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UK 'hostage' to strikes and 'World Cup le crunch'

The Daily Mail warns its readers not to fall ill, rely on trains and to forget sending Christmas card as a week of strikes "holding Britain hostage" looms. Post workers, railway workers, and nurses are among the staff going on strike. It quotes Conservative MPs blasting the walkouts for making Christmas "miserable at best and dangerous at worst".

Telegraph
Strikes will see up to 15,000 operations - such as hip replacements, cataract surgery and heart repairs - cancelled next week due to the first national strike by nurses, the Daily Telegraph suggests. Up to 100,000 nurses are expected to take part in strikes across 76 hospitals and NHS organisations putting "unprecedented pressures on emergency services", it says.
Empics The TimesEmpics
"Misery on the railways every day for a month" writes the Times as passengers are warned about disruption due to strikes and an overtime ban. Network Rail said services would be limited, overcrowded or cancelled until at least 8 January.
FT
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has warned unions that high pay demands will hit the battle against inflation and harm the workers they want to protect, the Financial Times reports. He said: "We just have to be really careful not to agree to pay demands that have the opposite of the intended effect because they lock in high inflation."
I
"NHS winter crisis erupts after years of warnings," reads the headline on the i. It says doctors are worried about the number of children coming through A&E with respiratory problems, adding the seriously ill can not rely on ambulances arriving. It quotes the NHS confederation as saying: "This is potentially going to be the worst winter on record."
Guardian
The Guardian leads with the boss of Britain's nurses' union accusing Health Secretary Steve Barclay of being a "bullyboy", claiming he is unwilling to negotiate with "a woman acting for a largely female workforce". Pat Cullen, who leads the Royal College of Nursing, also tells the paper the government sees nursing as "female work" that it does not value properly. A spokesperson for Mr Barclay stressed his respect for nurses and said further talks with Ms Cullen were possible.
Daily Express
"Patronising" headlines the Daily Express as it quotes Gabon's high commissioner to the UK who criticises comments about the Commonwealth in Prince Harry and Meghan's new documentary. Gabon is the Commonwealth's newest member.
The Sun
The Sun front page carries image of England captain Harry Kane's roaring on a slice of toast as the team prepare to face France on Saturday evening for a place in the World Cup semi-final. "Let's make French toast, lads," says its headline.
Mirror
"Yes oui can" writes the Mirror in its front page story about the quarter-final clash. It quotes team captain Harry Kane saying: "Belief has been building and building." The Mirror describes the match as "World Cup le crunch".
Daily Star
And a photo of England defender Kyle Walker cheering appears on the front page of the Daily Star as it reports records numbers of fans are set to watch the England game on television.