Christmas getaway under threat by 80mph winds as Met Office warns of travel disruption

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has been warned by former Tory minister Sir John Hayes about the lack of safeguards in obtaining abortion pills following Stuart Worby's conviction for poisoning his partner. Worby administered the pills under the guise of "kinky sex" resulting in the victim's inability to conceive. Worby obtained the pills through a friend posing as a woman seeking an abortion, prompting concerns about the need for stricter regulations to prevent similar crimes in...

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,...