Category: World

Trade tensions between the EU and China are deepening. On June 16, the EU’s trade chief, Maroš Šefčovič, said the bloc’s unbalanced trade relationship with China “had reached a point that requires a reset”. The German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, then criticised Beijing days later for what he claimed were its unfair trade practices. In comments […]

new Special Envoy for LGBT+ rights Lord Collins will champion UK efforts to protect LGBT+ people from violence, persecution and discrimination globally appointment builds on the UK’s commitment to international LGBT+ rights and role as host of the European IDAHOT+ Forum in 2027 new Envoy will strengthen partnerships with civil society, governments, parliamentarians and business […]

In May 2026, in his first encyclical Magnifica Humanitas – signed on the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum – Pope Leo XIV warned the world about the dangers of the promise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), categorically calling machine learning “a form of statistical adaptation based on data and feedback, which can be […]

Today, the Department of Justice’s Civil Division filed complaints against Massachusetts and Rhode Island to challenge state laws that provide in-state tuition and financial assistance to illegal aliens. These laws unconstitutionally discriminate against U.S. citizens who are not afforded the same reduced tuition rates or scholarships, create incentives for illegal immigration, and reward illegal aliens with benefits that U.S. […]

According to the UN Development Programme (UNDP), developing economies are being forced to spend hundreds of billions of dollars shielding households from soaring energy costs, leaving less money for schools, hospitals and climate action. Their new report, Military Escalation in the Middle East: Cushioning the Global Shock, finds that governments have relied on fossil fuel subsidies, price […]

The United Kingdom is clear that a two-state solution remains the best way to bring lasting peace to the region and end the cycle of violence that has scarred generations of Palestinians and Israelis. As we have said numerous times in this Council, the implementation of President Trump’s comprehensive peace plan, endorsed by resolution 2803, […]

The Justice Department will rename one of its divisions the Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). The announcement was originally made yesterday by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of ENRD in an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal. “Energy security is national security. Iran’s recent stranglehold on the global oil market shows that […]

Damage to hospitals, schools, and water systems is exacerbating the situation for affected families, many of whom remain displaced. The two earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, left at least 1,430 people dead and 3,238 injured, according to the latest official count. More than 3,100 families have been affected, while authorities continue […]

  From 1 July 2026, the EU will introduce a temporary €3 customs duty on low-value parcels imported from outside the EU, mainly through e-commerce. This includes a wide range of products commonly bought online, such as clothing, toys, electronics, and other consumer goods worth up to €150. Every day, millions of low-value parcels enter the […]

Competition closed This competition has now closed. Please continue to visit gov.uk for details of the next FCDO Next Generation Economics Competition in 2027. We will announce the competition results by September 2026. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) co-ordinates the UK’s diplomatic relationships, promotes UK interests abroad, and manages the UK’s overseas development […]