Current Affairs Articles

Culture and Society » Current Affairs | By Paul Hata @ Tuesday, 18th November 2008 @ 5:10 PM

An economic situation in which a country's gross domestic product or output is sustaining a negative growth for at least two consecutive quarters or six months is called an economic recession. For the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), recession is a significant decline in economic activity lasting more than a few months. Economic recession lasts for eleven months and may reach until two years. While a recession that is short lived is called economic correction. Meanwhil... more...

Culture and Society » Current Affairs | By Paul Hata @ Tuesday, 18th November 2008 @ 9:12 AM

A lot of people think that an economic recession is bad. While that is partly true, there are certain benefits. When the economy is in recession, it won't be long that you will get a check from the Internal Revenue Service or IRS. This may amount from $300 to $1,200 which is the government's way to help the economy. If you are wondering how much you will get, compute for this using the economic stimulus tax calculator. This is considered to be a rebate so if you didn�... more...

Culture and Society » Current Affairs | By Paul Hata @ Tuesday, 18th November 2008 @ 9:06 AM

Economic recession may be a normal part of the economic cycle but this does not mean that it is easy dealing with it. In fact, a lot of people have already been burned by this problem in the United States. Times are tough in the country and more and more people are feeling the heat of impoverishment. With the problems in the real estate industry and the job losses that have occurred all throughout the country, more and more people are getting worried about what will happen to them. Essen... more...

Culture and Society » Current Affairs | By Paul Hata @ Tuesday, 18th November 2008 @ 8:04 AM

An economic recession is normal because it is part of the business cycle. This usually happens after the economy recovers, expands and then slows down again which usually last for 2 to 4 consecutive quarters. Unlike the four seasons we experience every year namely spring, summer winter and fall, this does not happen annually. The last time we had to deal with this was 8 years ago and during the early 2000's. The indicators which the economic experts look at to tell if someth... more...

Culture and Society » Current Affairs | By Paul Hata @ Tuesday, 18th November 2008 @ 7:50 AM

Economic recession may be a new term in your ears but in essence, it is actually a common economic term used to refer to the slowing down of economy. You see, a country's economy follows a natural cycle. Sometimes it's up and sometimes it's down. You just don't realize that it's happening because it has not gone this bad since the wall street crash decades before. Now, United States is feeling the heat once again with the rising costs of living and transportation... more...

Culture and Society » Current Affairs | By Paul Hata @ Tuesday, 18th November 2008 @ 7:44 AM

A country's economy operates in a cycle. Sometimes you are up and sometimes you are down below. An economic recession is the low part of that cycle. People do not notice that it is happening before because government was swift to act on it and its policies and clout were able to stabilize the country's economy before much damage is done. However, recently, the efforts of the government and their policies were not enough to stop the downward spiral of the country's economy.... more...

Culture and Society » Current Affairs | By Paul Hata @ Tuesday, 18th November 2008 @ 2:44 AM

In mid-2008, we might be facing an economic recession in global proportions. There are important factors that caused this economic slowdown. These include the high oil prices which will lead to high prices of food. Since food production is dependent on the production process and transportation process on oil. This will be combined with the credit crisis and an increase in unemployment. As early as January of 2008, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) already predicted that global... more...

Culture and Society » Current Affairs | By Ki Gray @ Monday, 17th November 2008 @ 12:46 PM

This marks the third week in a row that mortgage rates have moved in one direction or another by more than .4 points. This is highly unusual. For some perspective for the 12 weeks from March 20th to June 5 mortgage rates held steady between 5.85 and 6.09. At this point mortgage rates are highly highly volatile. Here are mortgage interest rates for the last 4 weeks. October 30, 2008 30-yr 6.46 15-yr 6.19 5-yr ARM 6.36 1-yr ARM 5.38 October 23, 2008 30-yr 6.04 15-yr 5.72 ... more...

Culture and Society » Current Affairs | By Paul Hata @ Monday, 17th November 2008 @ 10:05 AM

Economic recession is defined to be a period of time (two consecutive quarters) where there is dismal or negative growth in an economy of a specific region or country. Economic recession has different effects on each sector of a nation. A particular sector could experience an impact that could distinctive only in his or her sector. Women comprises half of the world's population. During recessions, there is a relative downturn on women's employment that ever before. Before the Un... more...

Culture and Society » Current Affairs | By Paul Hata @ Monday, 17th November 2008 @ 7:55 AM

There is a lot of talk about economic recession nowadays. People are complaining how economic recession is making their lives worse. The economic recession often refers to the two quarters of negative economic growth. A severe recession which lasts for more than two years, becomes a depression. A recession is characterized by rising unemployment, increase in government borrowing, decrease of share and stock prices, and falling investment. All of these characteristics have effects on ... more...

