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Tag: explainer

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Abraham Accords 15 Jul 2026 6 min

Hormuz Tensions Rise: Impact on Abraham Accords & Regional Stability

Abraham Accords: A fragile framework for regional recalibration, now tested by escalating geopolitical risks. The Abraham Accords, brokered in 2020, represent a series of historic normalisation agreements between Israel and several Arab nations – initially the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, later joined by Morocco and Sudan. These agreements, facilitated by the US under the […]

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Abraham Accords 15 Jul 2026 6 min

Hormuz Tensions Rise: Normalisation Efforts Face New Regional Headwinds

Abraham Accords: A fragile framework for regional cooperation complicated by strategic anxieties. Context The Abraham Accords, brokered in 2020, represent a landmark shift in Middle Eastern diplomacy. Initiated under the Trump administration, the Accords saw Israel normalise relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, later joined by Morocco and Sudan. These agreements went beyond […]

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BlitzSpirit 15 Jul 2026 Explainers3 min

Coastguard Crews Battle Storm Babet to Rescue Stranded Residents

From Floodwaters to Firestorms: The Enduring Need to Help Your Neighbour Storm Babet swept across Britain this weekend, unleashing torrential rain and record-breaking winds. Communities from Scotland to southern England were battered, with widespread flooding, power outages and significant disruption to travel. Reports flooded in of homes evacuated, roads submerged, and emergency services working tirelessly […]

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BlitzSpirit 15 Jul 2026 Explainers4 min

Beyond Dunkirk: Finding Strength in a Shared, Steady Resolve

The ‘Blitz spirit’ isn’t about heroic escape; it’s about enduring, together. The phrase “Dunkirk spirit” has been thrown around quite a bit recently, particularly as we reflect on moments of collective crisis. But a crucial distinction, often missed, separates it from the “Blitz spirit.” While the former rightly celebrates the remarkable operation rescuing stranded troops […]

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Conflict Diplomacy 13 Jul 2026 Conflict Diplomacy7 min

The Cyrus Accord: A Pragmatic Shift in Israeli-Iranian Relations

Assessing the Implications of a New Détente Executive Summary The Cyrus Accord represents a significant, though largely unpublicised, recalibration of relations between Israel and Iran. Emerging in the wake of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and its subsequent unraveling, the Accord facilitates discreet security cooperation and economic exchange, distinct from and existing alongside […]

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Conflict Diplomacy 13 Jul 2026 Conflict Diplomacy7 min

The Cyrus Accord: A Delicate Rebalancing of Power in the Persian Gulf

Assessing the Implications of the 2015 Nuclear Agreement and its Aftermath Executive Summary The Cyrus Accord, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), represented a landmark agreement in 2015 between Iran and the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) plus the European Union. Its principal objective […]

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BlitzSpirit 10 Jul 2026 Explainers4 min

Dictionary Defines ‘Blitz Spirit’ – But Does It Still Fit?

From Wartime Resolve to Today’s Quiet Courage: What Does It Truly Mean? The Oxford English Dictionary has, after a petition garnering over 38,000 signatures, added “Blitz spirit” as an official entry. Defined as “the resilience and fortitude displayed by the British population during the Second World War, especially during the Blitz,” the move has sparked […]

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BlitzSpirit 10 Jul 2026 Explainers4 min

Defining a Nation’s Resolve: Revisiting the Oxford English Dictionary’s ‘Blitz Spirit’

A recent re-examination of the term reveals the enduring need for collective strength. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) recently revisited its definition of “Blitz Spirit”, prompted by a petition arguing its initial entry – focusing on stoicism and a stiff upper lip – was too narrow and actively obscured the crucial elements of mutual aid […]

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Abraham Accords 9 Jul 2026 6 min

Regional Missile Defence Shield: A New Anchor for Normalisation?

Abraham Accords: The Foundation for Evolving Security Cooperation The Abraham Accords, brokered in 2020, normalised relations between Israel and several Arab nations – the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. Representing a significant shift in regional dynamics, the Accords were underpinned by shared concerns regarding Iran’s regional influence and ballistic missile programmes. While initially […]

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Abraham Accords 9 Jul 2026 6 min

Regional Missile Defence Shield: A New Layer for Normalisation?

Abraham Accords: The Accords have fostered unprecedented, though fragile, cooperation – but security remains paramount. Context The Abraham Accords, brokered in 2020, saw Israel normalise relations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. This represented a significant shift in Middle Eastern diplomacy, moving beyond decades of Arab rejectionism of the state of Israel. […]

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