The United Kingdom's national weather service, the Met Office, delivered a stark climate milestone on Friday, confirming that 2025 was the hottest and sunniest year on record for Britain. This announcement headlines a day of significant global developments, including deadly airstrikes in Yemen, a high-profile sentencing in Pakistan, and key judicial decisions in India.
Climate Change Hits UK: 2025 Sets Alarming Records
In a statement that underscores the accelerating impact of climate change, the Met Office revealed that the UK's mean temperature for 2025 reached 10.09 degrees Celsius. This figure surpasses the previous record of 10.03°C set in 2022, making 2025 the warmest year since records began in 1884. Notably, 2025 joins 2022 and 2023 in the top three warmest years, with four of the last five years now ranking in the top five.
The weather service explicitly linked this trend to human-induced climate change, calling it a "clear demonstration" of its impacts on UK temperatures. Adding to the record, 2025 was also confirmed as the sunniest year since 1910, painting a picture of a nation experiencing profound environmental shifts.
International Flashpoints: Yemen and Pakistan
Beyond climate news, conflict escalated in Yemen. A military official from the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a UAE-backed separatist group, reported that Saudi-led coalition airstrikes killed 20 of its fighters on Friday. The strikes targeted military bases in Al-Khasha and Seiyun, according to the anonymous official, with medical sources confirming the death toll. This violence follows the STC's seizure of significant territory last month.
In Pakistan, an anti-terrorism court in Islamabad delivered a major verdict. Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra sentenced seven individuals to life imprisonment in absentia for inciting violence during the May 2023 riots that followed former Prime Minister Imran Khan's arrest. The convicted include three journalists—Shaheen Sehbai, Sabir Shakir, Moeed Pirzada; two YouTubers—Wajahat Saeed Khan and Haider Raza Mehdi; and two retired army officers, Adil Raja and Akbar Hussain. The court found them guilty of spreading hatred against state institutions and instigating attacks on military installations.
Key Developments in India
In Chhattisgarh, the High Court granted bail to Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, in two cases linked to the alleged liquor scam. The bail covers cases filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the state's Anti-Corruption Bureau. Bhupesh Baghel hailed the decision as a "victory of truth," alleging political harassment by central and state governments.
Meanwhile, in Rajasthan's Chomu town, local authorities demolished illegal encroachments linked to individuals accused in a recent stone-pelting incident. The action on Friday affected around two dozen residences after notices were issued. The initial clash occurred on December 25 over the installation of railings near a mosque, leading to injuries to six police officers and a temporary internet shutdown.
Conclusion: A World in Flux
From a definitive climate warning in Europe to geopolitical strife in the Middle East and consequential legal rulings in South Asia, these updates reflect a interconnected world facing multifaceted challenges. The UK's temperature record serves as a global benchmark, while events in Yemen, Pakistan, and India highlight ongoing struggles with conflict, justice, and governance.
