to both the transitional government as well as the security force, which is led by haiti, that international mission, which is meant to help the government, is a warning to them, saying, "we control around 85% of port au prince, the capital, and we're not willing to give up an inch of that territory." this hospital was part of that territory untiljuly. however, they are not happily going to give it over.

so it's very much a warning to the government saying, "we are not budging from this territory." today might be christmas day, but it is also the first day of the jewish festival of hanukkah. commonly known as "christmukkah", it celebrates two festivals of great miracles in both religions, meaning a day of epic celebrations for mixed jewish—christian families. tamzin kraftman reports. christmukkah, once a joke made byjews in largely christian countries, has become a reality for many across the world. as for the first time in almost 20 years, christmas and hanukkah are falling on the same day. it's a chance for this multi—faith family, who grew up observing separate religions, to come together and share their cultural traditions. growing up in a country like england, not celebrating christmas, it's actually been quite fun to do some of the things that everyone else was doing growing up that you were sometimes missing out on. so it's been really fun to be able to lean into some of those things. so what does it mean to actually be able to celebrate the holidays together?

it's quite...it's quite exciting for us. we've tried to incorporate kind of hanukkah decorations into our kind of christmas decorations. it's been nice, kind of trying to bring elements of hanukkah into christmas for us. you have a young daughter. what does it mean to be able to celebrate the holidays all together? we want to give her the chance to kind of access any aspect of her identity. so if she, you know, that's completely her choice. i visited saint cyprian�*s church in central london, where i met with the co—directors of the council of christians and jews, an organisation that works to support interfaith relations. it's been increasingly challenging in interfaith spheres over the past year or so, and it's more and more important that we continue to come together, to celebrate together, to grieve together, to share what we have in common, but also to explore our difference. what's most important really is, you know, creating spaces

where we can better understand one another, where we can build stronger relationships and friendships and learn more about and with one another. it's been a tough year for interfaith relations in general. it's been a year we've seen a real surge in anti—semitism and in other forms of racial and religious prejudice. it's been a really hard year in lots of ways. and it's good to have something to celebrate and good to have something to just get our minds off some of the more difficult news stories that are out there. yes, please. i've come to north london to meet onejewish baker who's commemorated this unique union of the two festivals in the best way she knows how. so what i do is i take the best elements from both kind of traditional foods and i blend them. so what we have over here is our stollen. so stollen is traditionally

a german christmas bread, but we make a lighter version. also we have over here mince pie doughnuts, which people like, theyjust love so much. so that's what we do. we're really good at blending traditions. happy christmukkah! it'll be 16 years until the next one. tamzin kraftman, bbc news. molten material, including lava bombs, is being ejected from the vents and the eruption was also sending matter much higher into the atmosphere. 260 feet above hawaii, it is spectacular, as it erupts, a very active volcano. it does this fairly regularly, now it is going again.

a very merry christmas, i hope you're having a lovely day. weather—wise, weather fronts alt in the atlantic, effectively blocked in area of high pressure across us. that high pressure across us. that high pressure across us. that high pressure has the wind around it moving in a clockwise direction, dragging in all this milder air across our shores. also if a bit of cloud coming in from the atlantic. cloudy day for many, especially so in some western areas where it is murky as well, hill fog, some cloud thick enough and some weather front straight across the north—west of scotland introducing rain and windy conditions. we should see brighter breaks developing in the east and also in the shelter of the hills across the west midlands, north—east wales. chapters 11—13, we could see 1a or around the marie firth. 0vernight, with a front sinking across scotland into northern ireland, some breaks

in the cloud, but by the end of the night of the cloud will be thickening across southern parts of england. still windy cost of our north—west, as a result it will be relatively mild for the time of year. 0vernight low in glasgow and belfast not falling lower than 10 celsius. into boxing day, the weather front sinking further south, retreating northwards. the rain on it moves across scotland but potentially into northern england, through northern ireland and starts to move north. to the south, cloud building and there will be one or two brighter breaks but essentially it is a mild day, not as mild yesterday, but nonetheless mild for the time of year. heading into friday, the weather front continues to migrate northwards and westwards across the north—west of scotland, and otherfairly cloudy day with a few brighter breaks. temperatures varying from seven to 12 celsius. beyond that the weather turns a little bit more unsettled as we

head into the weekend, weather front moving in from the west, crossing south with the rain. remaining relatively mild but as we head up to the new year, the forecast split, one model has it turning mild, another has it turning mild, another has it turning very unsettled and cooler. 0ne has it turning very unsettled and cooler. one to watch. if you want to find out for the weather will be like where you are, you can check out the bbc weather app.

now on bbc news — talking movies: french cinema classics. man speaks french what is it about french cinema? is it the actors? the romance? is it the vision of its auteur directors... 0h! ..or the sheer beauty of the french landscape and the capital city of paris? to explore the wonders of french cinema, we sought out and heard from four individuals who each have a passion

for a french film classic.