King Charles chooses former hospital for Christmas message in poignant break from tradition

Leading doctors have issued an emergency warning over the dangers of water beads, popular toys that have been linked to child deaths overseas and serious harm in the UK. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine warns that if swallowed, the beads can expand inside a child and cause bowel obstruction, requiring surgery for removal. The safety alert also highlights concerns about children swallowing button or coin batteries and magnets, which can cause serious harm or...

Sian Phillips, a 35-year-old "glamper" from Worcestershire, flipped her car into a ditch in Cambridgeshire while driving to buy more alcohol, resulting in a roadside test showing a reading of 77 – more than double the legal limit – and her subsequent arrest. Phillips, who had been drinking prosecco in a hot tub during a glamping trip with friends, stated she "felt fine" before misjudging a corner and crashing the BMW X1 on its roof....

Charlotte's Christmas lost its magic in her early twenties after moving in with her abusive boyfriend, who controlled every aspect of her life, isolating her and subjecting her to violence. Left alone on Christmas while he visited his family, she faced a terrifying outburst of rage upon his return, marking a pattern of abuse during the holiday season. Despite eventually escaping, Charlotte's story is sadly common, with many others enduring similar abusive situations behind closed...

Slovak Prime Minister Fico met with Putin in Russia to discuss Ukraine's war, gas transit, and peaceful solutions, opposing Western sanctions on Russia. Fico's visit followed talks with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, where gas transit through Ukraine was a point of contention. Putin assured continued gas supply to Slovakia, while Fico emphasized standardizing Slovak-Russian relations and criticized Western sanctions against Russia. Full Article

Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, believes her time in office has gone well despite early challenges, including a diplomatic row with Nigeria and criticism for the lack of a policy platform. She is not rushing to make definitive policy decisions but promises they will come in due time. Badenoch is facing competition from Nigel Farage's Reform UK as Labour's poll ratings have fallen, with the Tories narrowly behind in the latest Techne UK tracker poll....

The European Parliament has voted to delay the implementation of new EU regulations targeting products linked to deforestation, now set to take effect from December 30, 2025, for large operators and traders, and from June 30, 2026, for smaller enterprises. The decision, passed with strong support, aims to address concerns raised by businesses and countries about compliance challenges, with the regulation being a key component of the EU's efforts to combat climate change and biodiversity...