One of the largest and most comprehensive trials for a four-day working week recently took place in the UK. This article considers the arguments around a four-day week in the context of the trial results.
Is artificial intelligence changing writing and research? This article explores the possibilities, problems and limitations of writing generated by artificial intelligence.
In December 2022, the Labour Party published the final report of the Commission on the UK’s Future, also known as the Brown Commission, chaired by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The report proposed several constitutional changes, including the replacement of the House of Lords with an elected second chamber called the Assembly of the Nations and Regions. This article considers the proposals for the second chamber and sets out reaction to them from both inside and outside Westminster.
This article examines the aftermath of the presidential election in Brazil, which took place in October 2022. This includes consideration of the future direction of the country, following what some have described as an “attempted coup” by supporters of the former president, Jair Bolsonaro, in January 2023.
In January 2023, the self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate was arrested in Romania following allegations of human trafficking and rape. His arrest led to a renewed focus on the spread of misogynistic ideas to young men. This article focuses on concerns that the consumption of online content, like that produced by Mr Tate, can have real world consequences, and questions what should be done to tackle it.
Why did the Republicans fare less well than expected in the US midterms? What were the fears about election deniers and their impact on democracy? This article looks at some of the explanations put forward.
In September 2022, Home Secretary Suella Braverman announced to an audience of Young Conservatives that she was considering proposals to give anonymity to suspected criminals. Several high profile cases and a recent UK supreme court ruling have led to increased discussions about whether “trial by media” could undermine the criminal justice system. This article examines the reaction to the home secretary’s announcement and the supreme court ruling from legal and media sectors, as well as concerns raised by charities about the impact that suspect anonymity could have on victims of crime.
This piece sets out commentary from economists and academics analysing the current issues with global inflation. In particular, it considers the impact of rising interest rates and whether a ‘soft landing’ is possible.
In November 2022, the focus of the sporting world will turn to Qatar and the upcoming football world cup. While many fans are looking forward to the tournament, some victims of domestic abuse will be concerned about being subjected to increased levels of violence. This article examines research which has shown a link between football and domestic abuse, with several studies specifically focusing on the impact of international tournaments.
This article examines the future of the Commonwealth following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. This includes which countries could become republics in the future and whether King Charles III can keep the Commonwealth together.
Why are childcare costs in the UK so high? This article looks at some of the reasons for the increase in UK childcare costs since 2010, which are among the highest in the OECD. The government has recently announced a consultation on loosening staff to child ratios for childcare providers. However, there has been criticism of the proposals from some parts of the childcare sector.
This Current Affairs Digest looks at articles on the Russian economy and currency following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the impact of the 'eat out to help out' scheme on Covid-19, and women in top jobs in the UK.
In April 2022, the UK government announced a scheme to relocate certain asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda for asylum claims processing and potential resettlement. This led to national and international concerns about whether the scheme contravenes international human rights law. This article looks at some of those concerns, as well as other countries that have introduced similar policies.
The UK government has recently changed the process for the approval of field trials for gene-edited crops in England. This article examines the safety of the new technologies in question, and how regulatory changes may affect their use.