Overview:
The Global Affairs team share some of the most important weekly headlines that you may otherwise have missed.
The Editor’s Note
Welcome back to Week 8’s edition of Outside OX1!
No matter how many terms you complete at Oxford, many of you may be realising that you left the packing of all of your things a little too late. Nonetheless, whilst you procrastinate attempting to fit all your books and notes into one box, the Global Affairs team here at the Oxford Blue have compiled a selection of this week’s biggest news stories for you to scroll through for one final time (*insert tears here*)!
Though term may be over, this week’s new cycle has had some major stories. First, we start by looking at Canada where the economist Mark Carney won the Liberal Party of Canada’s leadership election by a landslide. This means that Carney is replacing Justin Trudeau as both party leader and Prime Minister, and will take the Liberals into Canada’s 2025 federal election.
Looking closer to home now, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced plans to abolish NHS England in favour of bringing it back under ministerial control. Since 2012, NHS England has operated semi-independently of the Department of Health and Social Care, and Labour’s plans to reverse this aim to address many of the ongoing issues the NHS has been facing.
In Syria, military operations against Assad loyalists have ended following an outbreak of extremist violence over the past week.
Following months of political deadlock, three Austrian parties have finally agreed to form a governing coalition. This notably excludes the far-right FPÖ, who won the election in September 2024, and continue to lead in the polls.
Finally, Israel has cut off electricity and humanitarian aid to Gaza, intending to force Hamas into releasing the final group of hostages. This has sparked concern from the international community as many Gazans rely on these services for their basic needs.
As you can see, a lot goes on Outside OX1, and I am sure many of you will also be breaking the bubble over the easter holidays. Now, all that is left to say is enjoy the HT2025 Global Affairs Team’s final Outside OX1 column, and we hope to see you back here for more in Trinity!
Mark Carney to succeed Justin Trudeau as Canada’s next Prime Minister
Ria Seth
Mark Carney is set to become the leader of Canada’s ruling Liberal Party. The former Governor of the Bank of Canada will take over from Justin Trudeau as prime minister. This is happening at a volatile time for Canada, with the ongoing trade war with the United States. This follows Trudeau’s announcement of his resignation in January as his approval rating plunged.
Carney won an impressive 85.9% of the votes cast by members of the Liberal Party, who declared that more than 150,000 members voted. Polling results showed that Carney is thought to be the most capable federal leader to deal with the trade war due to his substantial economic background.
Carney is expected to be sworn in as prime minister in the near future and to lead the Liberal Party in the next general election, which will take place before October of this year. The Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, has had at least a 20-point lead over the Liberal Party in polls for a significant time.
However, since Trudeau’s resignation, that lead has been slowly diminishing. The latest polls show a stronger preference for Carney over Poilievre in negotiating the tariffs with Trump. Many view Poilievre as too ideologically similar to Trump, which would make Carney a better candidate. Carney himself voiced this view, saying that Poilievre’s plan would divide Canada, making them more vulnerable in the trade negotiations with the United States.
Last week, Trump announced 25% tariffs on Canadian goods, excluding only automotive and energy sectors. His original threat of 50% tariffs has been halted as of now. This move by Trump could place Canada’s already fragile economy into a recession. Trump has also suggested that Canada can avoid the tariffs if it joins the US as its 51st state. Carney has promised to win the trade war with the US and Trump, claiming that Trump is trying to “weaken” the Canadian economy and is “attacking Canadian workers, families, and businesses.” Carney said he was in full support of the retaliatory tariffs that have already been adopted by Canada and will maintain them “until the Americans show us respect.”
In contrast to Trudeau’s left-leaning agenda, Carney’s campaign is pushing more centrist policies. Carney is the current UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance and has promised to develop major energy projects and invest in housing and clean energy initiatives. He has also committed to using his financial background to aid in diversifying the Canadian economy away from the US.
Starmer announces plans to scrap NHS England
Nick Marshall
In a speech on March 13, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the abolition of NHS England as a separate body from the government, opting to bring the national health service back under ministerial control.
Speaking in Hull, the Prime Minister stated that this move would “cut bureaucracy” and bring the management of England’s healthcare system “back into democratic control”. The move could also cut half the jobs at the agency to avoid “duplication” with roles in the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). Health Secretary Wes Streeting stated this will save “hundreds of millions of pounds” in his address to the House of Commons. The transition of NHS England back to the DHSC will be phased over two years, though the details of the plan are yet to be confirmed.
The healthcare systems in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are devolved, so Starmer cannot control how these operate.
Starmer’s new plan reverses the establishment of NHS England in 2012 under the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, which intended for the healthcare system to operate at “arm’s-length” from the government. Hence, the NHS has operated as a “quango”, a taxpayer-funded organisation that is not directly controlled by the government, for over the past decade.
