World affairs Archives

Research Briefing

Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit for children resident in other EEA countries

Friday, 18 July, 2014

Domestic legislation provides that both Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit cannot normally be paid in respect of children resident abroad. However, under provisions in EU law on social security coordination within the European Economic Area (EEA), Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit may be payable to EEA migrants in the United Kingdom in respect of their dependent children resident in another Member State.
Research Briefing

The Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Bill

Wednesday, 16 July, 2014

An emergency Bill, the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Bill, is due to pass through all its parliamentary stages between 15 and 17 July. The Bill aims to allow police and security agencies to have continued access to communications data in order to combat crime and terrorism. This Note summarises the background, the Bill and criticisms that have been made of it.
- Research Briefing
- Crime
- Defence
- Police
- Security
Research Briefing

Debate on possible independence of Catalonia: key issues

Friday, 11 July, 2014

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.
Research Briefing

Worsening humanitarian crisis in Syria and Iraq

Tuesday, 08 July, 2014

The plight of civilians in Syria may be about to get a lot worse, as drought ravages the region, ISIS takes over much of the River Euphrates and government services threaten to collapse.
Research Briefing

Abduction and murder of Israeli teenagers

Wednesday, 02 July, 2014

Briefing on current tensions in the West Bank following the abduction and murder of three Israeli teenagers.
Research Briefing

The post-2015 development goals

Wednesday, 02 July, 2014

This Note explores what kind of framework might replace the Millennium Development Goals upon their expiry in 2015. It assesses reaction to the ‘zero draft’ of 17 new goals published by the Open Working Group in June 2014.
Research Briefing

Formation of new Palestinian government

Tuesday, 01 July, 2014

Briefing on Fatah-Hamas reconciliation, formation of new Palestinian government, and international reaction.
Research Briefing

France’s Front National (FN)

Friday, 27 June, 2014

A brief profile of the far-right Front National (FN), led by Marine Le Pen, which obtained 24.9% of the vote in France in the recent European elections. This result was described as a “political earthquake.”
Research Briefing

Somalia – President Mohamud on the back foot while al-Shabaab attacks continue

Friday, 27 June, 2014

A few days ago, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud declared that Somalia was once again in a “political crisis”. In May, UN Special Envoy to Somalia, Nicholas Kay, said that Somalia is approaching “a danger zone”. For the first year or so after President Mohamud took office in September 2012, Western supporters of the Government put a positive spin on his performance. However, there is a growing sense that President Mohamud’s government is not turning out to be the fresh start that Somalia needed. Al-Shabaab has suffered important military reverses since President Mohamud took office and is now focusing increasingly on launching regular violent attacks on government-held areas, including Mogadishu, where security has declined markedly recently. It has also increased its attacks in neighbouring Kenya, which sent troops into southern Somalia in 2011.
Research Briefing

The Future of the British Nuclear Deterrent: Suggested Reading

Thursday, 26 June, 2014

This paper is now out-of-date and has been replaced by Commons Library Briefing CBP7353, Replacing the UK's Trident Nuclear Deterrent, 26 October 2015
- Research Briefing
- Defence policy
Research Briefing

Russia and Ukraine – update June 2014

Wednesday, 25 June, 2014

Ukraine is due to sign its agreement with the EU on 27 June; Russia's reaction is awaited
Research Briefing

A new Commission President in 2014

Tuesday, 24 June, 2014

Will David Cameron succeed in blocking the nomination of Jean-Claude Juncker for European Commission President? Juncker has the support of most Member State governments but the UK Prime Minister thinks he is too integrationist and would not implement necessary reforms.
Insight

Auditing the EU accounts

Tuesday, 24 June, 2014
- Insight
- The EU
- Brexit
Research Briefing

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) and the takeover of Mosul

Friday, 20 June, 2014

ISIS has shocked observers by the speed of its takeover of large amounts of Iraqi territory
- Research Briefing
- Middle East
Research Briefing

Nigeria: Boko Haram’s insurgency

Thursday, 19 June, 2014

In the northeast of Nigeria, an Islamist terrorist insurgency continues to rage. At the head of the insurgency is Boko Haram, which calls for the introduction of Sharia law and an Islamic state across the whole of Nigeria. There has been a state of emergency in the three northeastern states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa since mid-2013. Well over 2000 people are estimated to have died in attacks by the group since the beginning of 2014.The Nigerian authorities have been heavily criticised both at home and abroad for their ineffective response to the crisis. Outrage in Western countries following the kidnapping in April of about 270 schoolgirls in Borno state has led the UK, US and French governments to make offers of assistance to the Nigerian authorities despite the poor human rights record of the security forces.

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