More than 7.6 million people in the United Kingdom – around 12 percent of the total population – are waiting to receive routine hospital treatment from the country’s socialized healthcare system, the National Health Service (NHS), representing the highest figure since records began in 2007 and increasing by another 100,000 since May.
Just under 400,000 people have been on the NHS waiting list for more than a year, around 7,000 people have been waiting for treatment for over 18 months, and more than 20,000 have waited longer than two months (62 days) for urgent cancer screenings, according to data released by NHS England.
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Prime Minister Rishi Sunk made cutting the NHS backlog a core priority of his government at the beginning of the year, announcing “lists will fall and people will get the care they need more quickly,” but this has so far failed to materialize. The NHS has even considered an AI rollout to help shorten the backlog.
The waiting list looks set to grow as thousands of the NHS’ junior doctors and nurses will continue to strike. Junior doctors working for the British Medical Association (BMA) will begin another set to strike on Friday, August 11, until August 15.
The “latest figures paint a grim picture… For the sake of patients, it is imperative that all parties get around the table to resolve this issue,” stated Siva Anandaciva, chief analyst at health think tank The King’s Fund.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance on hepatitis B vaccines, advising women who test negative for the virus to consult health care providers about vaccinating their newborns within 24 hours of birth.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Acting CDC Director Jim O’Neill, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: The recommendation was accepted on Tuesday, following a vote earlier this month by the advisory committee, and applies nationwide.
💬KEY QUOTE: “We are restoring the balance of informed consent to parents whose newborns face little risk of contracting hepatitis B.” – Jim O’Neill
🎯IMPACT: The decision has sparked criticism from some lawmakers on Capitol Hill with deep ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
IN FULL
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revised its guidance on hepatitis B vaccinations for newborns. Women who test negative for the virus are now advised to consult with health care providers before deciding whether to administer the first dose of the vaccine to their babies within 24 hours of birth.
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices proposed the change earlier this month, and Acting CDC Director Jim O’Neill formally approved it on Tuesday. O’Neill explained the decision, stating, “We are restoring the balance of informed consent to parents whose newborns face little risk of contracting hepatitis B.”
Notably, the new guidance still maintains that infants born to mothers who test positive for hepatitis B or whose infection statuses are unknown should receive the vaccine within the first 24 hours of life. For other infants, the CDC now advises delaying the first dose until at least two months of age. Pediatricians are expected to continue recommending the vaccine for newborns, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has assured that insurance coverage for the shots will remain unchanged.
However, the change is drawing some pushback—especially from lawmakers with deep ties to the pharmaceutical industry. “Ending the recommendation for newborns makes it more likely the number of cases will begin to increase again,” Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) complained in a post on X (formerly Twitter) following the announcement of the updated guidance. “This makes America sicker,” he claimed.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: Representative Dan Newhouse (R-WA) announced he will not seek re-election in 2026.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Rep. Dan Newhouse, one of the few Republicans who voted to impeach President Donald J. Trump in 2021.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: Announcement made on Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
💬KEY QUOTE: “This decision comes with no reservations or remorse, only gratitude for the tremendous opportunity to have represented my home state in Congress,” Newhouse wrote in a statement.
🎯IMPACT: Newhouse’s announcement marks the departure from Congress of one of the few Republicans who supported impeachment proceedings against President Trump.
IN FULL
Representative Dan Newhouse (R-WA) announced on Wednesday that he will not seek re-election to Congress in 2026. Newhouse is one of the few Republican House members who voted to impeach President Donald J. Trump in 2021.
“I am announcing today that I will not seek reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives. Serving the Fourth District of Washington has been the honor of my life, and this decision comes with no reservations or remorse, only gratitude for the tremendous opportunity to have represented my home state in Congress,” Newhouse, 70, wrote in a statement. He added: “After over 25 years of public service, including more than a decade in the House, I am grateful to the Washingtonians who put their faith in me, as well as the colleagues I have served with on both sides of the aisle.”
During his tenure, Newhouse developed a reputation as a so-called “moderate” who often aligned with Democrats on key issues. He is a key co-sponsor of Rep. Maria Salazar’s (R-FL) Dignity Act, which includes multiple paths to amnesty for illegal immigrants. The bill offers legal status to various immigrant populations, including individuals who have illegally voted in federal elections.