During this period, NHS England has seen surges in patient backlogs, major financial constraints, and extreme staff shortages. These pressures were only exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which brutally exposed the system’s fragility.
Starmer has not shied away from criticising the structure of the NHS, stating that it must “reform or die” in a speech in September 2024. NHS reform was key to Labour’s 2024 manifesto, with the party blaming the previous Conservative governments for the system’s poor functionality.
The decision has been welcomed by Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats and a minister under the coalition government that established NHS England. However, he caveated this by stating that this was not “the big issue in the NHS,” advocating instead for health and social care staffing problems to be addressed.
On the other hand, former cabinet secretary Lord Gus O’Donnell, who served in the highest-ranking civil service position between 2005-2011, has criticised Starmer’s tone towards civil servants as being “disastrous” and called the situation “chaotic”. He added, “If they can turn this into a way of making better decisions which leads to improvements in our health service, then I think it will be justified,” though he expressed uncertainty over whether this is possible.
Health leaders have described the move as the NHS’s “biggest reshaping” in over a decade, warning of potential disruption that the transition will cause. The British Medical Association labelled the decisions “high stakes”, but whether it will help Labour deliver their manifesto promises on more effective, preventative, and community-based healthcare remains to be seen.
Military Operation Against Assad Loyalists Comes to Violent End
Brandon Abordo
On March 10, Syria’s government announced the end to its military operation against the remnants of loyalists to former president Bashar al-Assad. This comes after Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and various rebel groups ousted the former president at the end of the country’s 14-year civil war in December 2024.
The most recent fighting was sparked after pro-Assad fighters ambushed and killed at least 16 members of Syria’s security forces in a rural area around Latakia province. Assad’s patrilineal hometown, Qardaha, is located just east of Latakia’s port city, and the Alawi-dominated region has long been considered an Assad stronghold. It is suspected that pro-Assad forces chose the region to conduct their ambush in an effort to exacerbate sectarian tensions.
President Sharaa’s security forces were able to repel these attacks conducted by the former regime’s loyalists. Hassan Abdul Ghany, spokesperson for Syria’s defence ministry, further warned: “To the remnants of the defeated regime and its fleeing officers, our message is clear and explicit: If you return, we will return, and you will find before you only men who do not know how to retreat and who do not have mercy on those whose hands are stained with the blood of the innocent.”
However, while Syrian security forces ultimately succeeded over the pro-Assad forces, hundreds of civilians from Alawite villages in the region have been reported amongst the dead. Officials claim that “revenge killings” were conducted by pro-government forces during the counter-offensive, believed to be in retaliation for crimes committed by the Assad regime. Witnesses report that Alawite residents were shot, looted, and burned in mass. The Syrian government has said that “individual actions” led to the killing of civilians and that the large influx of pro-government reinforcements—many of whom are relatively undisciplined and only nominally integrated into the military—had led to human rights violations.
President Sharaa has condemned the revenge killings and said that the mass killings of members of the ousted president’s minority sect were a threat to his mission to unite the country. He later announced on Sunday that a committee would be formed with the task of investigating these killings. Already, two men have been arrested by the Syrian defence ministry for “committing violations against civilians unlawfully and in a bloody manner.” A report of the committee’s full findings is set to be issued within 30 days.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claims that over 1,000 people have been killed in the conflict, including approximately 745 civilians, 125 members of the Syrian security forces, and 148 Assad loyalists. Syria’s state news agency has reported that government forces have regained control from Assad loyalists and have closed roads into the region “to prevent violations and gradually restore stability.” The recent fighting around Latakia has been considered to be the bloodiest conflict since the former president was ousted.
After Months of Deadlock, Austria Forms a Government Without the Far-Right FPÖ
Isolde Sellin
After five months of political uncertainty following Austria’s September 2024 general election, a new government has been formed—notably without the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ). On March 3, President Alexander Van der Bellen swore in Christian Stocker of the Conservative Party (ÖVP) as the new chancellor, leading a coalition with the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the Liberals (NEOS).
The FPÖ won the election in September with 29% of the vote, with the ÖVP trailing three points behind in second place. Under the FPÖ’s current leader, Herbert Kickl, the party—known for its anti-EU and pro-Russia stance—has gained significant support. This has only increased following the general election. The ÖVP had repeatedly vowed never to enter a coalition as a junior partner to the FPÖ, citing concerns that the party poses a “high risk for democracy.” However, these promises wavered after multiple attempts to form a government without them failed.
In January, the ÖVP and FPÖ attempted coalition talks, sparking widespread criticism from within Austria and across Europe. Ultimately, negotiations collapsed. The ÖVP accused the FPÖ of prioritising powerful positions—such as the finance and interior ministries—over substantive policy agreements.
