live from londo, this is bbc news. the king is leading members of the royalfamily, including the prince and princess of wales, at a christmas church service in sandringham. pope francis has used his traditional christmas message to call for peace in ukraine and gaza, calling the humanitarian situation there extremely grave. translation: may there be a ceasefire, maybe hostages he relief and may it be given to people who are exploring hunger and war. —— who are experiencing hunger and war. many are feared dead after a passenger plane crashes in kazakhstan. officials say at least 32 survivors have been found and our bbc russia editor, steve rosenberg, joins forces with channel 4's ciaranjenkins to perform a special christmas collaboration.

hello and welcome. we start in the uk, where the royal family have attended the traditional christmas service at church in sandringham. king charles was accompanied by the prince and princess of wales and their children and other senior royals. prince andrew did not attend, after it was confirmed earlier this week that he would not be joining the family at sandringham. let's go back to speak to caroline aston. she's royal commentator and historian, shared some insights about the royal presence at the service, and what it means for the wider family dynamics. what have you made a video? so what have you made a video? sr lovely to see the royal what have you made a video? srs lovely to see the royal family back a bid to have their lead players looking well. interesting about the noticeable gap of prince andrew who i think has made the right decision here to stay away. i

mean, where a piranha fish fest his attendance would have generated. lovely to see the children, the future of the monarchy and i'm sure there are people thinking, what a shame that the sussex aren't represented. but i think maybe that lies in the future. they are having christmas at home in sunny california. overall it is a good showing. don't forget the princess beatrice, prince andrew's daughter who is at sandringham. so his side of the family is represented if not by him. a glorious occasion with people handing out gifts, flowers, genuinely celebrating the return to health of two senior members. they much loved members of the family. especially good to see the princess of wales who looks absolutely stunning.- absolutely stunning. how

important _ absolutely stunning. how important has _ absolutely stunning. how important has it - absolutely stunning. how important has it then, . important has it then, caroline, for them to attend today given the health challenges that very important royals and queen camilla have faced in the last few months? fortitude is the name of the game. they carry on when they are not feeling terribly well. if anything this does underpin the fact that king charles iii is the oldest mark we've crowned who has waited the longest for the job. —— the oldest monarch. he looked his age. i personally thought at the moment of creation we would have a back shot of him before the bout the screens around and he looked his age. if you think of how he has had to cope with growing cancer treatments where he kept showing himself, went to australia and samoa with queen camilla at the end of this year, and that has cost them both. certainly queen

camilla who has had a nasty dose of pneumonia. so their schedule will be linked to their health and well—being but make no mistake about it, the royal family are out there and fully back in business. it is so good to see a glamourous —looking princess catherine. let me quote what her father—in—law said, might be levied diorama —— might be levied diorama —— might be levied diorama, and he certainly meant that she is a delivered daughter—in—law. —— be levied diorama. pope francis has delivered his traditional christmas day blessing. speaking from the central balcony of st. peter's basilica to thousands of people in the square below, he delivered his traditional christmas day "urbi et orbi", an address to the city and the world. in his speech, the pope called for talks between ukraine and russia to end the war that

followed moscow's full—scale invasion two years ago, and he also renewed his call for a ceasefire in the israel—gaza war. translation: in the middle east and contemplating the crib of bethlehem. i think of the christian communities in israel and palestine and particularly to the dear community of gaza, where the humanitarian situation is extremely grave. may there be a ceasefire. may the hostages be released and aid be given to the people worn out by hunger and by war. the archbishop of york has announced a change. the church has received criticism after handling certain scandals. here is what he said. to handling certain scandals. here is what he said.— is what he said. to put the needs of— is what he said. to put the needs of others _ is what he said. to put the needs of others first, - is what he said. to put the | needs of others first, those who are cold and hungry this

christmas. those who are victims of abuse and exploitation, as well as those, who like the holy family, had to flee oppression and seek refuge in a foreign land. president zelensky has condemned russia's large—scale missile attacks across ukraine on christmas day as inhmane. he said russia had launched over 70 missiles and 100 drones at ukraine's energy system in what he called a conscious choice to launch the attacks at christmas. ukraine's air force says it downed 59 of the missiles and more than half of the drones. 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.