The Republican lawmaker has served in Congress representing Washington’s 4th District since 2015. Importantly, Newhouse’s decision not to run for re-election is unlikely to have a significant impact on the House Republicans’ efforts to retain their majority in the lower chamber. Washington’s 4th Congressional District overwhelmingly backed President Trump during the 2024 presidential race, by 59 percent to former Vice President Kamala Harris‘s 38 percent.
With Newhouse’s retirement, Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) is the only remaining House Republican to have voted for Trump’s impeachment.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump is expected to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug on Thursday.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, federal health and law enforcement agencies, and lawmakers from both parties.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: The reclassification is believed to be planned for Thursday, though the timing could shift.
💬KEY QUOTE: “A lot of people want to see it—the reclassification—because it leads to tremendous amounts of research that can’t be done unless you reclassify,” Trump said.
🎯IMPACT: The reclassification would ease federal restrictions and allow more research on marijuana’s medical uses, but it would not result in full legalization.
IN FULL
President Donald J. Trump is reportedly set to move marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III classification on Thursday, per reports. This change would loosen federal controls and open doors for expanded medical research on the substance, without leading to outright federal legalization.
On the campaign trail in 2024, Trump remarked that he would “focus on research to unlock the medical uses of marijuana [as] a Schedule III drug.” The proposal has garnered support across party lines from legislators who highlight possible therapeutic advantages.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) describes Schedule I substances, including heroin, as having “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” In contrast, Schedule III drugs—like Tylenol with codeine, ketamine, and testosterone—are viewed as carrying “a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.”
Specialists point out that the existing Schedule I status has restricted cannabis studies. Dr. Kevin Hill of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center observed that shifting schedules creates potential for broader research efforts, stressing that states and cannabis-related businesses should invest more in those studies. J
However, Professor Jonathan Caulkins at Carnegie Mellon University has voiced doubt over the likelihood of major new medical discoveries, saying, “It is hard to imagine that there are many wonderful medical benefits of cannabis waiting to be unlocked by this change because U.S. federal scheduling status, of course, has no impact on the ability to do such medical research in any other country. If there were such benefits, they could have been discovered by any of the other countries with a modern pharmaceutical research base.”
Although CNN reports the shift is slated for Thursday, journalist Kit Maher has quoted a senior White House official noting that “timing could always shift.”
❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge declined to temporarily halt the construction of President Donald J. Trump’s White House ballroom following a lawsuit from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon, the Trump administration, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: The decision was announced on Tuesday; construction plans involve the former White House East Wing in Washington, D.C.
🎯IMPACT: The Trump administration must submit construction plans to federal review panels by the end of December, while the preservation group continues its legal challenge.
IN FULL
A federal judge has declined a request to temporarily halt construction of a White House ballroom initiated by President Donald J. Trump. The lawsuit, brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, sought an emergency restraining order to stop the project.
The ruling, issued by U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon—a George W. Bush appointee—found that the National Trust for Historic Preservation failed to demonstrate that “great and certain” harm would occur if construction proceeded. He noted that the anticipated below-ground work is not set to begin until January, with above-ground work scheduled for April. However, Judge Leon cautioned that President Trump should be prepared to reverse any below-ground construction if it results in alterations to the existing above-ground structure.
While construction on the ballroom is cleared to continue for now, Judge Leon indicated that he intends to hear arguments early next year on whether to issue a longer-term preliminary injunction halting the project. Additionally, he stressed that the Trump administration is to abide by its commitment to submit construction plans to the National Capital Planning Commission before the end of the year.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed its lawsuit on Friday, arguing that the administration bypassed legal requirements for consultation with the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts. The group contends these consultations are typically required before making significant changes to federal property.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced a “total and complete” blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, the Maduro regime, and the U.S. military.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: Announcement made via Truth Social late Tuesday, December 16, 2025.
💬KEY QUOTE: “It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before.” – Donald Trump
🎯IMPACT: Maduro has responded to the move, threatening to bring the matter to the United Nations (UN) and seek international support against the blockade.
