The Queen’s year of ill-health

Published

3 years ago

September 9, 2022

It’s been a difficult 12 months for the Monarch, after spending a night in hospital last October.

October 2021

For the first time, the Queen was seen with a walking stick at a major public event, during a service at Westminster Abbey.

The next day the Palace said the queen has attended a private London hospital for “preliminary investigations”

November 2021

The Queen pulled out of a major UN climate summit in Glasgow on doctors advice.

The Monarch is told to rest and missed the annual Remembrance Sunday event on November 14.

February

The Queen tests positive for Covid-19. Buckingham Palace says she has “mild, cold-like symptoms”.

March and April

The queen pulls out of Commonwealth Day service but she attends March 29 memorial service for her late husband Prince Philip.

May

The Queen missed the ceremonial opening of parliament, only the third time she’s done so since 1952.

Her heir Prince Charles takes on her role.

June

The Queen misses significant Platinum Jubilee events for her 70th year on the throne.

She was unable to attend a thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral on June 3, making only two public appearances.

September

The Queen missed the Braemar Gathering Highland Games on the first weekend of September, one of her favourite events.

She formally appoints Liz Truss as the 15th British prime minister of her reign on September 6

She carries out the ceremony at Balmoral in Scotland for the first time, as she’s unable to travel to London for the event.

U.S. keeps Greenland in focus as Rubio signals all options remain

US sharpens focus on Greenland; Rubio emphasizes ongoing strategic interest ahead of diplomatic talks with Denmark.

Published

3 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Harvey Vargas

US sharpens focus on Greenland; Rubio emphasizes ongoing strategic interest ahead of diplomatic talks with Denmark.

The United States is sharpening its focus on Greenland, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirming that Washington is keeping every option on the table. His comments come ahead of a high-level diplomatic meeting with Danish leaders next week.

The visit is seen as a signal of President Donald Trump’s ongoing strategic interest in the Arctic territory, which holds growing geopolitical and security significance as global competition in the region intensifies.

While the administration has not outlined specific next steps, the message from Washington is clear that Greenland remains firmly on the US agenda.

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#Greenland #USPolitics #MarcoRubio #Arctic #Geopolitics #USForeignPolicy #WorldNews #Ticker

News

U.S. seizes Venezuelan oil tankers Marinera and Sophia amid legal turmoil

U.S. seizes two oil tankers linked to Venezuela, escalating efforts against oil smuggling and raising international legal concerns.

Published

3 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Harvey Vargas

U.S. seizes two oil tankers linked to Venezuela, escalating efforts against oil smuggling and raising international legal concerns.

In a dramatic escalation of its campaign against Venezuelan oil smuggling, the U.S. has seized two oil tankers linked to Caracas. The Russian-flagged Marinera — formerly known as the Bella-1 — was captured in the North Atlantic after a weeks-long chase by U.S. forces, who allege it was violating sanctions tied to Venezuelan and Iranian oil. This rare high-seas seizure has drawn international attention due to the change of flag and the involvement of Russian maritime interests.

Meanwhile, a second vessel, the Sophia, was taken in the Caribbean in a coordinated operation against alleged sanctioned shipments. U.S. authorities describe these moves as part of a broader effort to clamp down on illicit oil flows and enforce sanctions by interdicting vessels before they can deliver crude to sanctioned buyers. The Sophia was reportedly operating with its tracking systems off, a tactic used in “dark fleet” smuggling operations.
Defense News

While the White House defends the operations as necessary to uphold sanctions and curb illicit oil trafficking, legal experts and foreign governments — especially Russia — are questioning the legality of boarding and seizing foreign-flagged ships in international waters. The debate over maritime law and sanctions enforcement is heating up as the U.S. signals it will continue to aggressively target Venezuela’s oil network.

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#VenezuelaOil #USSeizure #Marinera #OilSmuggling #InternationalLaw #TrumpAdministration #GlobalPolitics

News

Venezuela’s opposition leader vows return and calls for free elections

Maria Corina Machado plans return to Venezuela, urging fair elections and release of political prisoners amid political pressure.

Published

1 day ago

January 7, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Maria Corina Machado plans return to Venezuela, urging fair elections and release of political prisoners amid political pressure.

Venezuela’s opposition leader Maria Corina Machado says she plans to return home as she renews calls for a free and fair election, despite ongoing political pressure and legal threats against her. Her return would mark a major test for the country’s fragile democratic movement.

Machado is currently under investigation by authorities aligned with President Nicolas Maduro, accused of inciting insurrection. Meanwhile, loyalists from Maduro’s Socialist Party continue to hold key positions of power, complicating efforts to shift Venezuela’s political direction.

She is also calling for the immediate release of political prisoners, arguing it is a necessary first step towards restoring democracy and rebuilding trust in the country’s institutions.

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#Venezuela #MariaCorinaMachado #VenezuelaPolitics #FreeElections #Democracy #LatinAmerica #PoliticalPrisoners #TickerNews