UK Unemployment Hits Five-Year High; Peru's President Ousted; US Strikes Kill 11
LONDON - Unemployment in the United Kingdom reached its highest level in nearly five years at the end of 2025, while in international news, Peru's interim president was ousted and the US military reported 11 fatalities in strikes against alleged drug boats. These events, along with a challenge from the Mexican president regarding UK asylum, dominated headlines.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the UK unemployment rate climbed to 5.2% in the three months leading up to December, up from 5.1% in the previous period. This represents the highest rate in almost half a decade. Young people were particularly affected, with unemployment among those aged 16 to 24 rising to 16.1%, the highest in over a decade. While wages continued to rise faster than prices, the growth rate slowed. Many businesses had also slowed hiring, citing measures in recent budgets.
In Peru, interim President José Jerí was removed from office through an "express impeachment" after only four months. Lawmakers voted 75 to 24 to remove Jerí amidst a political scandal related to his secretive meetings with Chinese businessmen.
Meanwhile, the US military reported launching assaults on three alleged drug-smuggling boats in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean, resulting in the deaths of 11 individuals. This action, part of a months-long campaign against alleged traffickers, brought the total fatalities from US strikes to 145 since September.
In other news, the Mexican government, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, announced it would send a formal letter of complaint to the United Kingdom. This action followed the UK's decision to grant asylum to Karime Macías, the ex-wife of a former governor wanted for allegedly embezzling nearly $5 million in public funds. Macías is believed to be living in London.
In related UK news, Reform UK is set to announce its plans to retain the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) if it wins the next general election. Robert Jenrick, the party's economic spokesman, will back the OBR and commit to maintaining the independence of the Bank of England. This move comes after Reform UK leader Nigel Farage had previously questioned the need for the OBR. Jenrick plans to reform the OBR rather than abolish it, in an effort to reassure financial markets and businesses.
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