IN FULL
President Donald J. Trump has ordered the U.S. military to engage in a “total and complete” blockade of all sanctioned vessels, including oil tankers attempting to either enter or leave Venezuelan waters. Further, Trump announced that Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro‘s regime has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), opening new avenues for the U.S. to ramp up pressure on the Marxist strongman to abdicate.
“Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America. It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us,” Trump wrote late Tuesday in a post on Truth Social. “The illegitimate Maduro Regime is using Oil from these stolen Oil Fields to finance themselves, Drug Terrorism, Human Trafficking, Murder, and Kidnapping. For the theft of our Assets, and many other reasons, including Terrorism, Drug Smuggling, and Human Trafficking, the Venezuelan Regime has been designated a FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.”
“Therefore, today, I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela,” President Trump added.
The announcement received a swift response from Maduro, who, in an official statement, accused President Trump of attempting to impose an “irrational naval blockade on Venezuela in order to steal the wealth that belongs to our homeland.” Maduro further said his government plans to bring the matter to the United Nations (UN) and seek international support against the blockade.
Last week, U.S. military forces seized a sanctioned, stateless oil tanker departing Venezuela and en route to Cuba. According to U.S. officials, the vessel was laden with Venezuelan and Iranian oil—both under sanction. If the tanker had reached Cuba, its oil would have been further refined and then sold in Asian markets, with China being the likely buyer.
Maduro referred to the seizure as “like Pirates of the Caribbean” and urged a “grand protest of international oil workers” against the United States. “The oil working class must proceed to defend the right to free trade of Venezuela’s main export product, oil,” Maduro stated.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s approval ratings have dropped to an all-time low, with only 18 per cent of the public holding a favourable view of him.
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👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Prime Minister Starmer, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, and other Labour Party officials.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The United Kingdom, as per the latest YouGov polling.
🎯IMPACT: Britain’s ruling Labour Party is facing internal dissent, with calls for leadership changes and speculation over a potential coup against Starmer.
IN FULL
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing mounting political pressure as new polling shows his public approval has crashed to record lows, amid growing dissatisfaction with the Labour Party’s handling of the economy, immigration, and national leadership. A YouGov survey found that only 18 per cent of the public holds a favourable view of Starmer, while 72 per cent view him unfavourably, giving the prime minister a net approval rating of minus 54. The figures mark a sharp decline in support for a party that won office on what was already a historically low share of the vote in mid-2024.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves, whose role is roughly equivalent to U.S. Treasury Secretary, is faring even worse than Starmer. Her approval rating has dropped to just 12 percent, with 71 percent of voters holding a negative opinion, leaving her with a net score of minus 59. Reeves has faced criticism over claims she was dishonest about a supposed “black hole” in the public finances, which was used to justify punishing tax hikes.
Polling also shows that Nigel Farage’s Reform Party is now significantly ahead of Labour, leading by roughly 28 percent to 18 percent. The far-left Green Party and the formerly governing Conservatives (Tories) are tied at around 17 per cent, with the latter continuing to struggle following their historic collapse at last year’s general election after presiding over record-breaking immigration, legal and illegal, across 14 years in office.
Starmer’s personal standing appears to be dragging down Labour more broadly. Recent constituency (electoral district)-level data suggests that a majority of constituencies prefer Farage over Starmer as Prime Minister. Other surveys indicate that the public now trusts Farage more than Starmer to lead the country. Starmer’s difficulties have also extended beyond domestic politics, with reports earlier this week that U.S. President Donald Trump halted implementation of a British trade deal, citing frustration with Labour’s leadership.
As Labour’s position weakens, speculation is growing about a possible leadership challenge. Manchester‘s Mayor Andy Burnham has emerged as a leading potential contender. Reports indicate that Burnham is seeking a parliamentary seat to position himself to challenge Starmer—with British prime ministers and government ministers generally being Members of Parliament (MPs), due to the relative lack of separation of powers in the British constitutional system. One unnamed Labour MP was quoted as saying: “It’s happening. We are on the brink of securing a seat which is likely to come free shortly and where the polls say Andy would beat Reform.”
Burnham previously served in Cabinet roles under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and has since rebranded himself as a more left-populist figure during his tenure as Mayor of Manchester.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Maryland General Assembly voted to override Governor Wes Moore’s (D) veto of a bill creating a slavery reparations commission.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Maryland General Assembly, Gov. Wes Moore, and state Delegates Matthew Morgan (R) and Terri Hill (D).
