One of the many key decisions facing political leaders – especially new ones like Liz Truss – is when and where to make official visits. Some leaders and their choices have been wiser than others, writes Philip Bushill-Matthews. Recently in the UK there were two state visits in relatively quick succession. In 2015 under David Cameron’s premiership the Queen accorded a full state visit…
This autumn, work will commence on the new garden of the Rubens House. A new museum gallery, albeit one without a ceiling, is set to be added to the master’s house. It is an opportunity to enjoy colour 365 days a year, thanks to Dries Van Noten, who helped choose a colour scheme and plant…
Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has established a new political and military reality in Europe. But the continent faces other challenges in the Western Balkans, the Middle East and Africa. Meanwhile, China poses increasing problems for the EU and NATO. NATO’s Strategic Concept confirms the alliance’s revival, and sharply orients it on deterrence and defence against…
Over the first weekend of UK school holidays in late July, there was chaos at the port of Dover with traffic backed up for miles, closely followed by gridlock in nearby Folkestone. After weeks of delays in UK airports because of shortages of baggage handling and border control staff there was a hope that travelling…
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, the Russian invading army has continuously violated the basic norms and principles of international and humanitarian law, including the general provisions of the Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, writes Bogdana Bondarenko According to the Convention, its application is envisaged…
French President Emmanuel Macron is committed to creating a ‘European Political Community’, distinct from the EU. European states not in the EU – including the UK – should take the concept seriously, writes Charles Grant. Speaking to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on May 9th, Emmanuel Macron called for a ‘European Political Community’ (EPC), a…
The world is on the verge of a paradigm shift that will affect every family and every home, writes John Buchan. What life principles should a self-made man be guided by in order to build a multi-million dollar business, become a leader in the global crypto market and successfully conquer countries and continents? Volodymyr Nosov,…
States in many parts of the world regularly amend constitutions, and in some cases draft completely new constitutions. This may be due to various political, economic, social or other reasons. The national constitution of a country is the framing legal document, which captures the basis of the social contract between the state and the people…
The voting process by Conservative MPs to produce the two candidates to become the next UK Prime Minister has been completed. Ballot papers for ex-Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will be sent to Conservative party members in early August, and it is their verdict which will determine the winner. By early September…
Today Uzbekistan is implementing large-scale reforms in all directions. Special attention is paid to the guarantees of individual rights and freedoms in the course of the ongoing constitutional reform in Uzbekistan. In particular, the Constitution of the country proposes to consolidate the right of everyone to access and free use of the Internet. Doctor of…
