Vicar apologises after telling sobbing children ‘Santa isn’t real’

Sir Keir Starmer agrees with Donald Trump's call for NATO allies to increase their defense budgets, stating that the UK and Europe need to do more for their defense and security. Ahead of a meeting with President Trump, the UK Prime Minister plans to outline a pathway to spending 2.5% of Britain's GDP on defense and is prepared to contribute to a peacekeeping force in Ukraine if needed. Sir Keir will meet with Trump to...

The ECB extended liquidity lines with eight non-euro area central banks until January 2027, based on a new framework. The Governing Council reviewed the Eurosystem's 2024 climate stress test results and approved amendments to include the TARGET Analytical Environment in the T2 Currency Participation Agreement. Additionally, the Council approved the ECB's 2024 financial statements and recommended external auditors for the years 2025 to 2029. Full Article

Britain will ban Russian elites with ties to Putin's regime, citing them as a threat to national security and tools for Russian aggression. The crackdown will target those who support Putin or benefit from the Russian state, with the goal of increasing pressure on Putin amid the war in Ukraine. The ban is part of a broader strategy including sanctions and military aid to tighten the screws on Russia and protect Britain's national security. Full...

In the past five years, Britain has seen a 33% increase in million-pound homes, with a total of 702,580 properties now valued at £1 million or more. London led this surge, with 349,068 million-pound homes, while the rest of the UK experienced a 1% decline in such properties. Despite some regional variations, the return-to-work movement has driven increased demand for city living, resulting in 5,000 homes crossing the million-pound threshold in London in 2024. Full...

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested for stabbing a 17-year-old teenager in the chest at a Primark store in Nottingham city center in broad daylight. The victim was seriously injured but his injuries are not life-threatening. The attack occurred after a fight broke out between a group of young people outside the store. Full Article

Peter and Barbie Reynolds, a British couple in their 70s, who have been running education programs in Afghanistan for 18 years, have lost contact with their family after being arrested by the Taliban. The couple operates Rebuild, an organization that provides education and training programs, including a project for mothers and children, despite the Taliban's restrictions on women's education. The couple's children are urging the Taliban authorities to release their parents, who have chosen Afghanistan...