Are we heading into a new commodities ‘supercycle’? February 20, 2021 Since the beginning of the year commodity prices have been surging, leading a number of banks to declare the start of a new “supercycle” for the assets. Bankers at Goldman Sachs were the first off the line, declaring that the Covid-19 had created the right structural conditions for the same kind of multi-year price growth [...]
Businesses need to teach their staff how to have better small talk and ditch weather chat February 20, 2021 Next week, I’ll be delivering the UK’s first university module in navigating small talk and networking at BPP University Law School. A university class on small talk? Do students really need to learn this, can it be taught, I hear you ask? Or perhaps you are shuddering at the idea of having small talk at [...]
Spirits showcase Whisky Show: Old & Rare goes digital February 20, 2021 Since 2017 the Whisky Show: Old & Rare has afforded aficionados an annual opportunity to sample some of the most elusive and legendary spirits in the world of whisky. Next week it returns, as a virtual event. This time round, the Whisky Show: Old & Rare will consist of four masterclasses, which will be streamed [...]
Biden approves major disaster declaration for Texas following crippling storm crisis February 20, 2021 President Joe Biden has approved a disaster declaration for Texas, clearing the way for more federal funds after a devastating storm raged across the southern United States. The action makes federal funding available to individuals across the state, including assistance for temporary housing and home repairs and low-cost loans. Millions of residents in the Lone Star [...]
Key Johnson aide and Dominic Cummings ally quits No 10 February 20, 2021 Oliver Lewis, the head of Boris Johnson’s ‘Union Unit’, has quit just two weeks into the job. Lewis resigned followed claims he had been accused by the Prime Minister and his fiancée of briefing against Michael Gove, the Times reported. The aide was only given his new role two weeks ago. The so-called ‘Union Unit’ [...]
Hallelujah: Two households to be able to meet outside by Easter February 20, 2021 Two households will be allowed to meet outside by Easter regardless of their size, though social distancing measures are likely to remain in place for months. The new rule is expected to be announced on Monday as part of Boris Johnson’s road map to ease lockdown restrictions, according to reports. Gatherings of six people from [...]
You Sex-AI thing – why relationships could be next to go digital February 20, 2021 It is fair to suggest that the art of dating and formulating new relationships has undergone a paradigm shift over the past year. The notion of digitised matchmaking is nothing new of course, but that stage of the journey is traditionally followed by face-to-face interactions and experiences to complete the process. However, with COVID-19 expediting [...]
Self-employed get tax reprieve as HMRC delays first late fee on unpaid self-assessment debt February 19, 2021 Self-employed get tax reprieve as HMRC delays first surcharge on unpaid self-assessment debt
Wall Street indexes follow FTSE 100 rise to end week on a high February 19, 2021 Wall Street follows FTSE 100 rise to end week on a high
G7 leaders commit to green Covid-19 recovery led by free trade February 19, 2021 The leaders of the G7 economies today committed to delivering a green recovery from the coronavirus pandemic at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The group – which is made up of the UK, US, Japan, Italy, France, Germany, and Canada – pledged to support free trade and co-operation in the face of [...]
