Global Tensions Rise Amid Economic Plans, Border Blockades, and Poverty Concerns

International tensions escalated on multiple fronts Monday, January 26, 2026, as the United States faced warnings regarding potential military action against Iran, while its proposed economic plans for post-war Gaza drew scrutiny. Simultaneously, Western Balkan lorry drivers blockaded EU borders, and a study revealed a record number of people in the UK living in deep poverty.

Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump, unveiled a master plan for post-war Gaza at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last week, according to Al Jazeera. The plan, which promises to rebuild Gaza with residential towers, data centers, seaside resorts, parks, sports facilities, and an airport, was developed without consulting Palestinians in Gaza. Kushner stated, "There is no Plan B," as he presented the plan with AI-generated images and a color-coded map. However, Al Jazeera reported that a closer analysis reveals a stark reality ignored by the proposal.

Adding to the geopolitical tensions, a new mural was unveiled in Enghelab Square in central Tehran, warning the U.S. against launching a military strike on Iran, Sky News reported. The image features damaged planes on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier with the slogan: "If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind," in both Farsi and English. The unveiling followed a statement from a senior Iranian official that any attack would be treated "as an all-out war against us," ahead of the arrival of a U.S. aircraft carrier, according to Sky News.

Meanwhile, lorry drivers from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia blockaded more than 20 border crossings with the European Union, Euronews reported. The coordinated protests were against strict enforcement of Schengen travel limits, which the drivers said threatened their livelihoods. Officials estimated the blockade was causing 100 million in daily export losses, according to Euronews. Freight terminals in the involved countries came to a standstill as drivers parked their vehicles at border crossings.

Domestically, in the UK, a study by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) revealed that about 6.8 million people, almost half of all those in poverty, are living in "very deep poverty," Euronews reported. This is the highest level in more than 30 years. The JRF defined "very deep poverty" as earning less than 40% of the UK median household income after rent. For a couple with two children, this amounts to £16,400 (€18,900) per year or less. The research also found that about a fifth of the UK's population, 14.2 million people, were in poverty.