Demonstrators including Tibetans, Uyghurs and Hongkongers gather outside the Royal Mint Court to protest against plans to open new Chinese mega-embassy, in London, United Kingdom, on Jan. 17, 2026.
600,000: The square footage of a new Chinese mega embassy slated for construction in London. (That’s 56,000 square meters for you non Imperial measurers.) London approved the project despite warnings from both local and US politicians that the building could be used for spying. The decision also comes right before Prime Minister Keir Starmer visits Beijing next week – he’ll be the first UK leader to do so since 2018.
96: The number of lawmakers in Australia’s House of Representatives – out of 150 – who voted for a new gun control bill that creates a national gun buyback scheme, tightens background checks, and increases the penalties for hate crimes. The lower chamber introduced the bill after the mass killing at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach last month.
15: The number of Iranian actors and sports figures facing government prosecution for participating in recent mass anti-government protests, in which thousands of people are believed to have been killed. The cases are part of a broader crackdown that has included the seizure of property and businesses.
40%: The vote share predicted for Laura Fernandez, the candidate of Costa Rica’s right-wing ruling party, in the upcoming Feb. 1 election, according to a University of Costa Rica poll. This level of support would be enough for her to avoid a runoff. Fernandez has pledged policy “continuity” once current president Rodrigo Chaves’ term ends.
In this episode of GZERO Europe, Carl Bildt considers what the collapse of the joint French-German-Spanish fighter aircraft project means for European defense.
Think you know what's going on around the world? Here's your chance to prove it.
In this episode of GZERO Europe, Carl Bildt reflects on how Russia's war in Ukraine has lasted longer than World War I and the role an underachieving military campaign and international politics have played in putting pressure on Putin.
The ECB raised interest rates for the first time since 2023, becoming the first G7 central bank to act against inflation driven by the war in Iran. With the Bank of Japan poised to follow suit, pressure mounts on the US Federal Reserve to respond.