Culture and Society » Current Affairs | By Thomas Pretty @ Sunday, 16th November 2008 @ 3:29 AM

It is well understood that knife crime within the UK is a growing problem that is proving increasingly difficult for authorities to curb. But what causes this social phenomenon? Why are young people carrying knives and why are so many stabbings occurring? This article will intend to highlight four of the most touted causes of knife crime put forward by those people most at risk. Conflict is often highlighted as one of the causes of knife crime; it is also referred to as 'postcode st... more...

Culture and Society » Current Affairs | By Thomas Pretty @ Saturday, 1st November 2008 @ 5:06 AM

The problem of gun crime is seemingly growing in the UK although in terms of total crime statistics those involving guns only make up one percent of the total figure. Despite this, MPs, campaigners and social commentators are up in arms over the increasing number of shootings and particularly the link between gun crime and gang culture. One of the most touted reasons behind firearms offences and gangs is hip hop music; but is it really fair to blame a music genre for what is essentially a proble... more...

Culture and Society » Current Affairs | By Aydan Corkern @ Friday, 31st October 2008 @ 7:41 PM

If you are like most people today, you are probably wondering what you will have to cut on this week to be able to have enough money to pay the rest of your household expenses. Most of these same people have to cut back on the food that they can buy or give up the better cuts of meat so that they can afford some of the other things that they might need. With the jobless rates going up, these people are having to do whatever it takes to be able to pay all of their bills. The really scary t... more...

Culture and Society » Current Affairs | By Aydan Corkern @ Friday, 31st October 2008 @ 4:19 PM

Our country's financial problems are still on fire today. We have been hit again at our stock market and all the other stock markets from other countries that make up the Dow. We have more companies that are saying that they will have to layoff or downsize to keep them afloat, but the only news you ever hear about concern the large companies. What is happening to all of these employees that are losing their jobs? Our government keeps telling us that we matter, but when you watch the ... more...

Culture and Society » Current Affairs | By Patrick Omari @ Friday, 31st October 2008 @ 11:50 AM

The SS Richard Montgomery was an American Liberty ship, it sailed for only one year and a month after completion yet is still appearing on shipping news, radars and is kept under close scrutiny today. So what makes this cargo ship so special? The Montgomery, though built to serve and provide vital supplied, is now a danger to shipping after breaking its back and sinking in the Thames Estuary while fully laden with munitions and explosives. American Liberty ships were cargo vessels built d... more...

Culture and Society » Current Affairs | By Ki Gray @ Friday, 31st October 2008 @ 9:01 AM

Over the last year the US, once flying high, has fallen and face planted into a somewhat ugly recession. For people with steady jobs the fear is of course the dreaded pink slip. But as long as they can keep their jobs their paychecks in most cases will remain the same. For small business owners a recession is often felt in the pocketbook. With less people buying their goods and services their revenues and profit margins can start to sink. And it can be painful for a number of reasons. ... more...

Culture and Society » Current Affairs | By Shaun Parker @ Thursday, 30th October 2008 @ 10:34 PM

Stansted airport parking is about to get more difficult! Parking near airports has become increasingly difficult over the years due to a combination of increased volume of traffic and a rise in the number of people using international flights. The world has become a smaller place and the demand on business people to be accessible has grown. They are expected to jet from one country to another with a moments notice and they do it. Particularly in the current economic climate, it is importa... more...

Culture and Society » Current Affairs | By Thomas Pretty @ Thursday, 30th October 2008 @ 5:52 PM

It is an undoubted fact that knife crime within the UK is becoming an increasingly large social problem. Recent reports suggest that it is on the increase and those who are most at risk are young adolescents, particularly those in deprived urban areas; that is not to say that is purely young people who are at risk from knife crime, anyone could become a victim. The problem in London is especially acute, although cities like Manchester and Liverpool are also experiencing a problem. Knife ... more...

Culture and Society » Current Affairs | By Thomas Pretty @ Wednesday, 29th October 2008 @ 7:39 AM

Gun crime is a growing problem within the UK. In the past guns have been the reserve of organised criminals although today an increasing number of firearms are finding their way in to the hands of young, impressionable adults and children. The link between gun crime and gang culture is clearly evident and its causes are not easily defined; fundamentally it is a combination of social and economic factors that lead young people down the path of carrying guns. But what defines a gun crime? A... more...

Culture and Society » Current Affairs | By Ki Gray @ Tuesday, 28th October 2008 @ 3:39 PM

So I imagine many people are breathing a sigh of relief this week. Last week mortgage rates made one of the largest one week jumps in the last 20 years. 30 year rates rose from 5.94 to 6.46 for over a half point increase. I thought that rates would drop this week since typically after a large move rates readjust in the opposite direction. But instead of a small readjustment rates tumbled back almost to the same position they were at last week. After going from 5.94 to 6.46 last week 30 year... more...