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Unwanted Christmas gifts? Dont toss them! Regifting, reselling, or donating keeps things sustainable and offense-free. North Yorkshires Dawn-Maria France regifts with zero guilt, passing on garden seeds to a gardening pal. Reselling spikes on platforms like Vinted, turning waste into cash for real needs. Charity shops welcome donations, turning duplicates or mismatches into treasures for others. Givers can help by slipping in a gift receipt for easy exchanges or store credit on pricier items. These tricks let holiday cheer circulate without the cringe, making next Christmas even better for everyone.

King Charless Christmas message unites amidst controversies: Front pages highlight royal familys church service, mansion tax, parental leave, teachers counter-terrorism referral, and Boxing Day sales slump. Princess Beatrice and Eugenie join family, despite Andrews absence due to Epstein links. Polls suggest Labour supporters favor replacing Starmer. Daily Express celebrates Christmas appeal raising funds for Whizz Kidz, while Daily Star shares David Beckhams family fun.

Seven Zimbabwean survivors of child abuser John Smyth are suing the Church of England, alleging church leaders covered up his crimes and allowed him to flee to Africa. Smyth, who brutalized over 100 boys and young men in the UK and Africa, was known for savage beatings in a soundproofed shed. Church officials hushed up his actions to protect their reputation, enabling him to start Zambesi camps in Zimbabwe. Survivors describe harrowing experiences, including beatings, forced naked swims, and humiliating showers. Guide Nyachurus death during a naked swim was ruled an unfortunate incident. A recent review criticized the church for failing to report Smyth, and now lawyers are seeking an apology, compensation, and an independent review of African abuses.

Journalists Exclusive Tour of Migrant Housing Formerly Brasserie at Copthorne Hotel: Frayed Carpets, Faking Nationalities, and Fears of Forced Army Service

Brits Skip Boxing Day Bargain Hunt, Blaming Labours Tax Hikes for Economic Slump The podcast episode delves into the significant drop in Boxing Day shopping, with only 26% of people planning to hunt for bargains, down from 28% last year. This results in a projected £3.6 billion in sales, a full £1 billion less than in 2024. The slump is directly linked to Rachel Reeves tax hikes, which have burdened households and businesses with an additional £66 billion since she became chancellor. Employers face a £25 billion hit from higher National Insurance, minimum wage rises, and new worker rules. Pre-Christmas footfall already dropped 5.6%, exacerbating the situation. Opposition voices, including Conservatives and Reform UK, criticize Labour for a stagnant economy and plummeting consumer confidence. Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith notes that Christmas now means stocking up on essentials, not family fun. Reforms Richard Tice highlights soaring bills and stalled growth after Labours cost-of-living promises failed. Nearly 70% of people say tight budgets will curb their spending. Of those shopping, half will brave stores, while the rest shop online, with average budgets up to £253. Clothes, shoes, and accessories top wish lists for 37%, followed by food, beauty, and homeware. A quarter stick to essentials, and many young shoppers use AI to find deals, though some worry about overspending. Retailers hope in-store perks will draw crowds, blending old-school nostalgia with modern habits. The government insists its tackling retail crime and business rates to revive high streets, but January sales are expected to be their weakest in four years.

Two-thirds of voters believe Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has neglected rural Britain, according to a new poll. The Countryside Alliance survey of 2,000 Britons found that 65% think Labour unfairly neglects countryside residents, and 75% believe the government prioritizes cities and towns. This comes after Labour backed down on its family farm tax plan, doubling the inheritance tax threshold for farmers from £1 million to £2.5 million. Despite this, a record number of agriculture and fishing businesses closed in the year to October. New animal welfare rules will ban cages for chickens and pigs by 2030, but allow imports from abroad that skip those standards, leaving British farmers at a disadvantage. The survey also shows that banning trail hunting, a Labour priority, ranks low for the public. Thousands are set to join traditional Boxing Day trail hunts tomorrow, supporting a rural tradition that pumps over £100 million into local economies each year. With ongoing protests, Labour must rethink how it works with countryside communities.

Unsolved Crimes in England and Wales: A Growing Concern In England and Wales, police are closing nearly four crimes every minute due to lack of suspects, with over two million out of five point three million reported crimes falling into this category. Serious crimes like rapes, violence, robberies, and thefts have low solve rates, with only a small percentage leading to charges. Victims express frustration as cases get dropped due to evidential issues or withdrawn support. The government is implementing changes, including reducing police forces from forty-three to twelve and increasing budgets. Community resolutions are on the rise, with offenders receiving informal punishments. Police chiefs assure they follow all reasonable leads, and theres hope that tech advancements and reforms will improve detection rates.

Prince Andrew spent Christmas alone, while his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, joined the royal family at Sandringham. Despite King Charles exclusion of Andrew due to the Epstein scandal, Eugenie and Beatrice were present, delighting well-wishers. Andrew, facing potential prosecution, was seen leaving his estate. The royals showcased unity, focusing on family bonds and holiday cheer.

The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, and other royals turned heads at the Christmas church service in Sandringham, showcasing a mix of high-end Italian, British, and Spanish fashion. Kate wore a bespoke Blazé Milano coat, Gucci skirt, and Gianvito Rossi boots, accessorized with a DeMellier London bag, Cornelia James gloves, and a Really Wild scarf. Her daughter, Princess Charlotte, matched in a caramel coat, while Princess Eugenie and Beatrice twinned in checked cape coats and hats. The Duchess of Edinburgh wore a Suzannah coat and hat, and Queen Camilla stood out in a red Fiona Clare coat. Kates only new piece was a hat by Juliette Botterill.