from kyiv, our correspondent will vernon has the latest. a pretty upsetting start to christmas, obviously, for many ukrainians. a large—scale attack on ukraine's infrastructure energy infrastructure. over 70 ballistic and cruise missiles were fired at ukrainian cities, this morning. that's 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 and will not spoil christmas. now, there haven't been any reports yet of anyone killed in these attacks, but several people have been injured, including in kharkiv, ukraine's second—largest city in the east, where there are a large number of explosions heard this morning. and the ukrainian state energy provider said that it will be introducing hourly power outages in several regions across the country. russia has been systematically really destroying ukraine's

energy infrastructure over the course of several months now in september. president zelensky said that 80% of it had been destroyed in russian attacks. it is bitterly cold in ukraine at the moment and, of course, it's christmas day, right? russia does not celebrate christmas today, but ukraine does. they switched to the western—style calendar last year. so a really disturbing, upsetting christmas so far for ukrainians. and as the new year approaches, will, what is president zelensky expecting from 2025, particularly with a new president in the white house soon? yeah, that's right. of course, a lot of what happens in this country next year depends on donald trump. it's interesting speaking to ukrainians. there is a note of very cautious optimism that perhaps something could change for the better under donald trump. ukrainians see him as someone who likes to win,

likes to do a deal, and they think that perhaps once donald trump is ensconced behind that desk in the white house, as soon as he realises that vladimir putin is in no mood whatsoever to do a deal or to enter any meaningful negotiations over ukraine, perhaps donald trump might swing his support behind kyiv. but look, the mood here is gloomy overall, right across the front line, in many of the hotspots, ukraine is on the defensive. russian forces are advancing. in the last few days, they've seized a number of villages. they're closing in on the strategic city of pokrovsk. and the situation for ukrainian forces is incredibly difficult, indeed. it's interesting that city of pokrovsk, president zelensky mentioned it in his christmas message last night, because there was a famous ukrainian composer from there that composed a christmas song that many of us know very well, carol of the bells.

and president zelensky said that when people listen to that song this year, they should remember ukraine. now, to a developing story from kazakhstan, where many people are feared dead after a passenger plane with nearly 70 people on board crashed in the south—west of the country. at least 32 survivors have been taken to hospital. this dramatic footage shows the plane falling towards the ground, followed by a large explosion as it hits the ground. footage shows some of the survivors being led away from the wreckage. we've had more video coming through in the past hour. the plane, operated by azerbaijan airlines, went down near the city of aktau.

the flight was travelling from the azeri capital baku to grozny in russia , but was diverted due to bad weather. what we do know is mainly from the authorities who tell us that there were 67 people on board including five crew. survivors have been taken to hospital. that is 29 people at the last count but has been changing over the last few hours. the latest counters include two children. this was near the city of aktau. the flight was originally from baku from azerbaijan and headed to grozny in russia and divided because of bad weather at grozny. it came down near the caspian sea. pictures show a large body of water on the horizon. there are a huge number of rescue personnel

involved. the kasatkina authorities said about 150 people —— the authorities from kazakhstan. it was broken into and the back cath is almost intact —— it was broken in two on the back half is almost intact. the people in the back survived more and in the front there was an explosion. there is some evidence in this field. the goal is to get evidence from the cockpit to piece together what happened and what the pilots were experiencing. we are looking at those pictures. the plane is broken

and the back half is intact. what do we know about embraer? it is known as number three behind the two big companies, boeing and airbus. boeing has had lots of problems over the last few years. embraer had a pretty good safety wrecker. they normally have —— a good safety record. it has a range of about 2800 miles over... a top speed of 630 miles an hour used on shorterflights top speed of 630 miles an hour used on shorter flights around the world and trying to link shorter cities together because you don't need such a big runway for it. sources think

they are working to figure out what happened and said they are ready to assist authorities and that concerns go to family, friends and colleagues and loved ones of those affected by the accident. it is unusual circumstances for this company and they are standing by to send teams to the scene as you would normally expect in aircraft manufacturer to do in this circumstance.— aircraft manufacturer to do in this circumstance. around the world and _ this circumstance. around the world and across _ this circumstance. around the world and across the - this circumstance. around the world and across the uk, - this circumstance. around the world and across the uk, this| world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