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📍WHEN & WHERE: The vote took place on Tuesday in Maryland.
💬KEY QUOTE: “This bill betrays the original intention, the unifying event of the civil rights movement. It’s immoral, and it’s fiscally ruinous to this state,” said Del. Matthew Morgan.
🎯IMPACT: SB 587 establishes a commission to study potential reparations and is set to deliver its final report by November 2027.
IN FULL
State lawmakers in Maryland overrode a veto from Governor Wes Moore (D) to adopt Senate Bill (SB) 587, legislation that establishes a government commission to study reparations for residents whose ancestors had been enslaved. Late Tuesday, the Maryland state Senate voted 31 to 14 to override the veto, while the state House of Delegates voted 93-35 to override. Both chambers surpassed the three-fifths threshold needed to circumvent the governor.
The Maryland Reparations Commission, established by the legislation, is now tasked with studying and making “recommendations relating to appropriate benefits to be made to individuals whose ancestors were enslaved in the State or were impacted by certain inequitable government policies.” A preliminary report to the Maryland General Assembly is required to be submitted by January 1, 2027, and a final report must be submitted to the governor and state legislature by November 1, 2027. The commission will explore potential reparations, including monetary compensation, property tax rebates, childcare support, debt forgiveness, and tuition waivers for higher education.
Gov. Moore had initially moved to veto the bill in May of this year, contending that the state already has engaged in multiple studies on slavery reparations and that the lawmakers pushing the issue would better serve their constituents by focusing on policies that directly address alleged racial disparities. In the veto letter sent to Senate President Bill Ferguson (D), Gov. Moore noted that the Maryland state government had established numerous commissions and panels over the last 25 years examining a myriad of related issues.
The legislation drew uniform opposition from Republican lawmakers. Speaking on the state House floor on Tuesday, Delegate Matthew Morgan (R) warned the bill was a move toward “race-bait handouts.” He stated, “This bill betrays the original intention, the unifying event of the civil rights movement. It’s immoral, and it’s fiscally ruinous to this state, and it sends a message to the generations out there now in Maryland that if you’re concerned about fairness, dignity, opportunity… flee Maryland.”
The Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland celebrated the override vote, declaring it a “landmark action” in a post on social media. Likewise, Del. Terri Hill (D) said the establishment of the commission is a move that she and fellow Democrat lawmakers “still feel is the right one.”
❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced an expansion of his travel ban, adding 20 more countries to the list of nations facing entry prohibitions.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: The policy follows a fatal attack on National Guard troops during the Thanksgiving holiday period in Washington, D.C.
💬KEY QUOTE: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem referred to the measures as addressing “foreign invaders” entering the United States.
🎯IMPACT: The expansion doubles the number of countries subject to U.S. travel restrictions, with measures ranging from stricter visa screening to enhanced documentation requirements.
IN FULL
President Donald J. Trump has confirmed a significant expansion of his travel ban policy, adding entry restrictions for citizens from 20 additional countries. The new measures feature full bans on individuals from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria seeking to enter the United States.
Administration officials defended the move as necessary to bolster border security, pointing to widespread corruption, fake documents, and inconsistent criminal records in the listed countries. These issues make it challenging to effectively screen applicants.
The decision comes in the wake of a deadly shooting over the Thanksgiving period, in which Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal allegedly shot two National Guard soldiers near the White House. One soldier, Sarah Beckstrom, died from her injuries, while Andrew Wolfe is still in critical condition. Lakanwal, who arrived in the U.S. amid former President Joe Biden’s botched 2021 withdrawal from Kabul, has entered a not guilty plea to murder and assault charges.
The updated proclamation applies partial limits to 15 other countries, including Angola, Nigeria, Senegal, and Zimbabwe. These are now subject to tougher visa reviews or additional paperwork demands, but not complete bans. Current lawful residents and those with valid visas are not affected.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: Naveed Akram, the lone surviving suspect in Sunday’s mass shooting targeting Jews at Australia’s Bondi Beach, has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one of committing a terrorist act.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Naveed Akram, his father Sajid Akram, who was killed, and victims, including two rabbis, a Holocaust survivor, and a 10-year-old girl named Matilda.
