Putin receives Slovak PM in shock Moscow visit – POLITICO

The UK economy under the new Labour government experienced stagnant growth in the third quarter, with the Office for National Statistics revising down the initial estimate of 0.1% to 0.0%. This was weaker than expected compared to the final quarter of the previous Conservative government, with no growth recorded in disposable household income. Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government faces pressure as promises to raise living standards are challenged by the lack of growth in real...

Forecasters have predicted a mild and grey Christmas Day for Britons, with no snow expected across the UK. The Met Office requires a single snowflake to be observed falling on Christmas Day for it to be declared a white Christmas, but this is unlikely to happen this year. Most of the UK can expect settled, cloudy, and dry conditions with light winds, while temperatures will be mild with a small chance of rain in north-west...

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

The Independent relies on reader support to cover a range of important issues, from reproductive rights to Big Tech, with a commitment to unbiased reporting. Donations enable journalists to investigate stories on the ground and provide quality journalism accessible to all. In a Christmas gesture, Labour MP Torcuil Crichton invites Donald Trump to visit his mother's Scottish village before his second term inauguration. 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...