The government’s communications operation has been publicly criticised by a senior ministerial aide who also plays a central role in overseeing that work, in a rare confrontation over how Downing Street manages its messaging and engagement with the media and public.

A transparent approach to lobbying needs to be taken if companies are to protect their reputations, according to a report by the Business and Democracy Commission released today.

Britain has secured a significant win for Scotland’s iconic whisky industry, with China agreeing to cut tariffs on Scotch whisky from 10 per cent to 5 per cent.

EU institutions have postponed the release of a long-anticipated industrial policy instrument, a move that has frustrated several national governments and delayed work on broader competitiveness initiatives. Reporting by EU policy outlets says the so-called Competitiveness Coordination tool has been delayed again, slowing progress on related Council workstreams tied to the European Competitiveness Fund and other flagship programmes.

Thousands of farmers descended on the streets of Strasbourg and other European cities this week ahead of a key vote in the European Parliament on the controversial trade deal between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc of South American countries.

Davos is meant to be the place where the global public affairs class can compress a year of stakeholder management into five days, with a badge, a diary, and a blizzard outside. In 2026 it is also where the public language of cooperation collides with the private mechanics of leverage.

New EU rules aim to speed up and align chemical safety assessments, reducing duplication between agencies while maintaining health and environmental protections

The FTSE 100 surpasses 10,000 for the first time, reflecting strong gains in commodities, defence and financial stocks.

The EU’s new green tariff regime begins, applying carbon costs to selected imports and reshaping how climate policy intersects with trade.

The European Commission launches a public consultation to update EU Arctic policy amid climate pressures and rising geopolitical stakes.