Category: World

A powerful 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck southern and central Mexico on the morning of Friday, January 2, 2026, claiming at least two lives and triggering widespread evacuations. The seismic event, centered in the state of Guerrero, sent tremors through the capital, interrupting the first presidential press briefing of the year and forcing thousands into the streets […]

China’s sharp denunciation of the United States’ military strike on Venezuela is emerging as more than a diplomatic objection—it is a calculated signal about Beijing’s own posture on the use of force. While Beijing has repeatedly criticized Washington’s “hegemonic acts” following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the deeper message lies in what China […]

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is meeting in an emergency session today, January 5, 2026, to address the geopolitical shockwaves following the U.S. military operation and capture of Nicolás Maduro. Convened at the request of Colombia and backed by permanent members China and Russia, the 10:00 AM briefing in New York represents a pivotal […]

The Security Council meets in emergency session in New York at the top of the hour to address the US rendition of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas, a move that has sent shockwaves through the region and beyond with the UN Secretary-General declaring that a “dangerous precedent” has been set. At stake are core […]

Updates to this page Published 17 July 2020 Last updated 5 January 2026 + show all updates 5 January 2026 Monthly calculation index (MCI) updated for 2026. The MCI is used to calculate benefits and other social payments, penalties, taxes and other charges. 16 September 2024 This guidance has been reviewed and updated where necessary. […]

The FCDO invites proposals for accountable grant funding from qualified financial service providers or fund managers to design and operate a not-for-profit intervention to deliver blended finance on concessional terms tailored to the needs of SMEs at early, growth, and scale-up stages in Mpumalanga. It is envisaged the supplier will use UK grant finance to […]

In a sharp escalation of diplomatic rhetoric, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has declared that Beijing will not accept any nation acting as the “world’s judge.”1 The statement, issued on Sunday, January 4, 2026, follows the dramatic U.S. military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. […]

In a case that has sparked intense debate over the boundaries of customer service and food safety, a long-serving London North Eastern Railway (LNER) worker has been dismissed for gross misconduct after serving “binned” sausage rolls to first-class passengers. Peter Duffy, who operated on the York-bound service, was terminated in July 2023 following an internal […]

Marking a somber first anniversary, the family of Craig and Lindsay Foreman gathered outside 10 Downing Street on Saturday, January 3, 2026, to deliver a petition signed by over 70,000 people. The East Sussex couple, who were detained in Iran exactly one year ago during a global motorcycle tour, remain incarcerated in Tehran’s notorious Evin […]

Washington Rules Out Administrative Role in VenezuelaU.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has detailed Washington’s strategy for Venezuela following the removal of Nicolás Maduro, emphasizing that the United States will not assume any governing authority. Instead, the approach centers on a targeted “oil quarantine” aimed at cutting off illicit PDVSA revenue streams while supporting a […]