8:26 opinionMark Urban examines what Russia’s military capacity could look like after the Ukraine conflict. The country has sustained heavy losses — up to 250,000 soldiers are estimated to have been killed, including more than 7,000 officers — but its arms industry continues to rapidly expand production. Assessments suggest Russia could reconstitute its forces between 2026 and 2029. Urban explores the strategic implications of a rebuilt Russian military on Nato’s borders and what officials describe as “a very big Russia problem” ahead.

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UK inflation could have ticked higher last month, as Christmas getaways helped fuel price rises at the end of the year, economists have said. Some economists are expecting the rate of Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation to have risen in December after falling sharply the previous month. Andrew Goodwin, chief UK economist for Oxford Economics, said he thought the slowdown in the rising cost of living was “temporarily halted” in December. On the other hand, analysts for Barclays said they thought inflation would remain unchanged at 3.2% in December. But experts said they thought inflation was still heading downwards this year.

8.42am GMTOliver Glasner was vocal about his discontent with the current situation at Crystal Palace yesterday. However, following his team’s 2-1 loss to Sunderland, Glasner went one step further in voicing his concern, suggesting the board has “abandoned” the squad. He said: “Your heart gets torn out twice in a season, one day before a game. The [senior] players need support.”He added: “We’ve known we’re in this situation for weeks, for months now. One day before a game, the first time I heard about it was 10.30am yesterday.

Two lower courts have found that the president does not have the power to levy the sweeping tariffs he has been announcing. Finally, in its insistence that only the U.S. can “protect” Greenland, the screed echoed Russian president Vladimir Putin’s promises to “protect” Ukraine. “Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty.”The European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas—the EU’s chief diplomat—wrote: “China and Russia must be having a field day. Tariffs risk making Europe and the United States poorer and undermine our shared prosperity.”Representatives from the twenty-seven countries in the European Union are holding an emergency meeting tomorrow. Meanwhile, lawmakers in the EU say they will not ratify a new trade agreement the European Commission and Trump signed last July.

The Grade II-listed home in Hampton, south-west London, is spread across four floors and boasts five bedrooms and five bathrooms. The breathtaking property is also fitted with a cinema room, wine room, dressing room, a double garage, and gardens, including a conservatory and patio. (Image: House Partnership / SWNS)But the most striking feature is the ornate and richly decorated music room, built in the style of the Alhambra. (Image: House Partnership / SWNS)The real Alhambra is considered to be one of the most famous monuments of Islamic architecture and one of the best-preserved palaces of the historic Islamic world. Estate agents House Partnership have listed the mansion for £4,995,000 and described it as an interesting property with a rich history.

Hot work, such as welding, use of blowtorches and cutting was responsible for 4.55 per cent of non-dwelling fires recorded in Cumbria in 2024/25. Cumbria saw the largest proportion of hot work fires of any other county in England in 24/25, despite the incidents falling nationally by nine per cent year on year. (Image: Cumbria Fire)The second largest proportion of hot work fires was seen in Derbyshire at 4.06 per cent. London Fire Brigade responded to 14 hot work fires that year, 0.81 per cent of non-dwelling fires recorded that year. Across England, there were 381 fires caused by hot work between 2023 and 2025, most of which were ignited by welding or cutting.

New figures obtained by Romance Scams Advice shows an increase in reported cases in the county over the past three years. In total, 170 romance fraud cases were recorded in Cumbria during the three-year period, marking a 25 per cent increase. Cumbria Police confirmed that residents lost more than £630,000 to dating scams last year. In the year up to October 1, 2025, there were 74 reports of dating or romance scams across Cumbria, with total reported losses exceeding £630,000. But it is really important to remember that romance fraud is never the fault of the victim.

His Minnesota rally did not go well for him. A group of right-wing anti-Islam protesters arrived at Minneapolis City Hall Saturday morning, facing off against a much larger crowd of counter-protesters. Jake Lang, a conservative social media influencer, organized the rally downtown. He arrived with several other right-wing protesters, carrying anti-Islam signs and chanting. Lang was overwhelmed by Minnesota citizens.

A PLETHORA of hugely popular motors are being driven off into the sunset in 2026 – including one model that once seemed unstoppable. With the current car market overwhelmingly favouring SUVs and electrification, a host of more traditional body types have been suffering – including hatchbacks and two-seater roadsters. Ford originally announced the decision to axe the Focus back in 2022, with the model officially leaving the production line in November – after some 12 million sales. Recently, though, Honda has strongly hinted that the future of its sporty hatch will live on into the electric age. BMW Z4BMW’s traditional two-seat, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive petrol sports car is truly a blast from the past.

A humongous day of football awaits us all, starting with the Manchester derby. ShareOne final Manchester-related footnote: It’s now being reported that Marc Guéhi will have his Manchester City medical tomorrow. Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images/Reuters ShareManchester United v Manchester City team news Manchester United: Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo. It’s an early kick off for the M69 derby today and they will find themselves up against a much-improved Leicester. ShareGet questions in for Jamie Jackson before Manchester derby Later on this morning we’ll be holding a Q&A session with our Manchester football correspondent, Jamie Jackson, ahead of the Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

The contrasting Spanish traditions take place every January to honour St Anthony the Abbot, the patron saint of domestic animals. Riders guide horses through bonfires in the middle of the street in an act believed to purify the animals in the coming year. Pet owners waited patiently on Saturday outside the entrance of St Anthony’s church in central Madrid, where Catholic priests blessed the passing animals. St Anthony is Spain’s patron saint of animals (Manu Fernandez/AP)“I’m happy to be able to do it,” said Madrid resident Rosa Gomez, holding up her dog, Kia. Some apply a glaze on the animals’ mane to prevent them from burning as they leap through the flames.

These protests took place after Donald Trump on Friday threatened to impose tariffs on countries that do not “go along” with his plan to annex Greenland. Photograph: Sean Gallup/Getty ImagesAn activist prepares a placard that reads: “Hands Off Greenland” ahead of a protest march against U.S. President Donald Trump and his announced intent to acquire Greenland on Jan. 17, 2026 in Nuuk, Greenland. Photograph: Sean Gallup/Getty ImagesProtesters hold Greenlandic flags and placards as they gather to march in protest against Donald Trump and his announced intent to acquire Greenland on Jan. 17, 2026 in Nuuk, Greenland. “But I haven’t done it yet.”ShareWhat do people in Greenland think of Trump and his threats?What do people in Greenland think of Donald Trump and his threats to take over the island? Photograph: Emil Helms/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP/Getty ImagesProtesters march during a rally under the slogans ‘hands off Greenland’ and ‘Greenland for Greenlanders’, heading to the US embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark on Jan. 17, 2026.

Our sister site London Now reports that Vincent Chan, of Stanhope Avenue in Finchley, was charged yesterday (January 16) with nine counts of taking an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child, across categories A, B and C.The 45-year-old was also charged with six counts of outraging public decency. The new offences occurred before his previously admitted abuse at the now-closed Bright Horizons nursery in West Hampstead, where he worked for nearly seven years. Chan remains in custody while officers continue their investigation.

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy noticeThe far-right has coined a new derogatory term for white women, which has gained traction following the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, in Minneapolis earlier this month. open image in gallery The far-right has a new derogatory term for white women, which has exploded after Renee Good's killing ( Getty Images )The phrase has sparked backlash too. Then cry about how ICE hurts families.”“BEWARE of ALL white liberal women,” Hunter Eagleman, a prominent conservative influencer, wrote on X.College-educated women, including white women, are skeptical of President Donald Trump and his agenda, according to polls. But, critics claim the attacks on liberal women are a pernicious, long-standing problem.