If Moscow’s forces manage to take all of Donetsk oblast it would be a symbolic moment for Putin – and Kyiv In an underground command post in eastern Ukraine, a Ukrainian soldier peered at a map. Russian positions were marked in red. A year ago enemy troops were at least 35 miles (60km) away from the administrative border between Donetsk oblast and the neighbouring Dnipropetrovsk region. Now they were on the doorstep: a mere 5 miles away.“The situation is pretty bad,” Valerii – call-sign “Oves” – admitted, sitting in front of a bank of screens showing live footage from the battlefield. Reconnaissance drones zoomed in on Russian positions under a snowy tree-line. “If a mouse moves, we can see it,” he said. His brigade, the 110th, spent a year and a half defending the eastern city of Avdiivka. It fell in February 2024 after a long and brutal siege. Continue reading...

Politics

Mohammad Siddiqui, 58, from Birmingham , was a practising doctor when he started visiting homes by appointment to carry out circumcisions on children.

Society

Shares rise in pre-market trading as Wall Street banks report bumper earnings

Economics

Arsenal are looking to sign a striker after Gabriel Jesus suffered an ACL injury, Marcus Rashford is set to leave Manchester United and Liverpool are expected to keep hold of Trent Alexander-Arnold for at least the rest of the season

Sport

The Independent’s agony aunt Victoria Richards is here to help. Email dearvix@independent.co.uk for advice on love, work, family and relationships

Events

Shocking footage shows 'Third World' scenes in hospital corridors as the Royal College of Nursing publishes a report saying the situation on the NHS frontline is 'worse than ever'

Science

Arsenal host Tottenham in a must-win north London derby at The Emirates, but Mikel Arteta is now without the services of Gabriel Jesus following his serious knee injury

Politics

Publicity stunt saw actors Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Zach Cherry and Patricia Arquette perform from inside a glass tank situated in the middle of the New York City station

Society

Government still working to verify reports of Melbourne man’s death after being captured by Russian forces while fighting for UkraineFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia would take “the strongest action possible”, including potentially expelling Russia’s ambassador, Anthony Albanese has warned, as the federal government scrambles to verify reports that Melbourne man Oscar Jenkins had been killed after being captured by Russian forces while fighting for Ukraine.Albanese said on Wednesday that any harm to Jenkins would be “absolutely reprehensible”, and demanded Moscow immediately confirm the condition of the 32-year-old Australian citizen, after reports overnight that he had died.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Economics

Arsenal have received mixed news in the transfer market with January halfway done and Mikel Arteta keen to see his side strenthened in the coming weeks amid the club's injury issues

Sport

Leonardo DiCaprio, who has won three Golden Globe Awards, said the wildfires are devastating Los Angeles, where a “particularly dangerous situation" red flag warning was in place

Events

Sisters Linda and Anne Nolan performed side by side as members of The Nolans for more than four decades while offstage, the siblings bravely faced serious illness together

Science

Placing an avocado next to heat can ruin the taste, but there are other things you can do to ripen it quickly.

Politics

Mikel Arteta continues to be quizzed on Arsenal's transfer plans, which have changed after Gabriel Jesus' injury, with a move for a striker being touted amid their struggles in front of goal

Sport

MATTHEW LAMBERT IN KIA ARENA: Raducanu is through to the third round of the Australian Open for the first time after battling through injury to beat her friend Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7-5.

Events

Looking back through her post bag, Observer Magazine’s Philippa Perry answers her readers most commonly asked question: why are other people so awful?From my many years as a therapist and advice columnist, I’ve started to see clear patterns in the problems that bother my readers the most. And I can confirm that Sartre was right: hell is other people. It’s difficult relationships with those around us that cause the most anguish. It’s such a common theme that I’ve given a lecture on the subject: Why are other people so awful? To help you into the new year, here’s my advice on this most commonly experienced problem.Struggles in connecting to others – or, more specifically, the tension between wanting connection and feeling disconnected – can manifest in many ways. As well as difficulties in existing relationships, such struggles can also make you feel lonely or alienated. Continue reading...

Politics

But agony for Max Williamson who reinjures his thumb

Sport

NIK SIMON: England fly out to their warm-weather training camp in Spain next week, before the team head straight to Dublin for their Six Nations opener.

Events

Pop star Linda Nolan, 65, planned her own farewell when she learned her secondary breast cancer was terminal in a bid to help the beloved family she has left behind

Politics

The Traitors UK viewers were quick to call out producers for their decision to send Traitors Linda and Minah into breakfast before anyone else was in there

Sport

This year’s election campaign was particularly ferocious, with Vance referring to the vice president as ‘trash’ during a rally in November

Politics

Bukayo Saka attends Arsenal's north London derby against Tottenham as he recovers from hamstring injury surger  Daily Mail

Sport

Albanian striker may see Everton loan terminated early after being ruled out for up to three months with ankle issue

Events

Ruben Amorim is expected to make changes after a gruelling win over Arsenal

Politics

The latest Bluebirds news from Cardiff City Stadium

Sport

Tearful nurses say they feel powerless as patients spend hours slowly dying in busy corridors while another described finding a dead patient under a pile of coats

Events

Linda Nolan's heartbreaking loved ones have paid tribute to the trailblazing singer, actress and telly presenter following the devastating news of her death

Politics

Campbell made the switch between the north London clubs in 2001 under the Bosman ruling after his Tottenham contract expired in what was one of the most shocking transfers in football.

