The plane was originally scheduled to travel from the Azerbaijani capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny.

In his homily, Francis said the Holy Year is an opportunity to relieve the debt of poor countries and commit to protecting the planet.

The mildest start to Christmas Day on record has been recorded for Northern Ireland and Scotland. In Kinloss, Moray, temperatures reached 11.9C, while at Killowen, Co Down, it peaked at 11C for the 24 ...

The Bishop of Newcastle has criticised the Christmas Day sermon delivered by the Archbishop of York, describing his suggestion that the Church of England needs to change as “empty words”. Stephen ...

An 88-year-old great-grandmother still receives a Christmas card every year from the German pen pal she has been writing to ...

Molly-Mae Hague has revealed she was feeling “really deflated” and “quite sad” in the lead-up to Christmas. The 25-year-old Love Island star split from fiance Tommy Fury, with whom she has a young ...

Israel and Hamas have accused each other of complicating ceasefire efforts as the two sides inch closer to a deal that could wind down the 14-month war in Gaza.

The King has used his Christmas address to pay tribute to the “selfless” doctors and nurses who provided “strength, care and comfort” during cancer treatment for himself and the Princess of Wales.

Here is the full text of the King’s Christmas broadcast: “Earlier this year, as we commemorated the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, the Queen and I had the enormous privilege of meeting, once again, the ...

Swimmers take part in an early Christmas Day dip on Boscombe beach in Dorset (Andrew Matthews/PA) Some members of the Serpentine Swimming Club were in fancy dress for the Peter Pan Cup race, which is ...

The Princess of Wales joined other members of the royal family as they walked from Sandringham House to the church.

The students are demanding justice over the collapse of a concrete construction at a railway station that killed 15 people in November.