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📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred on Sunday at Bondi Beach in Sydney, targeting a Hanukkah celebration.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Police will allege in court the man engaged in conduct that caused death, serious injury and endangered life to advance a religious cause and cause fear in the community,” a New South Wales (NSW) Police statement said.
🎯IMPACT: Fifteen people were killed, and dozens were injured in the attack, which has been linked to the Islamic State (ISIS).
IN FULL
Naveed Akram, the sole surviving suspect in Sunday’s mass shooting attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, faced charges on Wednesday for 59 offenses, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act. The charges also include 40 counts of causing wounding or grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent to murder, New South Wales Police reports.
Akram is still hospitalized and under guard after being wounded by police gunfire. His father, Sajid Akram, a 50-year-old immigrant born in India, died in a shootout with police at the scene. The attack, aimed at Australia’s Jewish community during a Hanukkah event, killed 15 people and injured many others.
The proceedings against Naveed Akram have been postponed until April 2026. Authorities have stated that the attack drew inspiration from the Islamic State (ISIS), a designated terrorist group in Australia. Two handmade Islamic State flags were found in a vehicle registered to Naveed Akram and parked close to the famous beach.
“Police will allege in court the man engaged in conduct that caused death, serious injury and endangered life to advance a religious cause and cause fear in the community,” a statement from NSW Police read. The probe, called both “massive” and “complex,” is still active.
Victims included two rabbis, a Holocaust survivor, and a 10-year-old girl named Matilda, as identified by her family. The incident has profoundly affected the Jewish community and Australian society as a whole, but left-wing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese intends to respond to it by imposing even stricter gun controls on the public rather than restricting immigration.
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❓WHAT HAPPENED: A new study reveals the disproportionate role of foreigners in serious crimes in Spain, including rapes and murders, which have risen sharply in recent years.
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👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Researchers from CEU-CEFAS Demographic Observatory, migrants, and Spanish citizens.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Crime data analyzed from 2010-2024 across Spain.
💬KEY QUOTE: “91 percent of convicted rapists are migrants.” – CEU-CEFAS Report on crime in the Catalonia region.
🎯IMPACT: The study calls for stricter migration controls, additional police resources, and harsher penalties to address the rise in violent crimes.
IN FULL
Independent analysts are raising alarms about the involvement of foreigners in serious crime in Spain. According to a new study by the CEU-CEFAS Demographic Observatory, migrants are “significantly overrepresented” in the European Union (EU) member state’s most serious criminal statistics.
In Catalonia, the report notes that although migrants account for only about 17 percent of the population, “91 percent of convicted rapists are migrants.” Across Spain’s prison system, where foreign nationals make up around 31 percent of inmates, the study says they commit “500 percent more rapes and 414 percent more murders per capita than Spanish citizens.” Between 2019 and 2023, attempted murders nearly doubled, while penetrative rape cases climbed 143 percent, rising from 2,214 to 5,206. Illegal property occupation has also grown sharply, with foreigners accounting for more than half of arrests in such cases, a figure far exceeding their share of the population. The report attributes these trends to “imported crime” and calls for stricter migration controls, additional police and judicial resources, and tougher penalties.
Recent regional data appear to reinforce these concerns. In Barcelona, police figures for 2024 show that nearly 80 percent of arrests involved foreign nationals, particularly in theft, violent robbery, drug trafficking, and sexual assault. In the Basque Country, people of foreign origin accounted for nearly two-thirds of arrests so far in 2025, despite immigrants representing a relatively small portion of the population.
Comparable patterns have been reported elsewhere in Europe. In Austria, police data from last year showed that foreign nationals made up about 46.8 percent of all criminal suspects, even though they account for only around 20 percent of the population. In Germany, foreigners are also overrepresented in crime statistics. In Berlin, for instance, excluding immigration-related offenses, nearly 44 percent of recorded crimes involved foreign suspects, a figure that rises above 57 percent in more diverse cities such as Frankfurt. Notably, violent crime, including homicide, has increased in several German regions in recent years.
The United Kingdom has reported similar disparities. Police data indicate that foreign nationals account for a disproportionate share of sexual offense charges in London compared with their share of the population.
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