Lorry with £70,000 of stolen whisky stopped on motorway

People planning to travel for the Christmas getaway this weekend are being warned of heavy rain and winds up to 80mph causing potential disruptions. The RAC advises drivers to expect a challenging journey due to wet and windy conditions, with traffic delays already reported on major routes. A yellow wind warning has been issued by the Met Office for parts of the UK, with gusts of 80mph possible, prompting drivers to avoid travel during peak...

In Catford, south east London, a family home was destroyed by a fire caused by an exploding e-bike just days before Christmas. Three people were inside when the lithium battery burst into flames, forcing two family members to escape onto the roof. One man fell from the roof while waiting for rescue, and a woman was treated for smoke inhalation after slipping and falling into the arms of a firefighter. Full Article

Peter Mandelson's nomination as Britain's new ambassador to the United States has caused anger within Donald Trump's team, with one insider calling it a "horrible, arrogant" choice. The former EU commissioner and Blair-era minister has previously criticized Trump as a "white nationalist and racist", leading to concerns about trust and access to important discussions. Trump's campaign coordinator publicly called Mandelson a "moron", highlighting the strained relations between the two sides due to past insults and...

Authorities in Germany believe the driver responsible for the recent tragedy acted alone, having arrived in the country in 2006 and worked as a doctor. The upcoming election, triggered by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition collapse, sees the CDU leading in polls ahead of the far-right AfD, with migration issues playing a significant role. Likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz plans to reduce asylum-seekers, while current Chancellor Scholz expressed condolences for the victims and praised rescue workers....

The Independent relies on reader support to cover important stories like reproductive rights and climate change, providing unbiased reporting without paywalls. Sue Gray, former chief of staff for Sir Keir Starmer, has been given a peerage after a power struggle within the Labour Party and her role in investigating Partygate, ultimately leading to Boris Johnson's resignation. Gray's report on lockdown parties at No 10 revealed leadership failures, contributing to Johnson's downfall, and her subsequent appointment...

The newly elected president, Donald Trump, has called on the European Union to address their deficit with the United States by purchasing oil and gas or face tariffs. With Europe reducing its reliance on Russian gas, the US has become the EU's largest gas and oil supplier, leading to a trade deficit in goods and services. If Trump follows through with his threats, Europe may have to choose between higher energy prices, delaying climate goals,...