DEBATE: Is a new ‘Trump deal’ the answer to the Iran nuclear problem? January 15, 2020 Is a new “Trump deal” the answer to the Iran nuclear problem? YES, says Ben Kelly, a commentator for Reaction. Does anyone genuinely believe that Donald Trump’s objection to the Iran nuclear deal was based on detailed analysis of its contents? No. Trump rejected it as part of his obsession with dismantling Barack Obama’s legacy. [...]
Why Open Banking is the next finance revolution January 15, 2020 The saying that the “customer is king” has been an accepted truism for a long time. But it is only recently that this has really been the case, with technology largely driving a shift of power away from traditional providers to the consumer. Think of how music streaming services like Spotify completely changed how we [...]
To micromanage or not to micromanage, that is the question January 15, 2020 If you’re a manager, knowing when to bite your tongue and say nothing can be tough, especially when you’re watching someone make a mistake that you know how to avoid. Jump in too often, and you become a micromanager. Let people fail excessively, and they become disheartened and inactive. How do you strike the right [...]
RCEP or CPTPP: Will Asia finally agree a trade deal? January 14, 2020 It is occasionally worth revisiting where Asia is with its expansive and highly complex trade negotiations, given that one can often get lost in the acronyms and fanfare of the latest set of talks. The first major attempt, an agreement with 11 signatories called the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) or TPP11 — [...]
Boardroom shakeup at Buckingham Palace January 14, 2020 A shock decision that caught the establishment by surprise has led to rancour and division. Now, after hectic negotiations during which the media lapped up spin from each side, it looks as if a Canada-style deal is on the cards — following a pragmatic transition period. But this ain’t Brexit folks, it’s the modern monarchy [...]
Telling tall tales? Why job seekers are lying on their CV January 14, 2020 The job market is intense, both for candidates, who have to stand out among hundreds of competitors, and for businesses, which have to spot the best talent from hundreds of applications. As a result of this challenge, an increasing number of businesses are turning to technological solutions in the hiring process. However, as businesses start [...]
George Monbiot is wrong, farming isn’t outdated — it’s sowing the seeds of our future January 14, 2020 In his Channel 4 documentary last week “Apocalypse Cow” and the accompanying op-ed, the journalist George Monbiot both predicted and celebrated the end of farming. “After 12,000 years of feeding humankind,” he wrote, “all farming except fruit and veg production is likely to be replaced by ferming: brewing microbes through precision fermentation.” He went on [...]
In politics as in football, a star transfer player isn’t enough to save a struggling club January 14, 2020 As every football fan knows, the start of a new year marks the opening of the January transfer window. A host of Premier League teams, anxiously surveying their position in the table, will be forking out eight-figure sums for new players in order to drag themselves out of the relegation zone or up towards the [...]
DEBATE: Should Boris Johnson consider a complete cabinet overhaul after Brexit? January 14, 2020 Should Boris Johnson consider a complete cabinet overhaul after Brexit? Victoria Mackarness, account manager at CMS Strategic, says YES. Boris Johnson has an overwhelming majority, Brexit is on track to be delivered in just a couple of weeks, and the Conservative party is at last united on Europe for the first time in decades. This [...]
Three ways the Prime Minister can unleash the digital economy January 14, 2020 So far, the new government has yet to unveil its detailed plan for building a stronger, more prosperous, rebalanced Britain that we heard about so much during the election campaign last year. The first post-Brexit Budget in March will be an opportunity for Downing Street to show its commitment to this cause — and pledges [...]