EU Commissioner highlights reforms needed for Ukraine’s membership and aid

A plane crash-landed at Belfast City Airport in high winds, causing the nose wheel to collapse, but fortunately, there were no injuries reported. The incident led to the closure of the runway for the day, with flights being diverted to Belfast International Airport. The UK faced travel disruptions due to adverse weather conditions, including cancellations of ferries, trains, and flights, as strong winds and ice warnings affected holiday travel plans. Full Article

Businesses are preparing for economic uncertainty in the new year following Rachel Reeves's Budget, with a CBI survey revealing plans for reduced output and hiring. Expectations for growth are at their weakest since Liz Truss's time in office, largely due to the chancellor's national insurance hike. Despite defending her tax increases as necessary for economic stability and growth, Reeves faces criticism as the economy faces a bleak outlook. Full Article

Laila Soueif, a 68-year-old grandmother, is on a hunger strike outside the Foreign Office in London, marking each day with white lines on the pavement to demand the release of her son, pro-democracy activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, who is imprisoned in Cairo. Despite holding British citizenship, Alaa has been denied consular access and remains in detention, prompting his mother to take extreme measures to draw attention to his case. The British and Egyptian governments have...

Leftist-populist Slovak politician Fico visited Russia on a "working visit," meeting with Putin and discussing gas transit issues with Zelensky's opposition. Fico's unannounced trip follows only two other EU leaders' visits to Putin post-invasion, drawing criticism from the EU but receiving advance notification from certain European representatives. The European Commission and Council refrained from immediate comments on Fico's visit. Full Article

President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Mark Burnett, the British producer of The Apprentice, as his special envoy to the UK, citing his diplomatic skills and international recognition. Burnett, known for his work on popular TV shows like Survivor and The Voice, played a key role in raising Trump's profile in the US. In his new role, Burnett will focus on enhancing diplomatic relations between the US and the UK, with a focus on trade, investment...

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