The gender pay gap in the UK is not expected to close until 2056, according to a recent analysis by the Trades Union Congress (TUC). The disparity between average wages for men and women currently stands at 12.8%, or £2,548 per year, the TUC reported, based on official pay data. This news comes as the United States signaled a potential shift in its relationship with European allies, and as NASA works to resolve technical issues before its next Artemis II countdown test.
The TUC's findings highlight the persistent inequality in the UK, even in sectors where women are the majority of employees, such as health and social care. The gender pay gap is most pronounced in the finance and insurance industry, where it reaches 27.2%, while in the leisure service sector, it is only 1.5%. Employers with over 250 UK staff are required to report pay data.
Meanwhile, the international landscape is shifting. At the Munich Security Conference, the United States indicated it might move forward without its European allies if they don't increase their military spending. "The old, rules-based order that evolved from the ashes of the Second World War no longer exists," according to Germany's chancellor.
In other news, NASA is addressing technical challenges before the Artemis II mission. The agency is working to resolve a hydrogen fuel leak that cut short a practice countdown run earlier this month. Artemis II is the first crew flight, and NASA is preparing for a second countdown rehearsal as soon as next week. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the agency is also looking at ways to prevent fueling problems for the Artemis III mission, which is slated to be the first crew mission to land on the Moon since the Apollo program.
In related developments, Benjamin Netanyahu condemned an "extreme minority" after two female IDF soldiers were rescued from riots in an ultra-Orthodox Israeli city. Video footage showed the soldiers being escorted away by police as thousands of ultra-Orthodox men protested. At least 22 people were arrested on Sunday as protesters set police motorcycles on fire and attacked officers.
Finally, the impact of artificial intelligence on productivity is being debated. Apollo Chief Economist Torsten Slok noted that macroeconomic data is not yet reflecting the impact of AI, echoing a sentiment similar to Robert Solow's famous quote about the PC revolution. Slok added that employment, productivity, and inflation stats are still not showing signs of the new technology.
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