Sport

Rangers boss responds to 3-0 win over Aberdeen

Events

Former Love Island star Tommy Fury has opened up about his split from Molly-Mae Hague, admitting that his addiction spiralled out of control after an injury and the demise of their relationship

Politics

Today’s fluff has a thousand-yard stareAs the fallout from Arsenal’s absurdly wasteful FA Cup defeat to Manchester United – and Gabriel Jesus’s season-ending injury – rolls on, the gossip machine has gone into overdrive trying to identify someone who can put away their chances. While Benjamin Sesko is the name on everyone’s lips, it wouldn’t be a transfer window without them being linked with Dusan Vlahovic.The tea in Italy is that Juventus are willing to cash in their chips. The Serbia striker’s contract runs to 2026 and negotiations are apparently at a standstill, meaning the Bianconeri have limited opportunities to recoup their investment, and with Randal Kolo Muani on his way from Paris Saint-Germain they have a ready-made replacement, so it all makes sense, possibly. Continue reading...

Sport

Luke Shaw and Mason Mount have both been absent for Man United over the last month with muscular injuries.

Events

All mobile operators including O2, Virgin, Three,, Vodafone, EE and BT are being banned from using mid-contract price rises - but experts say a third of people need to change

Politics

Arsenal are in desperate need of a new forward following Gabriel Jesus' injury lay-off but the Gunners have seen a first bid rejected for a top target

Sport

Gunners players eager to show their support for injured team-mate ahead of north London showdown

Events

Telecom firms are being banned by Ofcom from linking mid-contract price rises to inflation - instead, customers must be told in 'pounds and pence' how much their bill will increase by

Politics

Man United boss Ruben Amorim will conduct his pre-match press conference today ahead of the Premier League clash with Southampton.

Sport

Glencairn Primary pupils teamed up with tenants of Kerr Grieve Court Retirement Complex in Motherwell as part of the council's Driving Digital Locally Intergenerational Project.

Events

32 y/o commits future to Tynecastle club

Politics

Highly-rated striker has struggled for form and fitness since last season’s ankle injury

Sport

Ange Postecoglou makes some huge Spurs selection decisions for Premier League showdown

Events

Personal finance expert said on ITV show too many don't realise their contract has ended - but it's really easy to check

Politics

Arsenal could have a busy end to the transfer window with the Gunners facing pressure to act during January following difficulties in front of goal and injury to Gabriel Jesus

Sport

Sterling makes first start in almost a month

Events

The defender has been linked to a move to the EFL Championship after entering the last six months of his deal.

Politics

An injury riddled North London Derby is still set to bring high drama; Transfer season heats up as PSG spends  CBS Sports

Events

Martin Lewis explained how 14 million people are out of contract on their mobile phone bill, but you can check if you can switch now by sending INFO to 85075

Politics

Arsenal's squad are looking to pay tribute and show their support for Gabriel Jesus by wearing specially designed t-shirts before the north London derby tonight

Events

The actress, 44, announced she had split from Johnson, 45, her husband of 10 years, on Monday, after 'navigating a painful situation in our marriage.'

Politics

Thomas Proudfoot, who has a long record of offending, injured a man who stepped into defuse a situation on a bus.

Events

A 21-year-old man opened up about his unconventional childhood – and how his dad and stepmum would flaunt a kinky lifestyle in front of him. His confessions were shocking

Politics

Forecasters warn of ‘particularly dangerous weather situation’ in California; Gavin Newsom hits back at House speaker for ‘politicizing’ tragedyBig oil pushed to kill bill that would have made them pay for wildfire disastersTell us about financial consequences you are facingLA mayor, Karen Bass, has shared a phone number for residents who have evacuated to get assistance in finding and retrieving pets in evacuation areas.Posting on X, Bass wrote:Pets are family.The City is making help available to find and retrieve pets in evacuation areas. Continue reading...

Events

The Croat is delighted to have inked a new deal at Pittodrie after arriving with an injury hit spell at Troyes fresh on his

Politics

Los Angeles weather officials issue rare ‘particularly dangerous situation’ warning as four blazes burn fiercelyCalifornia wildfires – live updatesExtreme winds threatened to feed the fires tearing through Los Angeles and surrounding areas, even as firefighters battled to contain the blazes that have killed at least 25 people and scorched more than 40,000 acres.The National Weather Service issued the most extreme level of a red flag fire warningof a “particularly dangerous situation” in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Continue reading...

Events

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has given his view on the contract situations of Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold

Politics

Officials were worried after a suspected outbreak of a nearly-fatal virus broke out in a new country, with chiefs at the World Health Organisation announcing they were monitoring the situation

Events

Anthony Albanese vows ‘strongest action possible’ if reports of Oscar Jenkins’s killing turn out to be true

Politics

The film A Complete Unknown has sparked interest in the folk singers’ doomed romance, and with it the realization that a similar dynamic is ‘happening to girls everywhere’Lynda Saldana saw A Complete Unknown on the day it opened – partly because she’s a Bob Dylan fan, and partly because she loves Timothée Chalamet, who plays the folk rock icon during his breakout black turtleneck years. But one supporting character stood out more: the folk legend Joan Baez, played by Monica Barbaro. Saldana had never heard of Baez, but watching Baez and Dylan’s on-again, off-again relationship on screen made her eager to learn more. What happened between them? Did they end up together? “I had to look up their lore,” Saldana said.Saldana, who is 19 and a sophomore at the University of Arizona, is not the only young woman studying up on Baez’s decades-long career – and especially where it intersected with Dylan’s. Saldana found TikTok fan edits of the duo performing together at the 1964 Newport Folk f...

Events