International trade in the era of Trump 2.0 – how will the ICC adapt? February 20, 2025 Philippe Varin, chair of the International Chamber of Commerce, is stewarding the kind of globalist institution which Trump instinctively distrusts. He speaks to Eliot Wilson about championing free trade in an era of protectionism The International Chamber of Commerce is the world’s biggest representative organisation for business and trade. To establish some sense of scale, [...]
Working from home is not to blame for ‘hollowing out’ London February 18, 2025 Sadiq Khan has expressed concern about the decline in office attendance and urged employers to attract workers back – but the finger of blame turns inexorably on himself, says Tom Jones Nick, 30 years old, shuffles out of his single bed with a weary sigh. The dull grey morning light of late winter barely pierces [...]
Trump order could see spike in Wimbledon and Formula 1 bribes February 16, 2025 Bribes, including tickets to Wimbledon and Formula 1, could spike this year after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order that will halt the prosecution of firms accused of bribery abroad. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) has been in place since 1977 and has stringently looked down on firms using bribes on government [...]
Starmer warned to boost defence spending or enter ‘bin of history’ February 15, 2025 Keir Starmer has been warned by a former head of the army that he faces being consigned to the dustbin of history unless the government significantly hikes defence spending. Ex-chief of the general staff Lord Dannatt said spending should rise to a 3.5 per cent share of the economy. The UK currently spends around 2.3 [...]
Move fast and break the civil service: Will Whitehall get its own Elon Musk? February 12, 2025 Whether it sees Elon Musk’s DOGE as a success or a failure, Whitehall should see it as a warning. Because institutions which won’t reform themselves can only ever be reformed by outsiders, usually in unpredictable ways, says Joe Hill In December, the Prime Minister pledged to “rewire the State”, and Cabinet Minister Pat McFadden told [...]
Sadiq Khan: Home-working risks London ‘hollowing out’ February 11, 2025 Sir Sadiq Khan has raised the alarm on working from home, saying London “cannot afford” to be a city where “the centre has been hollowed out”. The London Mayor urged employers to consider the post-lockdown effect on commuters across the capital, as first reported by the BBC. Khan added unease regarding the amount of young [...]
Why are so many young men turning to Reform February 10, 2025 Young men are flocking to Reform because Nigel Farage is telling them what they want to hear: That they have a voice and it matters, says Oliver Dean British politics appears to have been tipped on its head. Young men who were once considered a sure thing for Labour are now flocking to Reform UK. [...]
NFL ‘running scared’ of Trump and Musk ahead of Super Bowl with Bluesky ban February 6, 2025 The NFL risks alienating fans and accusations of “running scared” from Donald Trump and Elon Musk ahead of Super Bowl LIX after it banned teams from posting on X rival Bluesky, say industry watchers. Sunday’s showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans, the climax to the NFL season, is set [...]
Markets post modest recovery after Trump delays tariffs on Mexico February 3, 2025 Markets recovered some ground on Monday afternoon after last minute concessions persuaded Donald Trump to delay imposing tariffs on Mexico. But investors in many parts of the world were still left nursing heavy losses, having underestimated the risks around the President’s trade plans. Over the weekend, the US announced 25 per cent additional tariffs on [...]
Trump’s tariffs: Short-term tactic or the start of a trade war? February 3, 2025 It’s not yet clear whether Trump’s threat of tariffs on the EU are intended as a shock and awe tactic to boost US exports or a more considered effort at reshaping global trade. Either way, we’re in for a period of economic volatility, says Andrew Hammond China, Canada, and Mexico are in the process of [...]