Our research on world affairs

This article looks at the measures G20 nations have taken to help developing countries deal with the financial effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. It particularly looks at the initiative to pause debt service payments, which is the subject of an oral question in the House of Lords on 10 June 2020.

Coronavirus is believed to have originated in a ‘wet market’ selling wild animals in the city of Wuhan in China. This has provoked debate about the relationship between unsanitary conditions in some markets and the spread of diseases from animals to humans. The article summarises international efforts to regulate live animal markets, particularly those in Asia and Africa.

Locust infestations are currently affecting countries across eastern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East and South Asia. The infestations are destroying large volumes of crops in the affected areas, increasing food insecurity in regions where food supplies are already precarious. The current cycle of infestations has been linked to the effects of climate change.

The 2020 US election has been conducted during the coronavirus pandemic. At the start of the year, the candidates’ presidential campaigns had to be halted as many US states issued lockdown orders. Since June, the candidates have taken different approaches to appealing to voters. Donald Trump has tried to emulate his successful 2016 campaign while Joe Biden has been more cautious in his campaigning.

With just under a month until the US presidential election, some American citizens have started casting their votes. The coronavirus pandemic has already caused disruption to previous elections held across the US this year. How might coronavirus affect the way Americans vote in November?

16 September 2020 marks 400 years since the Mayflower set sail on its famous voyage to America. This article tells the story of that voyage, using information from Mayflower 400 UK, the commemorative project marking the anniversary around the UK.

On 26 November 2020, the House of Lords is due to debate a trade deal, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the UK and Japan. This article looks at the deal and the scrutiny it has received from the House of Commons International Trade Committee and the House of Lords International Agreements Sub-Committee.

The Korean war began 70 years ago. This article summarises how the UK was involved in the conflict, including the extent of its contribution in support of the United Nations response. It also summarises how Parliament was kept informed of developments at the time.

There has been concern over what Beijing’s decision to implement a national security law in Hong Kong could mean for freedoms in the territory.

In recent years, there has been extensive international debate about lethal autonomous weapons, referred to by some as ‘killer robots’. With disagreements regarding how they should be defined and if they should be banned, this article explores these issues as well as the UK’s stance on them.

On 18 March 2020, the Government introduced the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill in the House of Commons. It completed report stage and third reading in the Commons on 3 November 2020. The second reading date in the House of Lords has yet to be announced. This briefing provides a summary of the bill’s provisions and its passage through the House of Commons.

This briefing examines the role of the security and intelligence services, law enforcement agencies and several public authorities in authorising covert human intelligence sources to participate in criminal conduct.

It has been 25 years since a peace agreement was reached between the three warring parties in Bosnia, marking an end to an ethno-territorial conflict which killed around 100,000 people.

Catch up on international affairs articles you may have missed in May 2020, including Germany's approach to tackling coronavirus and plans to reopen the US economy.

On 8 May 1945, the unconditional surrender of all German forces to the Allies came into effect. The day was declared as Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) across the west, and in Britain the day was made a national holiday by Prime Minister Winston Churchill.   This year will mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day.   Did you know?

Almost 200 Covid-19 vaccine candidates are currently being developed. However, only a tiny percentage of these will ever be mass-produced and distributed. Concerns around ‘vaccine nationalism’ have grown, as high-income countries pre-order hundreds of millions of vaccine doses. This article looks at this problem and examines what solutions are being put in place to ensure low and middle income countries receive adequate supplies of any successful Covid-19 vaccine.

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected health, education and livelihoods around this world. This article gives an overview of some of the ways the pandemic is expected to impact progress towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. This is the subject of an oral question in the House of Lords on 22 July 2020.

Catch up on articles you may have missed on the constitution, government and parliament from May 2020. Articles this month take a closer look at Covid-19 and human rights legislation.

In recent years, there has been extensive international debate about lethal autonomous weapons, referred to by some as ‘killer robots’. With disagreements regarding how they should be defined and if they should be banned, this article explores these issues as well as the UK’s stance on them.

On 9 November 2020, the House of Lords voted to remove from the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill controversial clauses relating to the Northern Ireland Protocol. This article explains what these votes were about and considers what might happen in relation to these clauses in the bill’s further parliamentary stages.

On 18 March 2020, the Government introduced the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill in the House of Commons. It completed report stage and third reading in the Commons on 3 November 2020. The second reading date in the House of Lords has yet to be announced. This briefing provides a summary of the bill’s provisions and its passage through the House of Commons.

Since the passage of the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018, the Government has been preparing for the UK to implement sanctions once it is no longer covered by the EU’s legal framework. The draft Sanctions (EU Exit) (Consequential Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 would amend existing sanctions regulations made under the 2018 act to ensure that references in other pieces of primary and secondary legislation are up to date.

Catch-up on international affairs articles you may have missed from April 2020, including what impact coronavirus might have on Gaza.

This House of Lords Library Briefing has been prepared in advance of the debate due to take place on 27 February 2020 in the House of Lords on the motion moved by Baroness Tonge (Non-affiliated) that “this House takes note of the United States’ proposals for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, announced on 28 January”.