Research Briefing
Hong Kong: pro-democracy protests and proposed FAC visit
A summary of recent events related to Hong Kong, including the pro-democracy protests and the Chinese Government's refusal to allow the Foreign Affairs Committee to visit.
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Research Briefing
The European Parliament’s ‘Political Groups’: Unlikely Alliances?
European Parliament rules provide for the formation of “political groups” – essentially alliances between political parties from different Member States. Belonging to a political group brings a number of advantages, chiefly access to additional funding. The incentive to form political groups leads to the creation of a number of alliances which might initially appear surprising.
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Research Briefing
International status of Palestine
Which countries have extended diplomatic recognition to Palestine? What is the status of Palestine at the United Nations?
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Research Briefing
Universal suffrage to elect the next Chief Executive of Hong Kong in 2017: a legal primer
In August 2014 the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People’s Congress decided that the next Chief Executive of Hong Kong should be directly elected in 2017 by universal suffrage. However, the candidates (expected to be two or three in total) will still have to be approved in advance by a nominating committee, whose composition and method of formation will remain unchanged from that of the 1200-person strong ‘Election Committee’ which elected the current Chief Executive in 2012. Critics argue that this nominating committee will have an in-built ‘pro-Beijing’ bias. The decision has triggered a wave of protest. This briefing summarises the legal context of recent events, including the UK's own obligations.
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Research Briefing
Possible military action against Islamic State: how relevant is the “Responsibility to Protect”?
The US has been conducting airstrikes on Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq since early August, and at the time of writing has just launched similar airstrikes on IS militants in Syria. Here in the UK, MPs have been recalled to Westminster to discuss whether the UK should itself launch airstrikes on IS militants in
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Research Briefing
Iraq, Syria and ISIS – recent developments
The advance of ISIS in Iraq and Syria seems to have been slowed, but Western and regional states are struggling to formulate a convincing response to it
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Research Briefing
France: Government reshuffle
Details of the recent Government reshuffle in France.
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Research Briefing
Gaza ceasefire agreement
A summary of the Gaza ceasefire agreement of August 26, which put an end to hostilities between Israel and Palestinian militants.
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Research Briefing
UK arms transfers to the Peshmerga in Iraqi Kurdistan
After rapid advances by the Islamic State (formerly known as ISIS or ISIL) towards Erbil, the capital of the Iraqi Kurdish Region, the UK government has indicated that it may send arms to the Peshmerga, the Kurdish Regional Government's security force.
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Research Briefing
Hostilities in Gaza: latest developments
An overview of the latest developments in the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza.
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Research Briefing
Debate on possible independence of Catalonia: key issues
The Catalan Government hopes to hold a "consultation" on Catalan independence on 9 November 2014., but the Spanish Government hopes to prevent it from going ahead. This note provides an overview of the debate.
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Research Briefing
Abduction and murder of Israeli teenagers
Briefing on current tensions in the West Bank following the abduction and murder of three Israeli teenagers.
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Research Briefing
Formation of new Palestinian government
Briefing on Fatah-Hamas reconciliation, formation of new Palestinian government, and international reaction.
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