There are nine countries in the world that possess nuclear weapons. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), between them they hold an estimated 12,241 nuclear warheads, 9,614 of which are thought to be operational. Transparency is a major challenge, however.

'Olisa Agbakoba, medical negligence lawyer: “There is no requirement for routine submission of reports, no systematic inspections, and no effective enforcement of professional standards.” An exodus of medical personnel has exacerbated the situation.' www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...

‘Third sector organisations and business groups across Glasgow have started issuing 90-day redundancy notices to staff as a result of “devastating cuts” in UK Government funding.’ www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/2576098...

reformer?? 🧐 'Announcing the framework, the Minister for Africa, Baroness Chapman, said that the UK would be a “partner, investor, and, most of all, reformer” and that “African leadership” will be at the framework’s “very centre”.' Full report: researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CB...

' “He doesn’t need to be here,” Farage said. “He could have gone abroad.” Farage has said this sort of thing about immigrants before but, to be clear, on this occasion it was meant as a compliment.' www.thetimes.com/article/8e77...

Parris & many others now argue that meaningful sanctions are the only available response. “Otherwise we shall look back on these years baffled & ashamed that we let such horrors proceed without any serious intervention on our part” Is anyone listening?' open.substack.com/pub/alanrusb...

They ask him about his approach to domestic division, the threats Israel faces abroad, and whether his grip on power is helping or hurting the country he claims to protect.

‘this 'handful' that Netanyahu talks about. They're sent to terrorize Palestinian villages, their violence is well documented’ www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...

Withdrawing from humanity and civilisation

Full Report: www.ohchr.org/en/documents...

“Whether accessing water, school, rushing to hospital, visiting family or friends, or harvesting olives – every aspect of life for Palestinians in the West Bank is controlled and curtailed by Israel’s discriminatory laws, policies and practices" www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

species at threat • Saint Lucia fer de lance viper • European eel • Indian rainbow tarantula • Temminck’s pangolin • Cao-vit gibbon • Blackchin guitarfish • Utila spiny-tailed iguana • Saker falcon • Wild tulips • Clouded leopard www.thetimes.com/uk/environme...

BREAKING: Keir Starmer has issued a statement on Greenland and Venezuela confirming that Greenland deserves sovereignty and Venezuela doesn't because international law is only for white countries like Denmark ♥️

'Given Starmer’s background as a human rights lawyer, he surely has a view on whether governments can legitimately abduct foreign heads of state, regardless of whether they are vicious dictators. Starmer’s caginess gives the most cause for alarm' www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Trump's actions in Venezuela shows why it was wrong to dismiss his threats to Greenland. If he's willing to do this, he will be willing to do anything

What about photos of Gaza’s landscape after being bombarded with 1000s of tons of explosives, using AI software that is a harbinger of all our tomorrows? Or pensioners & priests opposing starvation/genocide being handcuffed & bundled into police vans' www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

'Israel destroyed 9 out of 10 homes over more than two years, the situation is catastrophic. Ensuring relief to those in desperate conditions is not an act of munificence subject to inclination, nor a clause for negotiation' www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

'Marshall builds upon the Western tradition of history painting and makes visible those people who were so noticeably absent in the works that came before him. These powerful paintings are full of references which span art history, civil rights, comics, science fiction, his own memories and more.'

'UN Security Council emergency session after Israel recognised Somaliland as an independent & sovereign state. Most council members condemned the action: it violates international law/UN Charter.' Al Jazeera’s Gabriel Elizondo reports from UN headquarters in New York. youtu.be/oi_AhmTPh2g?...

China in 2025: Wins, Losses, and Limits. From Africa and critical minerals to debt, diplomacy, and U.S. rivalry, what shaped China's moves in the Global South this year, and what comes next in 2026? Full Episode - tinyurl.com/5bx9pkr8

'.his return to office has been met with striking indifference. Many of the leaders who viewed Trump as a threat to democracy 8 years ago now treat those concerns as overblown. In 2025, worrying about the fate of American democracy has become almost passé. www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...

This is an act of war and illegal under both US and international law, let’s just be clear about that:

'In 2025, Israel carried out more than 10,631 attacks, attacking at least 6 countries, including Palestine, Iran, Lebanon, Qatar, Syria & Yemen. Israel also carried out strikes in Tunisian/Maltese/Greek territorial waters.' . www.aljazeera.com/news/longfor...

'I am one of the doctors assisting the Palestine solidarity hunger strikers.They have been shackled while in hospital, including when showering. I have never witnessed anything like this in my medical career. David Lammy must intervene now. Please sign.' secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/...

Australian PM Anthony Albanese rejected ICC‑wanted Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that Australia’s recognition of Palestinian statehood was behind the shooting. Asked by the ABC if he saw a link between the decision and the Bondi Beach shooting, Albanese replied: “No, I don’t.”

