News Daily: Budget reaction and Zimbabwe's new leader

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Budget: Hammond backed after growth shock

It was billed as a Budget that could make or break Chancellor Philip Hammond's career. His big announcement was the removal of stamp duty for the majority of first-time buyers, but the unwelcome news was that the UK economy is expected to grow by an average of just 1.4% a year until 2022 - uncertainty over Brexit and sluggish productivity levels being blamed.

Leading Conservatives have backed Mr Hammond, with Treasury Committee chairman Nicky Morgan saying the Budget showed a "common-sense approach" to balancing spending discipline and demands from government departments for more money.

But Labour argues it will do little to help the housing crisis, and that an extra £2.8bn for the NHS in England isn't enough. Meanwhile, the Resolution Foundation think tank says average pay is not set to return to its 2008 peak until the mid-2020s.

Mr Hammond's other key measures include raising the price of cigarettes, freezing duty on most alcohol products and bringing down the waiting time for universal credit. Our personal finance reporter Kevin Peachey looks at how the Budget will affect you. And you can try our Budget calculator to see whether you're out-of-pocket or better-off.

Mnangagwa set to take over in Zimbabwe

Emmerson Mnangagwa is to become Zimbabwe's president on Friday. The 71-year-old is promising to help fix the economy of a country where it's estimated 90% of people are unemployed, while restoring full democracy in the wake of Robert Mugabe's 37 years in charge. But some have questioned whether Mr Mnangagwa - a close ally of Mr Mugabe until his sacking as vice-president earlier this month - is the man to bring reform. Prominent opposition politician David Coltart tweeted: "We have removed a tyrant but not yet a tyranny." BBC Africa editor Fergal Keane asks how much Zimbabwe is likely to change.

Fake Christmas sales warning

Consumers are being warned to check where the Christmas presents they are buying come from, amid warnings of a glut of fake products and websites. Mobile phones, clothes, shoes and jewellery are among the goods most likely to fail to turn up after they're ordered or turn out to be fake, according to the Action Fraud group.

When I look into my son's eyes, I see the man who raped me

By BBC Stories

I told the rapist - a man I know - that I was pregnant and it was his baby, expecting him to say, "Well no it isn't," not expecting him to acknowledge that it was. He'd never acknowledge the circumstances of the conception, but he's never, ever, ever denied that it's his child. I didn't consider abortion. I knew it was an option. I'm not anti-abortion at all - I think it's a personal choice. But personally it felt that the act of killing the baby was actually going to make it worse, and that I would find that harder to live with than the difficulties that would be caused by having another child when you weren't expecting to and you are already looking after two children.

What the papers say

There's mixed reaction to the Budget. The Daily Mail says Philip Hammond is "Eeyore no more", adding that he has lifted the gloom for first-time buyers by removing most of them from having to pay stamp duty. But the Guardian says the chancellor is "struggling" to lighten the nation's mood, given the downgrade in growth prospects. The Times reports that he is "easing off" austerity, while the Daily Mirror argues largely the opposite, calling it a "no-hope Budget".

Daily digest

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'Inclusive writing' Row over "sexist" language riles France

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Look ahead

Today The United States celebrates the Thanksgiving holiday.

13:30 The International Atomic Energy Agency holds a press conference, at which Iran's and North Korea's nuclear programmes are expected to be discussed.

On this day

1984 Almost 1,000 passengers are trapped in smoke-filled tunnels for three hours after fire breaks out at London's busiest underground station, Oxford Circus.

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