Foreign Policy Centre

New UK development allocations include increased funding for the BBC World Service (£11m/year for 3 years). A clear signal: soft power tools like trusted global media matter more than ever. FPC’s report set out the case 👇 fpc.org.uk/publications/p…

🔗 Read the full briefing series: fpc.org.uk/publications/t… 📩 Stay up to date with FPC’s work: fpc.org.uk/join/

Authored by Dr @AdelRuished (SEPAD), the briefings provide analysis of developments across the region, & conclude with a series of recommendations for the UK Gov. Useful background briefs for those seeking to better understand the region’s recent history & internal relationships

🔴🆕 New from the FPC & @ProjectSEPAD: The Middle East 2026: Background Briefings A four-part series examining conflict, regional order, human security and political agency in the Middle East. 🔗fpc.org.uk/publications/t…

📻 FPC ED & co-chair of the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition, Susan Coughtrie (@skcoughtrie), spoke on Times Radio about the growing calls for stronger protections against #SLAPPs 🎧 Listen from minute 38:12 ⬇️ thetimes.com/radio/show/202…

🧠 New Op-Ed | #AI in authoritarian states @Maria_G_Guryeva looks at Belarus’s AI expansion and the risks it poses for #HumanRights. “In authoritarian contexts, AI tools are far more likely to reinforce repression than deliver public benefit.” Read ⬇️ fpc.org.uk/op-ed-ai-in-au…

The ruling - the first test of the UK’s anti-SLAPP law in ECCTA - is a welcome step, but protections remain incomplete. ⭕ FPC’s ED Susan Coughtrie co-chairs the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition. Read the Coalition’s statement⬇️ antislapp.uk/2026/03/12/the…

‼️ FPC ED Susan Coughtrie in @TBIJ coverage of a High Court ruling striking out an £8m libel claim. thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2026-0…

The #UKMediaFreedomForum 2026 may have ended -but the conversation on #MediaFreedom continues. In a new piece, Prof Martin Scott outlines five priorities for the UK as it retakes the co-chair of the Media Freedom Coalition (@MediaFreedomC). Read ⬇️ fpc.org.uk/five-prioritie…

📰 In the media: Our ED, Susan Coughtrie, gave comments to @MiddleEastEye on allegations that Labour Together targeted journalists investigating its funding. She warns the revelations could have a “chilling effect” on #journalists. middleeasteye.net/news/labour-to…

@carolecadwalla @HowardKennedy @PeterKGeoghegan @Demos @JennaCorderoy @TBIJ @IndexCensorship @cegaio @mediadefence @meljbunce @cityjournalism @MeeraSelva1 @wildfranz @ReachPLC @JFJfund @Jamie_Wiseman_ @globalfreemedia @fcgarv @RSF_inter 🔵 We close the #UKMFF26 with a final address from Edward Lucas. Thank you to all speakers & participants — and to our co-organisers @JFJFund and @IBAHRI — for two days of discussions advancing #MediaFreedom and democratic resilience.

@carolecadwalla @HowardKennedy @PeterKGeoghegan @Demos @JennaCorderoy @TBIJ @IndexCensorship @cegaio @mediadefence @meljbunce @cityjournalism @MeeraSelva1 @wildfranz @ReachPLC 🔴 Up next at the #UKMFF26 çUK launch of the #SafetyofJournalists Platform 2026 report Chair Vafa Fati-Zade, @JFJfund Speakers @Jamie_Wiseman_ (@globalfreemedia) @fcgarv (@RSF_inter) William Horsley

🔵 Starting shortly - Day Two of the UK Media Freedom Forum 2026 | #UKMFF2026 Opening conversation between @skcoughtrie (ED @FPCThinkTank) and @EmilyThornberry MP #MediaFreedom #PressFreedom

@Simoni197 @AlsuKurmasheva @RFERL @michelawrong @abotagarov @OSCE @RVillaine @UNHumanRights @caoilfhionnanna @JWhittingdale @Stommedia @LizJGibb @GlobeEyeNews @J0nathanPrice @DoughtyStreet @brouilas @globalfreemedia @TarjaTurtia @UNESCO @Can_Yeginsu @HLPMediaFreedom @IndexCensorship @holt_charlie @sirin_kale @guardian @joshi @millmediauk @MirandaOCCRP @OCCRP @mediarupert @RPCLegal @meljbunce @julieposetti @jodieginsberg @pressfreedom @janemartinson @leahellmueller 🟢 We close Day 1 of #UKMFF2026 w/ remarks from @HelenaKennedyKC at the Media Freedom Fair & reception Meet orgs at Fair: @RPCLegal UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition @IndexCensorship @mediadefence @RSF_inter @BBCWorldService @MediaFreedomC @coe's Safety of Journalists Platform & TNR WG

@Simoni197 @AlsuKurmasheva @RFERL @michelawrong @abotagarov @OSCE @RVillaine @UNHumanRights @caoilfhionnanna @JWhittingdale @Stommedia @LizJGibb @GlobeEyeNews @J0nathanPrice @DoughtyStreet @brouilas @globalfreemedia @TarjaTurtia @UNESCO @Can_Yeginsu @HLPMediaFreedom @IndexCensorship @holt_charlie @sirin_kale @guardian @joshi @millmediauk @MirandaOCCRP @OCCRP @mediarupert @RPCLegal 🟣 Starting in 15 min | #UKMFF2026 Media Freedom Matters Launching the Centre for Journalism & Democracy Opening: @meljbunce Chair: @julieposetti Speakers: @jodieginsberg (@pressfreedom), @janemartinson, Prof Inderjeet Parmar & @leahellmueller Closing: Prof Karen Fowler Watt

🔵 Starting now | #UKMFF2026 Opening of the UK Media Freedom Forum 2026 Welcome remarks: Vafa Fati-zade (Justice for Journalists Foundation) & @caoilfhionnanna Keynote: Chris Elmore MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary, @FCDOGovUK