STORIES
8 to 10 big stories
UK politics, defence, world affairs, the economy, and technology and society, each explained in plain English.
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New · updated every week
The Board Briefing
Current affairs for Army, RAF and Royal Navy officer boards, organised and focused in one place instead of random news. Every week: the big stories, both sides of each argument, a likely discussion question and a view you can defend.
What you get every week
Everything you need to talk about the news with confidence
Boards are not looking for a walking encyclopedia. They want to see that you follow what is happening and can reason about it. The Board Briefing gives you exactly that, in about an hour a week.
BOTH SIDES
The arguments on each side
Every story sets out the main case for and against, so you can follow any discussion and hold your own.
YOUR VIEW
A question and a view to defend
A likely discussion question for every story, with a reasoned view you can practise defending out loud.
ARMY · RAF · NAVY
A section for your board
Essay plans and discussion questions for AOSB, a ready-made topic list for the RAF interview, and maritime awareness for the Navy.
QUIZ
10 questions a week
A quick quiz to check the facts have stuck, with the answer explained.
STARTER PACK
The long-running issues
11 background topics to read first, from the war in Ukraine to AI and climate, plus every earlier issue in the archive.
Sources are listed under every story so you can read further, and every issue shows the date its facts were checked.
Free sample from Issue 1
See exactly what you get
This is one complete story from Issue 1 (Week of 26 October 2026). Pass holders get every story, plus the RAF topic list, the Navy section, the essay plans and the quiz.
Issue 1 · Defence
Drones hit merchant ships in the Black Sea, and NATO's southern flank responds
- What happened
- On 28 October the container ship Contship Jet was hit by sea drones off Bulgaria's coast, the ninth merchant ship attacked in the Black Sea since early October. All 18 crew were rescued. Romania's president has blamed Russia for the attacks; Bulgaria has said Russia was likely behind earlier strikes but has not formally blamed it. Russia denies involvement.
- The same day the defence ministers of Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey met in Sofia and agreed to share intelligence and improve early warning. On 29 October NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the Alliance is strengthening its presence in the Black Sea.
- Earlier in October Romanian F-16s shot down two Russian jet-powered drones near Sulina, and Romania asked NATO allies to meet specially on Black Sea security.
- One side
- Romania and others argue that Russia is deliberately testing NATO, so the Alliance must show it will defend allies' waters, airspace and shipping.
- The other side
- Others warn against escalation with a nuclear-armed power and point out that attacks at sea are hard to attribute quickly and with certainty.
- Likely discussion question
- How should NATO respond to attacks that fall below the level of open war?
- A view you could defend
- Grey-zone attacks work because they sit in the gap between peace and war. The answer is to close that gap with faster attribution, visible patrols and clear consequences, without handing Russia the escalation it may want.
Sources: Maritime Executive (28 Oct 2026) · AJOT (Oct 2026) · ThePrint (Reuters) (23 Oct 2026) · Euromaidan Press (18 Oct 2026) · Fakti.bg (29 Oct 2026)
Also in Issue 1
- Healey's first Budget: help with energy bills, higher taxes and a warning on living standards
- Defence spending: a date for 3%, but the big decisions wait until 2027
- Iran: fears of renewed US strikes after the midterms, and a nuclear stockpile no one can check
- Ukraine: a local ceasefire holds and talks are planned, while Russian strikes go on
- Drones hit merchant ships in the Black Sea, and NATO's southern flank responds
- US midterms on 3 November: control of Congress is at stake
- Israel's election ends in deadlock
- Burnham's EU reset: improve the Brexit deal, but no return to the single market for now
- Inflation rises again, and the Bank of England may raise rates on 5 November
- Small boat crossings resume after a three-week pause, but are well down on 2025
In the Starter Pack
- The Russia–Ukraine war
- NATO and European defence
- UK defence: plans, money and equipment
- Iran, the 2026 war and the Strait of Hormuz
- Israel and Gaza
- China, Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific
- UK politics in 2026
- The cost of living and the economy
- Immigration and small boats
- Technology, AI and cyber security
- Climate change and energy
Built for your board
Army, RAF or Royal Navy
Selection formats change, so always check the latest guidance from the service you are applying to.
ARMY · AOSB
Discussion and essay
Candidates who have been through AOSB describe a current affairs group discussion at Briefing and an essay at Main Board. You get discussion questions and 2 essay prompts with outline plans every week.
RAF · OFFICER SELECTION
Your interview topic list
RAF guidance for officer candidates says you should be able to present a list of current affairs topics at interview, and the interviewer picks one to discuss further. You get 5 UK and 5 international topics every week.
ROYAL NAVY · AIB
Maritime and defence awareness
The Royal Navy says Stage 1 of the Admiralty Interview Board, a pre-recorded interview, assesses your awareness of wider Royal Navy operations. You get a maritime and defence section every week.
Passes
Pick your pass
Your pass starts the moment you buy it and includes every issue published while it is active, the Starter Pack and the archive. Secure checkout by card or PayPal.
BEST VALUE
12 weeks
£89
Most candidates prepare for two to three months. Twelve weekly issues, the Starter Pack and the archive.
Buy 12 weeksAlready bought a pass? Open your Board Briefing.
Questions
Board Briefing FAQs
When does a new issue come out?
Every week, usually at the weekend. Each issue covers the week's most important stories and shows the date its facts were checked.
When does my pass start and end?
Your pass starts the moment you buy it. The 4-week pass lasts 28 days and the 12-week pass lasts 84 days. Your Board Briefing page shows the date your pass ends.
Do I get earlier issues too?
Yes. Your pass includes the Starter Pack and every earlier issue in the archive, as well as each new issue published while your pass is active.
Is it politically balanced?
Yes. Every story sets out the main arguments on each side. The view you could defend is an example of a reasoned position to practise with, not the right answer. You are free to take the other side, as long as you can back it up.
Where does the information come from?
From reputable news organisations and official sources, listed under every story so you can read further.
Can I use it on more than one device?
No. Your pass unlocks on one device and one browser. If you change phone or browser, message Harjot on WhatsApp with your licence key.
Is this official material?
No. The Board Briefing is written by Exam Lifeboat. It is not official British Army, RAF or Royal Navy material, and Exam Lifeboat is not affiliated with any of them or with any selection board.