Hello Delegates!
A fundamental part of being a representative at the United Nations (and, thus, at a MUN Conference) is an awareness of global events. Given that the theme of OxfordMUN 2025 is ‘The Spirit of Inquiry’, we think it is important to stay inquisitive about international news. From April, we will discuss three articles from the BBC, with related questions to allow you to inquire about what is going on worldwide.
European Power Outage
On 28th April, an unexpected power outage in Spain, Portugal, and France caused widespread disruption. This situation was likely to have been caused by an incident with the interconnector between France and Spain, which led to Spain’s power system being disconnected from the European grid.
During this time, multiple forms of public transportation were either shut down or cancelled, and traffic lights failed. Many people were stuck in elevators, some businesses shut down, and hospitals fell back onto emergency protocols.
Beyond just a technical failure, what does this mean for energy security? What sustainable alternatives can we make going forward?
See the article here:
Canada’s Election
Another piece of news many people have had their eyes on was Canada’s election, which took place towards the end of April. This early election was triggered when Canada’s governor general accepted the prime minister’s advice to dissolve Parliament.
When US President Donald Trump returned to office, the tariffs he laid out directly impacted Canada’s steel, aluminium, and automobile industries. Car manufacturers warn of factory slowdowns, and steel producers are lobbying for government relief.
What does new leadership mean for Canada’s future, and how do you think it will impact the wider world?
Read more on this topic here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwydlr3reqpo
US Tariffs and Vietnam
While Canada may be feeling the impact of Trump’s tariffs, it is not alone; Trump’s politics is having ripple effects far beyond North America.
Vietnamese exporters are facing new challenges as the US imposes stricter tariffs on textiles, electronics, and even agricultural goods. This squeeze is affecting regional supply chains and prompting Vietnamese officials to seek new trade routes and diversify export markets.
What do the tariffs mean for international trade going forward?
Read more on this topic here: