Nick Miles

Steve Rosenberg in Russia. So is the mention of active Russian air defence systems in the area at the time as close as one can get to actually saying we did it, albeit by mistake? Where does the statement lie between an expression of sorrow and an admission of guilt? I heard more from Andrei Vladov of BBC Monitoring.

And Andrei, do you expect this to be the final statement, for now anyway, until the investigation is concluded?

And Andrei, do you expect this to be the final statement, for now anyway, until the investigation is concluded?

Andrei Vladov from BBC Monitoring. A Ukrainian official has told the BBC they hope a New Year prisoner exchange with Russia will happen any day, although arrangements can fall through at the last minute.

Andrei Vladov from BBC Monitoring. A Ukrainian official has told the BBC they hope a New Year prisoner exchange with Russia will happen any day, although arrangements can fall through at the last minute.

Petro Yatsenko from Ukraine's headquarters for the treatment of prisoners of war said negotiations with Moscow have become more difficult in recent months since Russian forces began making significant advances on the front lines. Thousands of relatives of Ukrainian prisoners are now spending Christmas without their loved ones. From Kiev, our correspondent Will Vernon reports.

Petro Yatsenko from Ukraine's headquarters for the treatment of prisoners of war said negotiations with Moscow have become more difficult in recent months since Russian forces began making significant advances on the front lines. Thousands of relatives of Ukrainian prisoners are now spending Christmas without their loved ones. From Kiev, our correspondent Will Vernon reports.

Lebanon has expelled around 70 people, including officers and soldiers believed to have escaped there from neighbouring Syria. The new authorities in Damascus have been conducting an operation against what they describe as remnants of the Assad regime.

Lebanon has expelled around 70 people, including officers and soldiers believed to have escaped there from neighbouring Syria. The new authorities in Damascus have been conducting an operation against what they describe as remnants of the Assad regime.

Local media reported that the soldiers of various ranks were found in a truck in the northern coastal city of Jbeil and had been sent back to Syria. Many senior Syrian officials and people close to the former ruling family of Bashar al-Assad are alleged to have escaped to Lebanon after Mr. Assad was toppled early this month.

Local media reported that the soldiers of various ranks were found in a truck in the northern coastal city of Jbeil and had been sent back to Syria. Many senior Syrian officials and people close to the former ruling family of Bashar al-Assad are alleged to have escaped to Lebanon after Mr. Assad was toppled early this month.

This latest handover by Lebanon of the soldiers belonging to the former Assad regime seems to have been captured on video, posted on social media, although not so far verified by the BBC. Ben James spoke to our Middle East regional editor, Sebastian Asher, who's in the Syrian capital, Damascus, about what the videos appear to show.

This latest handover by Lebanon of the soldiers belonging to the former Assad regime seems to have been captured on video, posted on social media, although not so far verified by the BBC. Ben James spoke to our Middle East regional editor, Sebastian Asher, who's in the Syrian capital, Damascus, about what the videos appear to show.

Sebastian Usher in the Syrian capital, Damascus. Apologies for the quality of the telephone connection there. Next to northern Gaza, the UN agency, the World Health Organisation, has criticised an Israeli raid on the last remaining hospital in the area, warning that the lack of medical facilities was close to a death sentence for patients.

Sebastian Usher in the Syrian capital, Damascus. Apologies for the quality of the telephone connection there. Next to northern Gaza, the UN agency, the World Health Organisation, has criticised an Israeli raid on the last remaining hospital in the area, warning that the lack of medical facilities was close to a death sentence for patients.

A senior Palestinian official said staff at the Kamal Adwan Hospital had been threatened and the premises had been cleared. Israel described the site as a Hamas terrorist stronghold. Our correspondent Emir Nader reports from Jerusalem.

A senior Palestinian official said staff at the Kamal Adwan Hospital had been threatened and the premises had been cleared. Israel described the site as a Hamas terrorist stronghold. Our correspondent Emir Nader reports from Jerusalem.

Saturday was a day of national mourning in India. The sound there of guards carrying the coffin of the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh through the streets of Delhi as crowds watched on. He died at the age of 92. He was considered to be the man behind India's 21st century economic rise.

Saturday was a day of national mourning in India. The sound there of guards carrying the coffin of the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh through the streets of Delhi as crowds watched on. He died at the age of 92. He was considered to be the man behind India's 21st century economic rise.

many politicians were present to share words of mourning, including the current Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. But despite his special status in Indian society, Mr Singh was commemorated in a typical way, cremated outside along with others who had recently died, with their families also watching on. Our correspondent Arunade Mukherjee was there.