26/12/2016 BBC News

From everyone on Reporting Scotland, enjoy the rest of your Boxing Day.

Back then he had big hair and a perma tan.

So they stuck us in this hotel that couldn't

And I was sleeping, the night before my first Top of the Pops,

His first album, Faith, sold over 25 million copies,

garnered awards galore and sealed his reputation as a major

It was, "Oh, my God, I'm a massive star", right?

It was like, "Oh my God, I'm a massive star

and I think I may be a poof, what am I going to do?"

That was the point at which I had to negotiate some new relationship

with celebrity that wasn't going to destroy me.

But his private life was a different matter.

To be able to say that this man who had hidden from them

for the best part of six years by then, or seven years,

the idea that he had been this tragic, old-fashioned,

stereotypical cottager, they just loved it.

The whole experience led to this song, with its ironic, cheeky video.

There are other problems with drugs, addiction, and a spell in jail

after crashing his car into a shop in London.

What you get up to in your spare time is up to you.

Then why can't I come to Comic Relief?

I can't walk in to Comic Relief with you.

Comic Relief is about helping people like you!

He collaborated with many other singers, including Elton John,

He wrote today: "I have lost the kindest, most generous soul

And his old Wham partner, Andrew Ridgeley, wrote: "I am

heartbroken by the loss of my beloved friend Yog."

Tonight, his former partner gave a statement, saying:

Tonight, his former partner gave a statement,

# All you do is love and love is all you do.

# I should know by now the way I've fought for you.

That George Michael was one of Britain's biggest pop stars

The 100 million-plus albums he sold, the continual presence of his music

on our radios and the sold-out arena tours stand as a testament

he was a generous man who made several private donations to

individuals he did not know but cared about nevertheless.

He made life affirming music that touched and will continue to touch

George Michael, who has died at the age of 53.

And as a tribute BBC One will be broadcasting one of his concerts

Russia has been holding a day of national mourning for the 92

people who were killed when a military plane

Pilot error or a technical fault are being blamed for the plane

coming down just moments after it left Sochi airport after refuelling.

From Moscow, Steve Rosenberg reports.

Across Russia, they prayed for the dead...

For the 92 victims of yesterday's plane crash.

There was a special service today in every Orthodox church in Russia.

This may be the last ever picture of the Tupolev 154.

A few hours later, it crashed into the Black Sea.

The search operation continued today, to recover bodies

Russia's Transport Minister said that technical failure or pilot

Killed in the crash, more than 60 members of the Russian

army's song and dance troupe who were on their way to Syria

Outside the musicians' headquarters in Moscow,

there is now a shrine which grows bigger by the hour.

As well as bringing flowers, icons and candles, people have

This says, "You were killed on take-off.

Natalia's son used to work in the ensemble, but left.

"We mourn with everybody else," she says.

Officially, there is one day of national mourning.

But for many Russians, the sense of loss from this disaster

The Columbian authorities investigating the plane crash last

month in which 71 people died, have concluded the aircraft

The plane, which was carrying Brazil's Chapecoense football club,

On a leaked tape, the pilot who died was heard warning

of a "total electric failure" and "lack of fuel".

But he never made a formal distress call.

The Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, has begun

It's 75 years since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour

brought the United States into the Second World War.

Prime Minister Abe and President Obama are due to go to a memorial

that honours the sailors and marines killed in the attack.

Bargain hunters were up early this morning for the Boxing Day sales -

despite discounting in the runup to Christmas.

The fall in the value of the pound since the Brexit vote has also

provided an incentive for tourists looking for a bargain.

The former governor of the Bank of England, Lord King,

suggested today that Britain would be better off leaving

the single market completely, if it wants to strike trade deals

Here's our Economics Correspondent, Andy Verity.

After one day's respite, 14 million of us are expected

to hit the shops today, drawn in by the theory that goods

are significantly cheaper than they were two days ago.

From Birmingham to Belfast, ?3 billion is expected to be spent

in shopping centres in the high street, with up to

I always do it every Boxing Day morning.

I'm normally just looking for a really good deal, like half price.

We were here last February and the exchange rate was 1.5,

We get a lot more for our money this year than last.

The international visitors joining the crowds in London's West End

aren't just coming for the Boxing Day sales.

The Brexit vote has weakened the pound, and that means

that their money buys about a fifth more here than it did year ago.

It's effects like that that create the hope that the Brexit vote

could lift exports and provide, at least in the short term,

One legacy of the credit boom of the last decade,

and the bust that followed it, was consumers borrowing

unprecedented amounts to buy imported goods,

Today, the man who presided over that boom and bust was hoping

that Brexit might throw that into reverse.

There are many opportunities, and we should look at it in a much

more self-confident way than either side is approaching

I think that being out of what has been an unsuccessful European Union,

particularly in the economic sense, brings us opportunities

as well as obviously great political difficulties.

To the incoming US Commerce Secretary though,

Brexit is an opportunity not for us, but for other countries

Billionaire businessman Wilbur Ross has called it a god-given

opportunity for cities from Dublin to Frankfurt to take business

And that's the man chosen by Donald Trump to lead trade

negotiations with Theresa May's Government.

Now, before we go, we'll leave you with some images

of George Michael, who's died at the age of 53.

# Wounded skies are both say it's much too late. -- above.

# Maybe we should all play for time. # Oh...

# Do you think we have time? # Do you think we have time?