By mid-February, Kickl had transferred responsibility for forming a government back to the establishment parties. President Van der Bellen urged the three remaining parties, which had previously failed to reach a coalition agreement, to try again in order to maintain democratic integrity.
With Austria having gone five months without a functioning government and past coalition talks repeatedly collapsing, urgency finally pushed the parties to compromise. Van der Bellen later commended them for “stepping out of their comfort zones for the good of the whole country.”
A key issue the new coalition addressed is migration, with Stocker announcing stricter policies, including the suspension of family reunification. Another policy that reflects this broader rightward shift in Austria’s political discourse is a ban on headscarves for girls under 14.
After previous negotiations collapsed primarily due to budget policy disagreements, the coalition ultimately agreed on measures to stabilise Austria’s financial situation, including taxes on banks and large corporations. The country is now facing its third consecutive year of recession.
Following what Stocker described as “perhaps the most difficult government negotiations in our country’s history,” Austria has avoided breaking the long-standing taboo of forming a government led by the FPÖ. It remains uncertain whether the FPÖ will stay out of government in the future.
Israel cuts off Gaza’s access to electricity and humanitarian aid
Katarina Harrison-Gaze
On March 9, Israel announced it had cut off the Gaza Strip’s access to electricity. This comes less than two weeks after halting the entry of all humanitarian supplies to the territory at the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
In a video statement, Israeli Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen announced that he had instructed the Israeli Electric Corporation to cut off electricity in the Gaza Strip. The IEC supplies around 50% of Gaza’s energy supply. This decision was made to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining Israeli hostages – a condition of the first stage of the agreed ceasefire deal.
50% of Palestinians in Gaza depend on diesel-fuelled generators for power, meaning the lack of electricity may not affect some parts of their lives. However, aid from NGOs and internet access will likely be limited by the decision.
Furthermore, speaking to CNN, the spokesperson for the Gaza municipality, Asem Al Nabih, said, “There is already water scarcity, and the position of the Israeli government will intensify this crisis in Gaza Strip.” Israel’s move to cut the electricity supply will reduce the efficiency of desalination plants by 85%, lowering an already struggling supply of clean water. It has been estimated that 90% of Gazans get their water from the over 150 desalination plants in the territory.
In the video address, Cohen said, “We [Israel] will use all the tools at our disposal to bring back the hostages and ensure that Hamas is no longer in Gaza [after the war ends].” This comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on March 1 that he was stopping the entrance of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, the same day the ceasefire’s initial phase ended. Netanyahu said that the motive behind this move was because Hamas were “stealing” aid from Gazans and using it to “finance its terror machine.”
Israel’s move has been criticised by Hamas, who labelled it as “cheap and unacceptable blackmail.” Hamas has also denied Netanyahu’s claim that they were stealing humanitarian aid.
In a statement on March 10, Muhannad Hadi, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, said that the blocking of aid and electricity would “reverse any progress we have managed to achieve during the ceasefire,” stressing that under international humanitarian law, “civilians’ essential needs must be met.”
A second round of ceasefire negotiations are currently underway in Doha, Qatar, between Israeli and Hamas officials, in an attempt to reach an agreement on a permanent ceasefire.
On This Day in Global Affairs…
On March 14, 1991, the Court of Appeal of England and Wales freed the “Birmingham Six” who had been unjustly sentenced to life imprisonment in August 1975.
The Birmingham Six consisted of six Irish men who were falsely convicted for carrying out the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings. The Birmingham pub bombings took place on November 21, 1974, when two improvised explosive devices detonated in two centrally-located Birmingham pubs. At the time, these were the deadliest domestic attacks in the UK since World War II, killing 21 people, and have been attributed to the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA).
In the aftermath, Patrick Hill, Hugh Callaghan, Richard McIlkenny, Gerry Hunter, William Power, and John Walker–all Irish immigrants living in Birmingham–were arrested near Heysham, Lancashire, as the men made their way to Belfast for the funeral of James McDade, an IRA member they knew from childhood.
The men were convicted in August 1975 based on flawed forensic evidence that suggested they handled the explosives. The men always maintained their innocence, claiming that they were beaten and tortured into signing false confessions.
It wasn’t until the mid-1980s that journalists and legal experts began to cast doubt over the conviction. New forensic tests in 1991 discredited the original scientific claims, leading the Court of Appeal to overturn the convictions, ruling the imprisonment as a “grave miscarriage of justice.”
The release of the Birmingham Six after sixteen years of imprisonment, as well as the parallel cases of the Guildford Four and Maguire Seven, led to wide reforms in the British Criminal Justice system. The events prompted the creation of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice, leading to the Criminal Appeal Act 1995. This established the Criminal Cases Review Commission to investigate potential miscarriages of justice.
Thank you for making it to the end of this week’s Outside OX1, see you in Trinity Term 2025 for more stories!