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... 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 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 challah. so stollen is traditionally a german christmas bread, but we make a lighter version. so we use our hollow challah, we are famous for our challah. 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. let's go back to another tradition in the british royal family is in sandringham. the church service _ family is in sandringham. the church service has _ family is in sandringham. tue: church service has finished family is in sandringham. tte: church service has finished and the royals have gone back to their house to have their christmas lunch but there was about 1000 people who came to say happy christmas to them and given cards, flowers, meeting dogs and children and diane. hello! ., ., ., ., hello! you met a lot of royals? yes, hello! you met a lot of royals? yes. princess — hello! you met a lot of royals? yes, princess catherine, - hello! you met a lot of royals? yes, princess catherine, the . yes, princess catherine, the king. — yes, princess catherine, the king, prince louis, and they loved — king, prince louis, and they loved my— king, prince louis, and they loved my boots. let king, prince louis, and they loved my boots.— king, prince louis, and they loved my boots. let see your boots. someone _ loved my boots. let see your boots. someone pointed - loved my boots. let see your. boots. someone pointed them loved my boots. let see your - boots. someone pointed them out to the royal _ boots. someone pointed them out to the royal children _ boots. someone pointed them out to the royal children and -

boots. someone pointed them out to the royal children and said - to the royal children and said come — to the royal children and said come see _ to the royal children and said come see them! i'm glad i wear them _ come see them! i'm glad i wear them. is— come see them! i'm glad i wear them. , ., come see them! i'm glad i wear them. . come see them! i'm glad i wear them. , . . , ., come see them! i'm glad i wear them. . , ., them. is a cancer survivor you said it meant _ them. is a cancer survivor you said it meant a _ them. is a cancer survivor you said it meant a lot _ them. is a cancer survivor you said it meant a lot to - them. is a cancer survivor you said it meant a lot to you - them. is a cancer survivor you said it meant a lot to you to i said it meant a lot to you to see them. said it meant a lot to you to see them-— said it meant a lot to you to see them. , . .,, ., , ., see them. yes and i was able to wish them _ see them. yes and i was able to wish them good _ see them. yes and i was able to wish them good health. - see them. yes and i was able to wish them good health. i - see them. yes and i was able to wish them good health. i spoke | wish them good health. i spoke to catherine about our cancers and that — to catherine about our cancers and that love the replies. it is very— and that love the replies. it is very lucky we have got a billion— is very lucky we have got a billion royal family and just shows_ billion royal family and just shows that cancer, health conditions apply to everyone. is conditions apply to everyone. is that — conditions apply to everyone. is that what made you want to come out in particular, because you have been there yourself and they had eight of your? that made or so and was definitely the case —— that made or so and was definitely the case -- they had a tou . h definitely the case -- they had a tough year? _ definitely the case -- they had a tough year? many _ definitely the case -- they had a tough year? many people . definitely the case -- they had i a tough year? many people don't realise how _ a tough year? many people don't realise how cancer _ a tough year? many people don't realise how cancer affects - realise how cancer affects families so i wanted to see them — families so i wanted to see them celebrate christmasjust them celebrate christmas just like i— them celebrate christmasjust like i am _ them celebrate christmasjust like i am with my family.

them celebrate christmas 'ust like i am with my family. what was the atmosphere _ like i am with my family. what was the atmosphere like? - was the atmosphere like? because many people were there? people were cheering? the atmosphere _ people were cheering? the atmosphere was _ people were cheering? the atmosphere was lovely. the police — atmosphere was lovely. the police was very friendly and amazing _ police was very friendly and amazing and helpful. everyone was cheering.— amazing and helpful. everyone was cheering. you have been so lucky with _ was cheering. you have been so lucky with the — was cheering. you have been so lucky with the royals _ was cheering. you have been so lucky with the royals and - was cheering. you have been so lucky with the royals and your l lucky with the royals and your daughter is making a christmas dinner. , , , ., , , dinner. yes! definitely a plus! no cooking. — dinner. yes! definitely a plus! no cooking, billion! _ dinner. yes! definitely a plus! no cooking, billion! will- dinner. yes! definitely a plus! no cooking, billion! will you | no cooking, billion! will you be here in years to come? t be here in years to come? i hope so because i was here in the past — hope so because i was here in the past when i hadn't been in a wheelchair. my father shook one of— a wheelchair. my father shook one of the royal's hands and that— one of the royal's hands and that made such a good memory for him — that made such a good memory for him. ., ., ,

