International

Friday, July 24th 2026 - 07:00 UTC
Six candidates to lead the UN debate in the General Assembly with no clear front-runner

The six contenders to succeed António Guterres at the head of the United Nations set out their proposals on Thursday in a debate held in the General Assembly Hall, a week before the formal start of the selection process. For nearly two hours they answered questions from diplomats, UN staff, and civil society representatives, in a publicly broadcast session.
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Thursday, July 23rd 2026 - 22:37 UTC
World Bank estimates $19.6 billion in earthquake damage in Venezuela

The twin earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on June 24 caused an estimated $19.6 billion in direct physical damage, according to a preliminary assessment published on Thursday by the World Bank. The figure is equivalent to about 18% of the country's gross domestic product, based on International Monetary Fund data.
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Thursday, July 23rd 2026 - 22:33 UTC
US rebuilds its tariff wall with forced-labor levies on 60 economies

The United States imposed tariffs of between 10% and 12.5% on 60 trading partners, which together account for about 99% of its imports, over what the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) described as their failure to adopt and effectively enforce bans on the import of goods produced with forced labor. The measures, announced on Thursday, took effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, at the same moment the 10% universal tariff in place since February expired.
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Thursday, July 23rd 2026 - 07:34 UTC
Wes Streeting appointed UK Defence Secretary; ‘disappointment’ with removal of Dan Jarvis, responsible for DIP

Former Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting has been appointed by Prime Minister Andy Burnham as the new UK Defense Secretary, replacing Dan Jarvis who has taken the job when John Healey resigned last June.
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Thursday, July 23rd 2026 - 02:00 UTC
Stephen Doughty confirmed as Minister of State for Overseas Territories

Stephen Doughty MP has been confirmed at Minister of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Until 21 July 2026 and from 8 July 2024 he was previously Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories in the FCDO.
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Thursday, July 23rd 2026 - 01:57 UTC
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, no friend of “Trumpism”, White House

Reports from the United States indicate the White House has raised concerns about UK Premier Andy Burnham’s decision to appoint Ed Miliband as foreign secretary, amid warnings from the Donald Trump administration that he could create tensions in the UK-US relationship, according to reports Tuesday.
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Wednesday, July 22nd 2026 - 22:26 UTC
Report says Trump is pushing Infantino to lead the UN

US President Donald Trump is promoting FIFA President Gianni Infantino as a candidate to succeed António Guterres at the head of the United Nations, according to the New York Post, which cited anonymous sources close to the White House. The information has not been officially confirmed by the US government or FIFA, and Infantino himself has not commented publicly.
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Wednesday, July 22nd 2026 - 22:13 UTC
A young Falkland Islander will represent the islands at the Commonwealth Youth Parliament in Sydney

The Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly announced that Jessica Lee will represent the territory at the Commonwealth Youth Parliament, to be held from July 26 to 31 in Sydney, hosted by the Parliament of New South Wales, Australia.
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Wednesday, July 22nd 2026 - 09:26 UTC
Burnham’s Britain: what kind of country has UK’s new prime minister inherited?

By Ben Wellings, Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations, Monash University - When Andy Burnham was handed the keys to 10 Downing Street on Monday, the United Kingdom will have its seventh prime minister in the ten years since it voted to leave the European Union. It begs the question: what is it about the UK that makes governing it so difficult at this point in time?
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Wednesday, July 22nd 2026 - 09:15 UTC
PM Burnham first day in office “welcomed” by Russian navy live fire gunnery in the Channel south of Plymouth

In what appears to have been a calculated show of military presence close to the UK, the Russian Navy marked the first full day of Andy Burnham’s premiership by conducting a live-fire gunnery exercise in the English Channel while under close surveillance from the Royal Navy.
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