Russia’s ‘inhumane’ Christmas attack on Ukraine leads to power shortages, Zelenskyy says – POLITICO

NHS bosses are warning the public to be cautious of enticing betting adverts this Boxing Day, as demand for gambling addiction treatment has surged in the past year. With 20 Premier League fixtures and winter horse racing events on the calendar, experts fear a perfect storm of temptation for those struggling with gambling addictions. Referrals for gambling addiction have risen by almost 130%, prompting NHS England to urge those affected to seek help through clinics...

Westminster was busy this year with Labour's election supermajority, budget dramas, and various missions, but some politicians still found time to read. Notable picks include Bridget Phillipson's praise for The Country Girls trilogy, David Lammy's recommendation of A Little Life, and Tony Blair's interest in Custer's Trials. Other favorites included Rishi Sunak's choice of Genesis on AI and Kim Leadbeater's mention of How Westminster Works. Notable reads also included JFK by David Cameron, Shrines of...

Veteran left-winger Diane Abbott has criticized Sir Keir Starmer, stating he lacks a feel for politics and the Labour Party, suggesting that his success is due to the skills of those around him. Abbott also revealed that she decided against standing down amid briefings against her by the Prime Minister's team before being suspended from the Labour Party for controversial remarks about Jewish people experiencing racism. Despite not having spoken to Starmer in four years,...

In a Christmas Day sermon, Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell called for the Church of England to repent and "be changed" following a turbulent year of abuse allegations. Bishop of Newcastle Helen-Ann Hartley criticized his words as "empty," questioning their sincerity. With Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby resigning and Archbishop Cottrell set to lead, the Church faces ongoing challenges of addressing historic abuse and seeking redemption. Full Article

In the past year, over 360,000 train services in Britain were fully or partially cancelled due to major staffing shortages, with 208,000 services fully axed and 161,000 part-cancelled, resulting in a reliability score of 4.0% - the joint worst since 2015. Amidst Labour's push to renationalize the railways, the Passenger Rail Services (Public Ownership) Bill received royal assent, leading to the creation of Great British Rail as the new operating body to take over ownership...

Contingency plans are being made in Whitehall for a potential increase in demand for state school places, as private schools may close due to fee hikes. Smaller schools charging less in competitive areas are seen as the most at risk. Labour's removal of VAT exemption and business rates relief for private schools has sparked opposition, with the government estimating the tax will raise significant funds for state schools. Full Article