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Foreign Policy

Former UK diplomatic chief warns of declining influence overseas

The UK’s global influence is in decline, the former head of the country’s foreign office has argued – with Brexit and an over-controlling Number 10 at the heart of the […]

UK government legal chief quits over Brexit row

The head of the UK government’s legal department has resigned over prime minister Boris Johnson’s attempt to override parts of the Brexit withdrawal agreement relating to Northern Ireland. Sir Jonathan […]

UK appoints head of merging foreign and aid departments

Sir Philip Barton has been appointed permanent under-secretary at the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Barton will head up the new department, which is to be formed next […]

Trump’s new overseas broadcast head sacks network chiefs and advisory boards

A purge of senior leaders at the US agency tasked with providing news in countries without a free press has raised fears over the agency’s own autonomy. The new chief […]

Former UK officials call for Brexit transition extension

Former UK civil service chiefs – including retired officials such as Cabinet secretary Gus O’Donnell, head of the civil service Bob Kerslake, and permanent secretary of the Department for Exiting […]

UK Budget pledges funds for corona, infrastructure – and laws on cash access

The UK government has allocated billions to coronavirus-related spending and infrastructure projects, in a bid to keep the economy moving as growth projections for 2020 fall to 1.1%. Giving his […]

Tory landslide gives Johnson a free hand to shape Brexit

In a decisive victory, Boris Johnson has secured five years as the UK’s prime minister – clearing the way for a January Brexit. And his dramatic defeat of the Labour […]

Boris Johnson rose to power thanks to Theresa May’s Brexit errors; now he’s replicating them

Boris Johnson became the UK’s prime minister by attacking Theresa May’s approach to Brexit. But Johnson has already made exactly the same mistakes as his predecessor – so if he […]

Japan to encourage civil servants to take more paternity leave

The Japanese government is to begin encouraging male civil servants to take more than one month childcare leave from 2020, government sources told Japan Today last week. The government is […]

Backbench amendment forces UK PM to request new Brexit delay

UK prime minister Boris Johnson has been forced to write to the European Council asking for a further delay to Brexit, after the ‘Meaningful Vote’ motion approving the exit deal […]