Tony Abbott's appointment to a UK government trade-advisory body has raised concerns in Australia, highlighting potential biases in the country's Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme, which is perceived to target Chinese interests. The scheme requires lobbyists for foreign governments or companies with significant state control to register, but Abbott has resisted registration. The situation underscores geopolitical tensions between Australia and China, with the credibility of the Transparency Register at stake as it must apply equally to all foreign actors, including friendly democracies.

Boris Johnson's revised Brexit deal moved UK-wide 'level playing field' commitments to the political declaration, setting up future trade negotiations with the EU. The Northern Irish protocol's state aid provisions, however, suggest that EU rules may significantly affect Great Britain's economic model. The protocol keeps Northern Ireland within the EU's customs union and subjects it to EU state aid law, which could impact UK-wide measures. The EU's low threshold for state aid effects means even indirect or potential impacts on trade between Northern Ireland and the EU could be scrutinized. This could include pan-UK tax schemes and aid to various industries, potentially leading to disputes over the application of state aid rules.

The UK Supreme Court's ruling against Prime Minister Boris Johnson's prorogation of Parliament has highlighted the government's use of fast-track procedures to pass Brexit-related legislation without full parliamentary scrutiny. The government plans to enact around 50 legal and regulatory amendments under this procedure, which has been criticized for potentially leading to mistakes and weakening EU standards. The Public Law Project and the Welsh Government have raised concerns about the lack of scrutiny and the impact on legislative processes. The court's decision allows Parliament to reconvene earlier than planned, offering more time for scrutiny but also adding uncertainty to the legislative agenda.

The UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) may face significant challenges in fighting economic crime if a no-deal Brexit occurs. The SFO's ability to investigate and prosecute crimes could be hindered without new mechanisms to replace current EU cooperation tools. Lisa Osofsky, the SFO director, remains optimistic but acknowledges potential setbacks and increased costs. The SFO relies on EU information exchanges and the European Arrest Warrant for cross-border investigations, which may be lost in a no-deal scenario. The UK would then have to revert to the slower 1957 Council of Europe Extradition Convention. The SFO is preparing by recruiting additional staff and creating a new intelligence role, but the absence of contingency planning is a concern for legal bodies. The loss of access to EU law-enforcement databases like Europol and the Schengen Information System is expected to disrupt operations and public safety.

Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon, which facilitated the UK's exit from the EU, has transformed the nature of EU membership by providing a clear exit procedure. The Withdrawal Agreement, a product of over two years of negotiation, addresses complex issues such as the end of legal disputes, data and waste management, financial liabilities, and future relationships. Brexit has raised significant constitutional questions within both the EU and the UK, and the process has implications for the future of the EU's structure, potentially paving the way for a more federalized Europe and affecting the dynamics of member states like Hungary and Poland.

Dominic Raab, former Brexit secretary and candidate for Conservative Party leader, is advocating for competition reform and consumer protection as key policies in his campaign. He suggests empowering the UK Competition and Markets Authority with greater authority to investigate anti-competitive practices and proposes specific industry interventions such as breaking up Openreach from BT, obliging mobile providers to itemize bills, and enabling bank account number portability. Raab's proposals align with the CMA's desire to focus more on consumer protection, and political support from Downing Street could be crucial for advancing these reforms.

The UK is actively engaging in negotiations to amend EU laws before Brexit to ensure a smoother transition for itself as a non-member state. Efforts include widening eligibility for EU funding, lowering market access barriers for non-EU companies, and influencing the EU's equivalence regime for financial services. The UK has had moderate success in these areas, including delaying competition rules and securing amendments to the European Defence Fund. The UK's role in shaping EU law from the inside will end with its membership in March, but efforts to influence EU decisions will continue through diplomatic channels.

The EU has expressed concerns over the UK's plan to avoid customs checks on the Irish border in a no-deal Brexit scenario, which will be analyzed for compliance with World Trade Organization rules. The UK intends to prevent a hard border by not introducing checks on goods from Ireland to Northern Ireland, with minimal checks for plant and animal health conducted away from the border. This approach has been questioned by Peter Mandelson, given the obligations under international trade law.

In 2024, there will be 83 national elections in 78 countries, a phenomenon not to be repeated until 2048. Projections suggest over 4 billion votes could be cast, influenced by global inflation and economic voting trends. The year may be challenging for incumbents, with potential turmoil in 'anocracies' and 'partly free' countries as classified by Freedom House. Elections in countries like Belarus, Chad, Iran, and Venezuela may lack fairness, while 'partly free' countries like Bangladesh and Tunisia could see unrest if governments win through questionable means. Populism's resurgence in Western democracies post-Brexit and Trump's election adds to the unpredictability of political events in 2024.

The article discusses the volatile stock market journey that GameStop's shares experienced earlier in the year. It highlights that the fluctuations in the company's stock value were not reflective of the actual value of the US videogame and electronics retailer. The piece implies that other factors, possibly market speculation or external influences, played a significant role in the erratic changes in GameStop's share price.

Sam Wilkin's book 'History Repeating' contends that the great events of history are like hurricanes waiting to happen, with leaders playing a role more as attendant factors than direct causes. The book examines cases such as Brexit, Trump's election, and the Russian Revolution, suggesting that educated dissent and the belief in making a difference are common factors in governmental collapses. Wilkin's perspective is not new but is delivered with an ironic flair.

Sam Wilkin's book 'History Repeating' contends that the great events of history are like hurricanes waiting to happen, with leaders playing a secondary role to underlying societal conditions. The book, which examines cases like Brexit, Trump's election, and the Russian revolution, argues that educated dissent and a belief in the ability to effect change are common factors in governmental collapses. The review notes that while Wilkin's perspective is not new, it is presented with an ironic flair.