The votes have been counted and verified—Donald Trump is returning to the White House.

Despite facing an assassination attempt during his campaign, 78-year-old Trump emerged victorious after a tight race against vice president Kamala Harris, who took over the Democratic campaign from Joe Biden.

Overnight, Trump surged to a decisive lead, and by morning had surpassed the 270 electoral votes required, securing his position as the 47th president of the United States.

Kentucky was the first state to declare Trump the winner, but the tipping point came when Florida followed suit an hour later. Trump also carried key battleground states, including North Carolina, Georgia, and Wisconsin.

Harris held on to states like New York and New Jersey but has not yet conceded or addressed her supporters. Dejected crowds left her watch party in Washington, D.C., even before the final results were announced.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer were among the first to congratulate Trump, now the oldest person elected to the office. Starmer said, “I look forward to working with President Trump in the years ahead. From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know the UK-US special relationship will continue to thrive on both sides of the Atlantic.”

In his victory speech, Trump said: “We have thousands of friends in this incredible movement. And frankly this, I believe, was the greatest political movement of all time in this country and maybe beyond.

“Now we’re going to help our country heal. We have a country that needs help. We’re going to fix our borders. We made history for a reason. We overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible, and look what happened, is this crazy? This will be the golden age of America.”

Trump gave a special mention to Elon Musk, CEO of X, calling him a “new star” of the Republican Party, while his running mate, JD Vance, described the win as “the greatest political comeback ever.”

Some of Trump’s key campaign promises included addressing inflation and making America affordable again. He pledged to increase U.S. energy production and open areas like the Arctic for oil drilling to reduce energy costs. Trump also proposed trillions in tax cuts, largely extending those he enacted in 2017, aimed at the wealthy, which he claims would be funded by higher growth and tariffs on imports.

On immigration, Trump reiterated his commitment to securing the U.S.-Mexico border, completing his previously promised wall, and enacting what he described as the largest mass deportation of undocumented migrants in U.S. history.

Independent boutiques and high-street retailers alike offer an impressive range of Christmas gifts for the home. Whether you’re supporting small businesses or browsing the high street for festive finds, our guide has something for everyone.

And let’s be honest—there’s always someone who says, “I don’t need anything.” For them, a thoughtful home gift can be the perfect choice.

While there’s something special about giving a handmade or unique item, we’ve also included options for last-minute shoppers in need of reliable, quick-delivery gifts in time for Christmas Eve.

So, without further ado (yes, we know it’s only Bonfire Night), here are some fantastic gift ideas to suit every budget:

Hokan bowls

For the most versatile cook, they will absolutely adore these Hokan bowls – sustainable, stackable and stylish. Available in a range of gorgeous colours (we love yellow) and in sizes small (400ml), medium (600ml) and large (1000ml), these dishes can happily be used in the microwave, dishwasher or oven. 

And what is really clever, because the contents is determined by the height, every lid fits every size, so they can be swapped around to suit and used as a side plate or to cover in the fridge – genius.

The bowls heat evenly and retain heat efficiently, while cooking with the lid on keeps moisture in and the temperature stable.

Hokan are proud to partner with The Felix Project who help to feed local communities in London by rescuing surplus food from suppliers and redistributing it to over 1,000 frontline charities and schools. For every small bowl sold, Hokan donates 1.5 meals; for every medium bowl, 3 meals; for every large bowl, 4.5 meals; and for every set of three, 9 meals.

Available to buy:  hokanbowls.com individually or as a set, starting at £24

Smart scales

For someone into nutrition, the Aeno KS1S Smart Kitchen Scale is a handy and stylish prezzie. With a nifty tempered glass surface, you can weigh hot or cold ingredients – and with a database of 10,000 products and meals, it can be used to get handy nutritional analysis for a wide range of foods. 

And for those waiting for the post-Christmas slump, this is an excellent tool for weight loss, thanks to its smart app funtionality, precise measurements and nutritional tracking. Slim and easy to store, the LED screen is bright and easy to read. It’s an absolute winner for us!

 Available from: Curry’s, £34.99 

Playful picture 

For a nostalgic look back at a favourite character, we absolutely love these beautiful pictures featuring characters from the Peanuts gang. We stumbled upon these exclusive and super cute frames featuring original vintage Snoopy playing cards, double mounted in cream and black, within a black wood box frame. 

What is super cool, is that the cards are from the 1970s, ensuring each gift is one-of-a-kind. SO with 60 designs featuring Snoopy and the Peanuts gang, these gifts are timeless and thoughtful! There are also fridge magnets and Christmas baubles available.

Available from: Vintage Playing Cards, from £25 

Digital alarm clock

 Arighi Bianchi’s Rise & Play is the ultimate bedside digital alarm clock and Bluetooth speaker. More than just an alarm clock, it’s a wireless entertainment hub that will brighten any bedside table. 

Connect your smartphone via Bluetooth and wake up with your favourite tunes, while staying on track with the intuitive digital display. Rise & Play combines style and functionality with three alarm modes, customisable brightness, and optional date and temperature display. Available in three fun colours – yellow, orange, and purple.

Available to buy: Arighibianchi.co.uk, from £25

Scented candle

For the ultimate relaxation aroma, why not treat your loved ones to a gorgeous scented candle from the Copenhagen company? Perfect for any lounge, dining room, bathroom or bedroom, we just love these signature smells, especially the grapefruit which is an elegant citrus fragrance centred around the zingyness.

