UK economy has failed to grow since election in fresh blow for Labour

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....

Rutte supports supplying Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles and rejects imposing restrictions on their use, emphasizing the importance of such capabilities for Ukraine. Zelenskyy criticizes Scholz for his phone call with Putin, stating it undermined efforts to isolate Moscow. Zelenskyy accuses European leaders of prioritizing elections over Ukraine's interests and warns that Putin will not cease his war efforts independently. Full Article

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