Category: World

Thank you, Mr Chair. At the final meeting of the Permanent Council before recess, I expressed a hope that our next meeting would not take place against the backdrop of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine.  Regrettably, not only is Russia’s war continuing unabated today, but we meet in this extraordinary format following a particularly […]

UK and Ukraine mark first anniversary of the historic 100 Year Partnership with new initiatives driving security and prosperity in both countries.   £20 million of new support announced for vital energy infrastructure repairs in Ukraine as Russia’s barbaric attacks on innocent civilians intensify. Boost for UK and Ukraine’s next generations as successful school twinning programme further expanded, strengthening partnerships on education, […]

January 15, 2026 Geopolitics & Diplomacy Sudan Peace Efforts Intensify in Cairo as War Nears Three-Year Mark High-level discussions to resolve Sudan’s devastating conflict resumed in Cairo on Wednesday. Egypt and the United Nations issued an urgent call for a nationwide humanitarian truce between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). […]

Thank you, President, and thank you Assistant Secretary-General Pobee, Masih Alinejad, and Ahmad Batebi for your briefings. We welcome this timely meeting. The United Kingdom is appalled by the reports that potentially thousands of people in Iran have been killed and many more arrested in the most brutal repression of public protests in decades. Despite the regime’s […]

EDINBURGH – In a move designed to anchor Scotland’s economic and social future, the Scottish Government has launched an ambitious £30 billion Infrastructure Strategy. Unveiled alongside the 2026-27 draft Budget, the plan outlines a multi-year investment cycle running to March 2030, aiming to transform the nation’s housing, transport, and healthcare sectors. At the heart of […]

Mr Secretary-General, let me begin by expressing our sincere thanks to you for your leadership over the past nine years.  You have steered the United Nations through an era of unprecedented global challenge, with vision and resolve. Under your tenure, and with our support, the UN has advanced major priorities: elevating climate action to the […]

Thank you, Chair. Federal Councillor Cassis, on behalf of the UK, welcome back to the Permanent Council. The UK welcomes Switzerland’s leadership of this organisation at a crucial and challenging time.     The UK and Switzerland have a longstanding cooperation agenda and extensive shared interests. Here at the OSCE we firmly support your Chairpersonship priorities and focus on dialogue and trust as a way to rebuild security within our region.    First and […]

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Donald Trump is clearly in a hurry to dominate the political narrative in his second term of office. He began 2026 with strikes in Syria against Islamic State groups, the kidnapping of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, threats to intervene in Iran and the declaration that the US would take control of Greenland – by hook […]

France is facing a surge in violent assaults and kidnappings aimed at cryptocurrency holders, as organised crime groups increasingly turn to physical coercion to obtain private keys and drain digital wallets. Security agencies have documented a marked escalation in so‑called “$5‑wrench attacks”—a term describing the use of force, abduction or torture to compel victims to […]