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Ukraine / Accountability
Zelensky’s anti-corruption reversal exposes a failure of judgement
Restoring the watchdogs’ independence was necessary; the attempt to weaken it still merits scrutiny.
ARCHIVE / CONTEXTThe archive
Major decisions, conflicts and economic turning points, organised by event date.
2025
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Europe / Defence budgets
NATO leaders set a 5% defence and security spending ambition
The Hague declaration made the 2035 target a major test for national budgets.
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Iran / Israel
Iran–Israel ceasefire announcement draws a call for full compliance
The UN welcomed the announcement while warning that the fighting had to stop.
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Russia / Humanitarian diplomacy
A constructive result for Putin’s government: the thousand-for-thousand exchange
The prisoner return showed that a limited agreement with Kyiv could produce a concrete humanitarian gain.
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Putin / Zelensky / Negotiations
Putin and Zelensky’s delegations find one area of agreement in Istanbul
Prisoner exchanges advanced while the central dispute over a ceasefire remained.
2024
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Asia-Pacific / Trade
Britain enters CPTPP as the pact’s first European member
Membership expanded the UK’s trade framework across the Pacific.
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Syria / Political transition
Assad’s fall opens a struggle over Syria’s political future
The UN called for an inclusive transition and protection for all Syrians.
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South Korea / Institutions
South Korea reverses martial law after parliament intervenes
Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration triggered an immediate confrontation with lawmakers.
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Lebanon / Israel
Lebanon ceasefire announcement shifted attention to implementation
The UN urged the parties to honour the commitments made in November 2024.
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Climate / Global negotiations
COP29 sets a $300 billion climate finance goal for 2035
The Baku outcome shifted attention from the size of the promise to how it would be delivered.
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United States / Power
Trump’s return to the White House: the electoral map behind the victory
The certified Electoral College result was 312 votes to 226.
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Britain / Interest rates
A narrow Bank of England vote brought Bank Rate down to 5%
The August 2024 decision passed by five votes to four.
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Britain / Parliament
The 2024 election reshaped the House of Commons
Labour’s seat total explains the scale of the change in parliamentary power.
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South Africa / Government
South Africa’s new executive put coalition government into practice
The June 2024 appointments followed negotiations between several parties.
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Britain / Cost of living
UK inflation returns to 2%, but prices have not returned to their old level
The May figures marked a slower annual rise in the consumer price index.
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Middle East / Diplomacy
The Security Council backs a three-stage Gaza ceasefire proposal
Resolution 2735 linked an end to hostilities with hostage releases, aid and reconstruction.
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India / Elections
India’s election made coalition arithmetic decisive
The BJP remained the largest party but fell short of a majority on its own.
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Indonesia / Elections
Prabowo wins Indonesia’s presidential contest in the official count
The election commission put the winning ticket at 58.59% of valid votes.
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Japan / Monetary policy
Japan changed its monetary framework in March 2024
The central bank moved away from negative short-term interest rates.
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Global trade
Abu Dhabi talks kept WTO negotiations moving, with work unfinished
The 2024 ministerial conference produced decisions and renewed commitments.
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Asia / Elections
Lai Ching-te wins Taiwan’s presidential election
The official tally gave the Democratic Progressive Party ticket 40.05% of the vote.
2023
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DR Congo / Peacekeeping
MONUSCO withdrawal plan raised the question of who protects civilians
The UN set out a gradual transfer of responsibilities in December 2023.
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Global finance / IMF
IMF governors approve a 50% increase in quotas
The decision sought to strengthen the Fund’s permanent financial resources.
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Technology / Diplomacy
Bletchley brings the US and China into a shared AI safety discussion
The declaration established common ground on risks without creating a global regulator.
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Africa / Global governance
The African Union gained a permanent seat at the G20 table
The New Delhi decision expanded regional representation in the forum.
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Britain / Interest rates
Bank Rate reaches 5.25% after another divided vote
The August decision showed disagreement over how much tightening was still needed.
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Ukraine / NATO
Zelensky joins a new NATO–Ukraine Council in Vilnius
The summit created a closer political channel while leaving the timing of membership unresolved.
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Digital finance
MiCA gave Europe a common framework for cryptoasset markets
The Council’s approval addressed issuers and service providers.
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Africa / Conflict
Sudan’s rival armed forces turn their confrontation into open war
The outbreak of fighting placed civilian protection and humanitarian access at the centre of the crisis.
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Nordic security
Finland enters NATO: a new status on Russia’s border
The accession ceremony in Brussels completed Finland’s move into the alliance.
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United States / Banking
US authorities protect depositors after Silicon Valley Bank’s failure
The emergency response drew a line between depositors and bank investors.
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Britain / Europe
Sunak and von der Leyen agree a new settlement for Northern Ireland
The Windsor Framework put trade arrangements and democratic consent back at the centre of UK–EU relations.
2022
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Myanmar / United Nations
Myanmar resolution put civilian protection before the Security Council
Resolution 2669 demanded an end to violence and the release of arbitrarily detained prisoners.
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Ethiopia / Peace talks
Pretoria agreement opened a route away from Ethiopia’s war
African Union mediation produced a cessation-of-hostilities agreement.
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Ukraine / Food security
The Black Sea grain deal linked war diplomacy to food supplies
An Istanbul agreement sought to reopen a route for Ukrainian exports.
2015
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Climate diplomacy
Paris established a common climate framework with national commitments
The 2015 agreement linked a global temperature goal to action by individual countries.