Nicaragua Ends Visa-Free Entry for Cubans, Disrupting Key Migration Route to the U.S. 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
China Warns US Arms Sales to Taiwan Could Disrupt Trump’s Planned Visit 
Pentagon Ends Military Education Programs With Harvard University 
Ohio Man Indicted for Alleged Threat Against Vice President JD Vance, Faces Additional Federal Charges 
Japan Election 2026: Sanae Takaichi Poised for Landslide Win Despite Record Snowfall 
U.S. to Begin Paying UN Dues as Financial Crisis Spurs Push for Reforms 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Iran–U.S. Nuclear Talks in Oman Face Major Hurdles Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Federal Judge Restores Funding for Gateway Rail Tunnel Project 
Bosnian Serb Presidential Rerun Confirms Victory for Dodik Ally Amid Allegations of Irregularities 
Trump Says “Very Good Talks” Underway on Russia-Ukraine War as Peace Efforts Continue 
U.S. Lawmakers to Review Unredacted Jeffrey Epstein DOJ Files Starting Monday 
Sydney Braces for Pro-Palestine Protests During Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s Visit 
Trump Signs “America First Arms Transfer Strategy” to Prioritize U.S. Weapons Sales 
Jack Lang Resigns as Head of Arab World Institute Amid Epstein Controversy 
The United Kingdom is reportedly set to increase its defense spending by over $1 billion. The increase in the budget is expected to be announced by the spring of next year.
The Telegraph reported Saturday that the UK would be increasing its defense spending by over $1.2 billion in order to prevent a real-terms cut in the coming years. Finance minister Jeremy Hunt is expected to announce the increase in the defense budget in the spring. This comes after the report noted military experts estimating that the defense ministry budget for 2024/2025 must rise to £50.1 billion from £48.6 billion to avoid a real-term cut as inflation remains above 10 percent.
Last month, Hunt said during his autumn fiscal report that the government recognized the importance of increasing defense spending and that it would maintain the current budget of at least two percent of the UK’s gross domestic product in line with the countries under the NATO alliance.
“We have one of the largest defense budgets in Europe and in 2020 we announced the biggest increase to defense spending since the Cold War,” a spokesperson for the British government told Reuters.
The spokesperson added that any increase in defense spending would be considered in the next integrated review, the document that details the country’s security, defense, and foreign policy priorities in the spring.
Friday last week, passengers at British airports were informed of delays in their flights when passport control staff staged a walkout on what would be the first day of its strike that is expected to last until the New Year. However, Heathrow and Gatwick airports did not report of any disruptions taking place.
According to the Public and Commercial Services Union, over 1,000 Border Force Staff were expected to go on strike. The walkout by the passport control staff follows the strikes staged by nurses, paramedics, and workers in the rail and postal sectors, all demanding changes in pay and working conditions in what would be the biggest industrial action taken in the UK in decades.
The union said the Border Force Staff were offered a two percent increase in pay. The Border Force Staff apologized for the disruption in travel, adding that they are working with partners in the travel industry to support passengers and goods.
