The gender pay gap in the UK is not expected to close until 2056, according to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), which analyzed official pay data. The TUC's findings, released on February 15th, 2026, indicate that at the current rate of progress, it will take another three decades to achieve pay parity between men and women.
The TUC's analysis revealed a 12.8% disparity between the average wages of men and women, equating to a difference of £2,548 per year. The gender pay gap was most pronounced in the finance and insurance industry, reaching 27.2%, while the leisure service sector showed a much smaller gap of only 1.5%. Employers with over 250 UK staff are required to report their pay data.
In other news, the United States signaled a potential shift in its approach to international alliances during the Munich Security Conference over the weekend. According to Sky News, the US indicated it might be prepared to act independently of its European allies if they do not significantly increase their military spending. Germany's chancellor stated that the old, rules-based world order, established after World War II, no longer exists.
Also on February 15th, 2026, in Bnei Brak, an ultra-Orthodox Israeli city, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned an "extreme minority" after two female IDF soldiers were rescued from riots. Video footage showed the soldiers being escorted away by police as thousands of ultra-Orthodox men protested. At least 22 people were arrested during the unrest, which included the setting of police motorcycles on fire and attacks on officers.
Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) faced criticism for selling a T-shirt commemorating the 1936 Berlin Games, which took place during the Nazi era. The "Men's 'Natural 1936 Berlin Games Olympic Heritage T-Shirt'" was sold out on the online Olympic store for 39 euros. German outlet Der Tagesspiegel reported that the design of the shirt appeared to have attracted buyers.
Discussion
AI Experts & Community
Be the first to comment