for him. have a very good christmas. _ for him. have a very good christmas. you _ for him. have a very good christmas. you to! - for him. have a very good christmas. you to! it - for him. have a very good christmas. you to! it has| for him. have a very good - christmas. you to! it has been a treat christmas. you to! it has been a great day — christmas. you to! it has been a great day here _ christmas. you to! it has been a great day here and _ christmas. you to! it has been a great day here and many - christmas. you to! it has been. a great day here and many have come out because they know that the family were suffering and they wanted to show their support. they wanted to show their su ort. ., ~ they wanted to show their support-— they wanted to show their su--ort. ., «s ., , support. thank you and very merry christmas _ support. thank you and very merry christmas to - support. thank you and very merry christmas to you, - support. thank you and very | merry christmas to you, too. a 31—year—old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after pedestrians were hit by a car in london's west end in the early hours of christmas day. four pedestrians were taken to hospital and one of them is still in a life—threatening condition. police say they believe the suspect was involved in an altercation at a nightclub prior to getting in his car and mounting the pavement. they say it is not terror—related. our bbc russia editor, steve rosenberg, has played many stunning musical tributes for us over the years and today is no exception. this year, he's joined forces with channel 4's ciaranjenkins

on cello to perform a special christmas collaboration. here's steve to tell us more. i'm not reporting today. i'm playing the piano, as you can see, a special musical christmas collaboration. me in moscow and, back in the uk, kieranjenkins from channel 4 news on the cello. here is our version of in the bleak midwinter. merry christmas. music: in the bleak midwinter.

a lovely christmas song from

them. thank you for being with us. hello again, and a very merry christmas. i hope you're having a lovely day now. weather—wise, we've got weather fronts out in the atlantic being effectively blocked by an area of high pressure across us. now that high pressure has the wind around it moving in a clockwise direction, so it's dragging in all this milder air across our shores, but also a fair bit of cloud coming in from the atlantic. so it's a fairly cloudy day for many, especially so in some western areas where it's murky as well. we've got some hill fog, some of that cloud thick enough for some drizzly bits and pieces as well. and we've got the weather front draped across the northwest of scotland, which is introducing rain and windy conditions. but we should see some brighter breaks develop in the east and also in the shelter of the hills across the west midlands, northeast wales. temperatures 11 to 13, but we could see 1a around the moray firth.

now, through this evening and overnight, our weather front sinks a bit further south across scotland into northern ireland. there'll be some breaks in the cloud, but by the end of the night the cloud will be thickening across southern parts of england. still windy across the far northwest. and as a result of all of this, it's going to be a relatively mild night for the time of year. the overnight low in glasgow and also belfast not falling lower than ten degrees. so into boxing day, here's our weather front. it sinks a bit further south, but it is then going to start to retreat northwards. so the rain on it moves across scotland, potentially

into northern england in through northern ireland, and starts to move north. to the south of that, we'll see the cloud build and there will be one or two brighter breaks, but essentially it's a mild day, not quite as mild as today but nonetheless mild for the time of year as we head on into friday. our weather front continues to migrate northwards and westwards across the northwest of scotland again. another fairly cloudy day with a few brighter breaks. temperatures varying from seven to about 12 degrees. beyond that, the weather turns a little bit more unsettled as we head into the weekend. we've got a weather front coming in from the west, that's crossing south with its rain. you can see it still remains relatively mild, but as we head up towards the new year, the forecast is split. one model has it turning mild, another one has it turning very unsettled and cooler. so it's one to watch. and if you want to find out what the weather is going to be like where you are, don't forget you can always check out the bbc weather app.

now on bbc news, where the polar bears wait. . on the edge of the canadian arctic, a community lives alongside the largest land predator on earth. they call it the polar bear capital of the world. but it's so much more interesting than that. a place that's been defined by remoteness, beauty and danger. there's a bear there! it's crossing the road. we heard crackers going off, and now the polar bear alert team are moving around, so we're going to get back in the car. the bear was up on this deck here. it was testing the door. we don't want him going back to town. this place, its people and its polar bears now face an uncertain future. the longer they're on shore,

the longer they're fasting, and the longer they might need to start looking for