The signature hotel collection sizes are available in classic, medium and large – and are made from a natural wax blend and cotton wicks, to deliver a clean burn all day long. 

Available to buy: thecopenhagencompany.com, from £13

Festive bedding

There’s nothing better than getting into a freshly made bed. So why not welcome in the festive season with the Catherine Lansfield Cosy Soft Christmas Tree Bedding Set? We love the super cute design – mini Christmas trees on a luxuriously soft velvet base. And better still – the reverse is lined with a warm sherpa fabric for extra comfort. 

Transform your bedroom into a cozy Christmas wonderland while enjoying the classic touch it adds to your decor. This set is available in single, double, kingsize and super kingsize with matching pillow cases.

Available to buy: Terrysfabrics, from £27.10

Disney throw

Cuddle up on the couch this Christmas with this fantastic find from Asda! It’s the green and white Disney Mickey Mouse Checkerboard Sherpa Throw, which is 120cm x 150cm.

It can be washed at 30 degrees as well as tumble dried, making it the perfect couch companion or bed spread – and it’s just the most gorgeous gift for Disney fans old and young.

Available to buy: Asda.com, £14

Police officers in south east London have sentenced three men following a Met crackdown on mobile phone robbery and theft.

A man and two teenage boys were brought to justice for their involvement in 35 separate incidents in Bermondsey and Greenwich.

Thirty-two mobile phones were recovered, with 30 of them successfully returned to their rightful owners. The total estimated value of the stolen phones amounts to more than £20,000.

Kie Joyce, (21) of Neckinger Estate, was sentenced to three and a half years’ imprisonment in September, at Inner London Crown Court for conspiracy to steal and eight counts of dangerous driving offences.

A 16-year-old boy – who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to six months on November 1, at the Old Bailey for conspiracy to steal and eight counts of dangerous driving.

A second 16-year-old boy – who also cannot be named for legal reasons – was sentenced to a nine-month supervision requirement in February at South London Magistrates’ Court for conspiracy to commit theft and handling stolen goods. He was also subjected to a youth rehabilitation order, curfew requirement and is required to pay compensation of £425.

Targeting of hot spots

Officers have been listening to community concerns and using data and technology to target hot spots where offending is more likely to take place.

As part of the A New Met for London plan, the Met is focusing on improving community policing, with officers patrolling busy areas and town centres to help deter offenders and ensure they are present to act on anything suspicious. Local residents have fed back the increased presence has provided a sense of safety to residents and visitors.

The Met is employing CCTV in busy areas to monitor and identify people involved in mobile phone thefts, allowing them to capture real time footage for analysis and evidence gathering.

PC Alex Earley, who led the investigation, said: “I am pleased our investigation has brought three offenders to justice for their part to play in a spate of phone thefts in our local area. This demonstrates our commitment to addressing concerns from those living and working here.

“Our top priority is to drive down crime that impacts our communities the most, creating neighbourhoods where everyone feels safe.”

The Met investigation was launched in 2023 and focused on the three individuals who used electric motorbikes to steal phones from unsuspecting victims. They targeted individuals by aggressively riding their bikes on pavements and approaching people at high speeds, creating an intimidating environment that made it difficult for victims to react or escape.

Making the capital safer

Commander Owain Richards added: “We understand the impact of mobile phone theft can have on victims, it’s an invasive and sometimes violent crime- and we’re committed to protecting Londoners and tackling this issue as we make the capital safer.

“We continue to use data and technology to build intelligence and track stolen items to target offenders. We are also working phone firms to ‘design out’ the ability for phones to be reused and sold on as we seek to dismantle the criminal market that fuels robbery and theft.

“We encourage people to report as soon as they can whenever they have been a victim of mobile phone theft, so officers can investigate swiftly”.

World Travel Market London – one of the world’s influential travel and tourism events – is set to contribute around £200 million to the London economy.

Held at Excel London (pictured), more than 40,000 travel professionals are set to attend the 44^th show which takes place tomorrow, running until November 7.

On track to host the most exhibitors the event has ever seen, WTM London has reported a 7% growth in exhibitor numbers this year, with more than 4,000 global tourism boards, hoteliers, transport services, technology brands, associations and experiences set to take part.

It’s estimated that in excess of £2.2 billion worth of business deals will be signed at this year’s event.

According to VisitBritain data, international delegates visiting the UK for a trade show on average spend £352 per day, which estimates a total visitor spend of £71,215,218.

In a recent report from Deloitte, they suggested that for every £1,000 spent, a further £1,800 is generated in direct tourism gross value, totalling an impressive £200 million injection from WTM London into the economy.

WTM London estimates that 82% of attendees are international visitors who are spending money on transport, accommodation, and entertainment during their time in the city. 40% of visitors are spending three days in London for the event, 33% are spending at least seven days in city and 9% of international visitors are staying in the capital for at least nine days.

Juliette Losardo, exhibitor director, WTM London, said: “While the travel trade are busy curating that £2.2billion worth of travel and tourism deals during World Travel Market, we’re proud that WTM also has such a significant impact on our host city of London. The range of accommodation, world-class dining and wealth of attractions the city has to offer, are a real draw for our attendees, many of whom use WTM London as an opportunity to tag on leisure days and, in doing so, boost spend for the economy.”