内容摘要："I pay tribute to the bravery of these two victims in coming forward and telling their stories. It was key to getting these convictions and I hope they feel that justice has finally been done.

"I pay tribute to the bravery of these two victims in coming forward and telling their stories. It was key to getting these convictions and I hope they feel that justice has finally been done.

Kyiv's allies have also continued to ratchet up sanctions on Moscow, in the hope that Russia's war-time economy, which has proved stubbornly resilient, may finally break."There's been deep frustration that sanctions haven't just shattered the Russian economy beyond repair," a US congressional source said, on condition of anonymity.

After multiple rounds of sanctions (fifteen from the EU alone), government officials have grown wary of predicting their successful impact.But recent indicators are increasingly alarming for the Kremlin. With interest rates at 23%, inflation running above 9%, a falling rouble and growth expected to slow dramatically in 2025, the strains on Russia's economy have rarely seemed more acute.Putin is putting on a brave face. "The sanctions are having an effect," he said during his end of year news conference, "but they are not of key importance."

Along with Russia's staggering losses on the battlefield – western officials estimate that Moscow is losing an average of 1,500 men, killed and wounded, every day – the cost of this war could yet drive Putin to the negotiating table.But how much more territory will Ukraine have lost - and how many more people will have been killed - by the time that point is reached?

A homelessness charity is turning its offices into a winter night shelter to protect the most vulnerable during the coldest months.

The Hope Centre in Northampton is in the process of reshuffling its office space, which is next to its hub in Campbell Street, to make room for 33 beds for rough sleepers from January.The party led by Nigel Farage is promising to freeze non-essential immigration an take small boats in the Channel back to France.

In Albania, the prime minister announced further co-operation with Albania on tackling illegal migration and organised crime.Sir Keir said: "The last government lost control of the borders. I am determined that we will retake control of the borders.

"That means that we have got to have a concerted effort to smash the gangs that are running this vile trade."He said greater co-operation with Albania had "driven down those numbers" and that he wanted to "see more of that".