1. Moscow bites back as US expels 35 Russian diplomats
Washington is to expel 35 Russian diplomats, and shut down two Russian compounds, in response to "harassment" of American diplomats in Moscow and alleged interference in the White House election. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the US wanted to "definitively destroy US-Russia relations which have already reached a low". The Russian Embassy in the UK described Barack Obama as a lame duck.
2. Jeremy Corbyn 'understands' distrust of European Union
Jeremy Corbyn says he understands the lack of trust that led to the EU referendum result. In his New Year message, the Labour leader said 2016 would "live long in all our memories", adding that the UK now had "the chance to do things differently". He said Labour would not block Brexit but would not support a deal with the EU which merely "protects the bankers in the City".
3. Super-rich pay less tax despite seven-year clampdown
The super-rich are paying less income tax despite a seven year crackdown by HMRC, says the Daily Mail. A special taskforce was set up in 2009 to ensure that thousands of 'high net worth' individuals – those worth more than £20m – paid their fair share, but it has emerged that the amount of income tax and National Insurance paid by the super-rich slumped by a fifth between 2009 and 2015.
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4. Learner drivers may be let loose on our motorways
The government plans to allow learner drivers on to motorways for the first time. Transport minister Andrew Jones says the move, which follows a £2m research programme by the DfT, would help make roads in Britain safer. The motorway lessons will not be compulsory and driving instructors will decide when their students are ready. The plan has the support of the RAC.
5. Documents show Thatcher's concern over Germany
Margaret Thatcher’s aides had to persuade her to overcome deep misgivings and welcome the reunification of Germany, official records show. Meanwhile, the same cabinet papers show that guards at Faslane naval base were ordered to shoot suspected intruders after three people broke into a nuclear submarine. Thatcher, who was told of the order, said she was "horrified" that the intrusion had succeeded.
6. Theresa May attacks Kerry over Israel comments
Theresa May has attacked the US over its condemnation of the Israeli government. The Prime Minister’s spokesman criticised outgoing US Secretary of State John Kerry after he described the Israeli government as the "most right-wing in history". May does "not believe that it is appropriate" for Mr Kerry to attack the make-up of the democratically elected Israeli government, the spokesman said.
7. Why Luton is Britain's 'most desirable location'
Luton is Britain’s most desirable location, claims the Daily Telegraph. Average house prices in the town surged by almost a fifth in the last year, the biggest proportional increase in the country, according to the Halifax. The average house price in Luton now stands at £256,636. Prices surged at more than double the 7.5% annual price growth seen across the UK generally over the year.
8. England's National Parks lose millions in government funding
National Parks in England have lost millions of pounds of government funding over the past five years. According to an investigation by the Press Association, funding was cut by a quarter from 2011 to 2016. The government is committed to raising parks’ budgets between now and 2020 but by the end of that period funding will be as much as a fifth below 2010 levels.
9. Mild winters see hospitals' war with rats intensify
Hospitals are fighting a rising battle against cockroaches, rats and other vermin, says the Mirror. National Health Service trusts made 4,885 pest control callouts last year costing £1m. Commenting on the report, Patient Concern said: "It’s getting worse. Health centres should not be overrun with vermin." Health bosses say "recent mild winters have seen an increase in vermin across the country".
10. Fury as Milo Yiannopoulos bags $250,000 book deal
Twitter is in uproar after it was announced that Milo Yiannopoulos has reportedly been offered $250,000 for his first book. The controversial British journalist’s tome is due to be published by the Threshold Editions imprint of Simon & Schuster and would be autobiographical, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Carolyn Kellogg, the book editor of the Los Angeles Times, described Yiannopoulos as a "troll promoting racist, sexist views".
