Many thanks. Religious leaders have used their christmas messages to reflect on the darkness brought by the coronavirus. Theyve also been speaking about the many selfless and heroic responses to the pandemic. Heres nicholas witchell. A day for reflection on a difficult year. At the vatican in rome, pope francis attended a Christmas Eve mass in st peters basilica timed so that the very limited number of participants could be home in time for the 10pm curfew. In his homily, he said jesus was born an outcast, and he urged communities to do more to help the poor and the needy. Westminster cathedral in london was empty for Midnight Mass the service was delivered online instead. Earlier, a small socially distanced congregation had heard Cardinal Vincent nichols, leader of the Roman Catholic church in england and wales, speak about the heart warming way in which people had responded to the pandemic. Have we not seen in these months of difficulty being marked by countless acts of random kindne
Quite the same for everyone. But things will get better, and next year well be all right. Rugby star rob burrow looks back on a year living with Motor Neurone Disease. The tale of two young lads supporting their local hospital, and how we surprised them with a new celebrity supporter. Good morning. A chilly start to this Christmas Day but a pretty come day lies ahead. We are going to be battening down the hatches with storm valid from boxing day. Storm valid from boxing day. Storm bella. Good morning, its friday 25th of december Christmas Day and for many of us its very different to what were used to. Coming up, weve got heart warming stories, a catch up with some old friends of the programme, and plenty of festive cheer. First our main story. After the uk and European Union secured a brexit trade deal, politicians, diplomats and businesses will begin examining the details. Mps here are expected to vote on the agreement on wednesday. Our political correspondent, helen catt, has more. I
Coronavirus deaths in the uk passed 70,000 on Christmas Day. Daniela relph reports. High restrictions have returned and it shows. With Christmas Day done at the centre of southampton is empty. As new areas of southern and Eastern England now find their lives restricted by even tighter rules. Its very, very quiet. Its unusual at this time of the year. So, yeah, its strange and different stops some people are totally not seeing their family. It has caused friction in families. It would be nice if it could all come to an end and we could all come to an end and we could all come to an end and we could all be back to normal. The blue areas on the map are all now in tier 4, where you must stay at home u nless tier 4, where you must stay at home unless you need to travel for work or education. You may only meet one person at a time outside. Nonessential retail closes, and you shouldnt leave a tier 4 area. But elsewhere, there is a familiar look to boxing day. The Prime Minister had warned peo
Well tell you about the sport that is high speed and environmentally friendly welcome to the world of extreme e, backed by f1 champion lewis hamilton. Hello, and welcome if youre watching in the uk or around the world. Six Million People in the east and south east of england have joined those living under the strictest coronavirus restrictions, in tier 4. Those restrictions now affect around 2a Million People in england, more than 40 of the population. The toughest measures mean the closure of all nonessential shops, as well as hairdressers, swimming pools and gyms. A National Lockdown has also started in Northern Ireland, and measures have been reimposed in wales after being eased for christmas. All of mainland scotland has moved into the toughest level of coronavirus restrictions with the rest of scotland in tier 3 restrictions. France and spain has both confirmed their first cases of the coronavirus variant recently identified in the uk. Millions of americans face going without Unem
This is bbc news. These are the latest headlines in the uk and around the world. European Union Ambassadors get details of a post brexit trade deal in a Christmas Day briefing led by michel barnier. The queen will reflect on the hardships of the pandemic in her Christmas Speech in a few moments as she and Prince Philip break tradition by staying in windsor. Pope francis gives his Christmas Day address, urging all nations to share covid 19 vaccines and calling for peace in war torn regions. Thousands of lorry drivers are spending Christmas Day in their cabs near dover as 800 military personnel continue to test stranded hauliers. Hello and welcome if youre watching in the uk or around the world. Stay with us here on bbc news. After an historic brexit trade deal, the European Unions chief negotiator, michel barnier, has been briefing ambassadors from the 27 member countries on the details. The document setting out the deal runs to over 1200 pages. The Prime Minister, who was in downing st