SCOOP - EU countries call on Britain to take part in Brussels-led peacekeeping missions, as tangible sign of desire for closer security cooperation Pitch made to Lammy at EU meeting in Luxembourg today ft.com/content/352a76… @ft w Lucy Fisher

The treasury is preparing to slash spending on UK aid in the Budget after refusing to match Tory-era top ups to compensate for increased in-donor refugee costs. New from Financial Times featuring stats and comment from Bond. ft.com/content/c7d9a3…

Uk/German defence treaty just announced: defence industry cooperation, helping Ukraine as well as stepping up plans to defend eastern NATO members bbc.in/3BUcZit

The UK 🇬🇧 has joined our partners 🇨🇦 🇦🇺 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 🇯🇵 🇰🇷 to express our grave concern over legislation in the Israeli knesset that would restrict UNRWA’s operations. Their life-saving work must be allowed to continue. Full statement here: gov.uk/government/new…

The thing about "the UK’s tax burden is now at a record high", is that this is also true for almost all countries 📈

EXCLUSIVE: British officials arrived in Taipei on Monday to negotiate the next round of trade talks under an Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP) Arrangement signed last year. Britain is the first European nation to sign a trade deal with #Taiwan. 1/4 asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Trade/…

AOC asked her followers who split their ballots either for Trump/her or Trump/downballot Dem to explain why and posted the replies:

"Azerbaijan is in some ways a contentious host but it is very well placed to understand the dilemmas of climate action" Ruth Townend (Chatham House Environment and Society) on the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan starting this week, via CNN.

Lighthizer and his allies lay the groundwork for Trump’s massive new tariffs ow.ly/xECr105OJOS

Administration finally takes decision - Biden allows Ukraine to strike Russia with US-supplied long-range missiles via Financial Times on.ft.com/3CupL7J

The government will publish a strategic defence review in 2025, considering threats to the UK and how to meet them. What do we know about it so far? My latest briefing for the Commons Library. I'll be updating it periodically. commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-brief…

Romania’s constitutional court just cancelled the elections for president - ordered the whole process to be restarted Big deal - with big implications #bucharest

Podcast🎙️| What will UK foreign policy look like in 2025? James Landale, Anand Menon and Olivia O'Sullivan join Bronwen Maddox on the podcast this week to discuss Keir Starmer's foreign policy. 🟣apple.co/4gmM8dW 🟢spoti.fi/4gnoRsg chathamhouse.org/2024/12/indepe…

🇬🇧🇪🇺Brexit reset just got bigger… Reeves signals move for UK to join multi-billion EU weapons-buying programme inews.co.uk/news/politics/…

While greater UK engagement with China can be valuable, it must be underpinned by strategic thinking that encompasses the challenge Beijing poses, writes Olivia O'Sullivan and William Matthews. chathamhouse.org/2025/01/uk-gov…

Arab News Well, it’s a start and for the hostages, families and all in Gaza it might be fair for those of us outside the region to recognise what the ceasefire means to them tonight.But an end of conflict is not the same as peace, and the long evaded decisions must now be faced.