Nigeria’s terror group Lakurawa is nothing new – it exists because of government’s failure: analysts: The Nigerian army has spoken of attacks on the Niger-Nigeria border in 2024 as being carried out by a new terrorist group. This sect is known as Lakurawa … The Lakurawa are affiliated to terrorists in the Sahel, particularly from …
Climate emergencies threaten our collective security, but governments are flying blind into the storm: shutterstock You probably missed it, but a few months ago a report was published that inspected how the UK government prepared for major emergencies. What it found has profound implications for the whole country. The report was written by the UK’s …
King’s speech 2024: experts react to the new government’s plans: The king’s speech has been delivered, marking the state opening of parliament (technically, this was the first king’s speech with a Labour government in 74 years). The speech was written by Keir Starmer’s government, not the king, and lays out the government’s agenda for the …
Leasehold reform: why UK government’s plans could make housing less affordable and less fair: Most flats in England are owned under leaseholds. Shutterstock The UK government is introducing plans to reform the system of leasehold property in England and Wales to parliament. The leasehold and freehold reform bill aims to empower leaseholders and achieve greater …
What the UK government’s back to work plan covers – and why it is unlikely to boost people’s job prospects: Ahead of the UK government’s latest economic statement, the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, and the secretary of state for work and pensions, Mel Stride, unveiled a new employment support package dubbed the back to work plan. …
How governments use IMF bailouts to hurt political opponents – new research: Sri Lanka received a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in March amid soaring inflation, debt and a sovereign default. In exchange for US$ 3 billion (£2.4 billion), the government committed to spending cuts and tax and financial sector reforms. These have prevented …
Government’s pandemic catch-up tutoring programme is still failing to meet the mark: Joyseulay/Shutterstock A government scheme to help children catch up with schooling they missed during the pandemic is still struggling to help those most in need. A recent independent evaluation of the National Tutoring Programme has assessed the impact of the catch-up strategy in …
AI: the real threat may be the way that governments choose to use it: Deemerwha studio / Shutterstock The significant risks that AI poses to global security are becoming clearer. That’s partly why UK prime minister Rishi Sunak is hosting other world leaders at the AI Safety summit on November 1-2 at the famous second …
Some African governments are spending millions to spy on their citizens – stifling debate and damaging democracy: Governments around the world use surveillance technology to monitor external threats to national security. Some African governments are also spending vast sums on mass surveillance of their own citizens. They are using mobile phone spyware, internet interception devices, …
Canadian government’s battle with big tech platforms and what it means for the future of journalism: Canada recently passed a law to address the continuing financial woes of its traditional news media, trust in which has steadily fallen to 42% in 2022. The Online News Act, known as Bill C-18, passed in June 2023 but …
Internet shutdowns: here’s how governments do it: BigNazik/GettyImages Senegal’s government has shut down internet access in response to protests about the sentencing of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. This is a tactic governments are increasingly using during times of political contention, such as elections or social upheaval. The shutdowns can be partial or total, temporary or …
‘Performative cruelty’: the hostile architecture of the UK government’s migrant barge: The arrival of the Bibby Stockholm barge at Portland Port, in Dorset, on July 18 2023, marks a new low in the UK government’s hostile immigration environment. The vessel is set to accommodate over 500 asylum seekers. This, the Home Office argues, will benefit …
Why UK court ruled Rwanda isn’t a safe place to send refugees – and what this means for the government’s immigration plans: The Court of Appeal has ruled against the UK government’s plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, adding a significant legal hurdle to the prime minister Rishi Sunak’s promise to “stop the boats”. …
What does high immigration mean for the government’s popularity? What data on voting habits tells us: The news from the Office of National Statistics that net migration reached a record high of 606,000 in 2022 is likely to have embarrassed the government, particularly the home secretary, Suella Braverman. For years, successive prime ministers have promised …
Improving how the IMF does business could help billions of people worldwide — by giving governments money to spend on public goods and increasing accountability. Podcast: People march with a banner that reads in Spanish 'Stop the adjustment, out with the IMF,' in Buenos Aires, Argentina on May 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano) In …
Journalists needs to be more critical of the way governments use ‘nudging’ to change our behaviour – here’s why: Oleg Shakirov/Shutterstock Suppose you are in a pub with friends. You drink a few beers, have a good time, and head home. The following morning you realise your headache is milder than usual. You then discover …
How governments are using science fiction to predict potential threats: Tithi Luadthong/Shuttertsock From high-tech fighting machines to supercomputers and killer robots, science fiction has a lot to say about war. You might be surprised to learn that some governments (including the UK and France) are now turning their attention to these fantastical stories as a …
Spring budget 2023: experts react to UK government’s plan to get the economy moving: Jeremy Hunt’s 2023 spring budget covers employment, energy, enterprise and much more besides. The plan has already been dubbed his “back to work budget”, although he has called it a “budget for growth”. Hunt was appointed chancellor in a bid to …