• In Focus

    Explainer: United Nations at 80

    2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the creation of the United Nations (UN) in 1945. Established in the aftermath of the second world war, the UN was created with a mission of maintaining peace and security, and promoting international cooperation, with the hope it could help prevent another devastating global conflict. Since then, the UN has grown into a large transnational organisation with a broader remit, including promoting social progress, better living standards, and human rights. This briefing examines the composition of the modern UN and recent attempts at reform.

  • In Focus

    Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin: China’s plans for global governance

    China recently hosted a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the northern port city of Tianjin. Established in 2001 with six member states, the intergovernmental organisation now comprises 10 countries, including China, Russia and India, which collectively represent over 42% of the world’s population. Commentators argue it has evolved from a group focused on regional security into a forum aimed at projecting a non-western alternative worldview.

  • In Focus

    Joint Committee on Human Rights: Accountability for Daesh crimes

    The Joint Committee on Human Rights has called for a reset in the UK’s approach to investigating and prosecuting international crimes such as genocide. It has also called for a change in the law to allow for universal jurisdiction to prosecute such crimes within the UK; greater oversight of powers that allow UK ministers to deprive individuals of British citizenship; and more information on British citizens held in north-east Syria.

  • Research Briefing

    Space Industry (Indemnities) Bill: HL Bill 120 of 2024–25

    The Space Industry (Indemnities) Bill is a private member’s bill, supported by the government, that would amend the Space Industry Act 2018 to require all spaceflight operator licences to specify a limit on a licence holder's liability for damage or loss. This is intended to encourage investment in the UK space industry by ensuring that operators are not subject to unlimited liability.

  • In Focus

    The international crime of genocide

    Genocide is one of the gravest crimes of concern to the international community. This briefing examines the elements of the crime of genocide, how it is determined and what the UK government’s position is on making genocide determinations.

  • In Focus

    Defence spending, NATO and nuclear weapons in 1985

    The strategic defence review, published in June 2025, described a new era of threat and challenge to the UK. Set against a backdrop of difficult economic conditions, the government has set the ambition of spending 3 percent of GDP on defence in the next parliament. This briefing looks back 40 years to a Lords debate on 1985’s defence estimates, a debate in which members raised points that echo some of today’s political choices.

  • In Focus

    Tensions between India and Pakistan

    India and Pakistan engaged in the fiercest fighting for many years in May 2025 following a terrorist attack in the Indian-controlled part of the contested region of Kashmir. The conflict has led to fears over the future stability of the region. The UK has offered diplomatic support but reiterated it is for India and Pakistan to find a long-term solution to the question of Kashmir and related issues such as future cooperation.

  • In Focus

    Strategic defence review 2025

    The ‘Strategic defence review 2025’ (SDR) was published on 2 June 2025. Contending that the UK faces a generational defence and security challenge, the SDR makes 62 recommendations across the armed forces and wider society to meet this threat. The government has pledged to implement all those recommendations. However, critics question where the resources to meet the requirements of the SDR will come from, despite government pledges to raise defence spending levels.

  • In Focus

    UK-Mauritius treaty on the Chagos Archipelago

    The Chagos Archipelago has been the subject of a long-standing dispute over its sovereignty between the UK and Mauritius. Having been retained by the UK since 1965, the largest island, Diego Garcia, later became the site of a joint UK-US military base. In May 2025, the UK reached an agreement to transfer sovereignty of the islands back to Mauritius, while maintaining an initial 99-year lease of Diego Garcia. The agreement also includes security and financial provisions.

  • In Focus

    End of the second world war: 80th anniversary

    2025 marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day and Victory over Japan Day, events which in 1945 brought an end to the second world war. On those days 80 years ago, celebrations erupted across Britain. However, world leaders and domestic politicians were aware of the numerous problems still to be tackled, such as reconstruction, demobilisation and the legacy of the development and use of the atomic bomb.

  • In Focus

    Compensation for victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA terrorism

    Between the 1970s and 1990s, the Gaddafi-led Libyan regime supplied the Provisional IRA with weapons, finance and military training. This included shipments of the explosive Semtex, which was used in several bombings where a number of people died and many more were injured. Campaigners have called on the UK government to use Libyan assets frozen in 2011 to compensate victims. However, successive governments, including the current Labour government, have declined to do so, arguing it would break international law.

  • In Focus

    Equality in death? The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

    On 8 May 2025, the country will mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the end of the second world war in Europe. Many of the commemorations will take place in cemeteries where those who died during the conflict are remembered. This briefing focuses on the organisation behind these cemeteries, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. It looks at how the commission developed and recent work on one of its key principles: equality in death.

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