In May 2025, the Prime Minister had told the pharmaceutical industry that the UK would pay more for medicines in the future, following a commitment to “improve the overall environment for pharmaceutical companies” as part of a UK–US trade deal. commonslibrary.parliament.uk/how-are-medi...

While acknowledging scale of shortages across African cities, Sankwasam pushed back against idea that the crisis is uniquely African: “I lived in the UK, where people sleep under bridges,” stressing population growth is outpacing housing supply worldwide africa.businessinsider.com/local/market...

'equivalent to 30% of federal education budget for 2025. Funding expected to benefit 45,000 students starting in 2026 & ultimately nearly 1.33 million students prioritising STEM, girls’ schooling & teacher training.' www.ecofinagency.com/news/1212-51...

'Although Nigeria is Africa’s largest crude oil producer, its gas reserves surpass its oil reserves. The initiative to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060 expected to attract $2 billion in investment and create more than 100,000 direct and indirect jobs.' africa.businessinsider.com/local/market...

60% growth in solar panel imports in Africa. Falling Chinese panel prices/rising power demand driving adoption by governments/businesses/households. Solar increasingly seen as a way to cut fuel reliance, lower costs & expand access where grids remain weak. solarquarter.com/2025/12/12/a...

'So, in order to halt the racist far right, you compete with them to abandon liberal democratic policies and beliefs? It hasn’t been a winning strategy so far, Keir – as I think you’ll discover at next May’s elections.' ~ Mary Pimm, London www.theguardian.com/law/2025/dec...

Notices appeared overnight informing local farmers their land was to be confiscated & giving them 7 days to vacate their properties. “The Israeli military can do anything they like. They don’t care about the law” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...

'His journey, he believes, is a testament to the power of pursuing your passions. After dropping out of Goldsmiths he didn’t speak to his father for 15 years. They reconciled & when Enninful received his OBE, his father danced with Madonna at the afterparty.'

briefing describes how global and regional powers have been engaging with the new authorities in Syria and shaping its future. The UK has re-established diplomatic ties and, like the EU and US, has removed many of its sanctions to support reconstruction.

“This is a first for Nigeria, and it shows that when the community, NGOs, government and experts come together, wildlife can survive." “It takes a village to raise a child; and it takes a village to raise an elephant.” www.environewsnigeria.com/baby-elephan...

Poor air quality is considered by the government to be “the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK”. commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...

'Those targeted in UK include dissidents/ journalists/ regime opponents/Israelis/Jews & sectors inc. govt, travel & universities. BBC Persian & UK-based news agency Iran International have reported Iranian state threats. Iran denies allegations commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...

The Chinese Government has denied conducting espionage in the UK/is a threat to UK interests. In June 2025, spokesperson for China’s London Embassy said “such accusations are entirely fabricated, malicious slander”. commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...

The Labour government’s “aspiration” is to become “Europe’s leading defence [ie, arms] exporter”. #DCUKparliament

'In addition to social media histories, Customs and Border Protection would add other new data collection fields, including email addresses and telephone numbers used in the last five years, as well as the addresses and names of family members' www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...

US deference & enablement of Israel detrimental for all involved & undermines U.S. global interests. The US must change how it conducts the relationship. Decades of unconditional U.S. support have undermined stability in the Middle East www.foreignaffairs.com/israel/end-i...

‘ Ultimately, however, the sobering message of How to Save the Amazon is that there are none.’ apple.news/AAJWHWIHrQ5m...

He wants to build an original Kenyan brand starting with a compact electric car named TAD, the first 3 letters of his name. “If China can produce car parts, if Europe or America can, why not Africa?” he asks. “The technology is there. The only thing you have to do is bring it back here and do it.”

Two Chinese supervisors were kidnapped near the Nigeria–Benin border on a 130km road project; police launched a manhunt amid renewed worries about protection for Chinese nationals.

Chinese companies may be locked out of future DRC mining projects. Géraud Neema details how the U.S.–DRC agreement limits new entrants, mandates transport routes, and pushes Congo to rewrite laws and fiscal rules.

At the African Studies Association meeting, critical African voices on China’s role took center stage, reflecting a wider shift toward more grounded, less ideological assessments of Beijing’s engagement across the continent and in the diaspora.

introduction to the region’s: 🔹Leadership, politics, and political rights 🔹History of armed conflict 🔹International relations, specifically with the UK & US commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...

China's annual trade surplus topped $1 trillion (first 11 months: $1.08 trillion), driven by export growth despite US declines.

Debate on impact of foreign interference on security, trade & democracy 11 Dec 2025: going beyond overt political influence to manipulate/weaken our democratic institutions Will this include the malign influence of Israel? commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...