Energy Sector Grapples with Hydra-Headed Problems of Global Supply and Demand

At the recent COP-26 climate summit in Glasgow, government officials and leaders of international organisations put the spotlight on the energy sector. This year marked the first meeting of the Energy Transition Council, formed to accelerate the shift to cleaner

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Inflation, Used Cars, Silicon Chips and Supply-Demand: Links in a Worrying Chain

Chips — no, not the potato or chocolate kind, the electronic ones – are a driving force behind a spike in inflation. Whether it’s cars or computers, we depend on silicon chips — and a global shortage is having some

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World Bank: Sustained Global Solidarity Needed to Achieve Global COVID-19 Recovery

The pandemic has affected virtually everyone in the world, but its impacts have been hardest on the poor and vulnerable, deepening inequalities and exacerbating underlying challenges. Now more than ever, global solidarity is needed to address the widening gaps between

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Invasion of the Robots! Beware, Beware! Just Because We Can Doesn’t Mean That We Should…

AI, facial-recognition, machine learning… where should humans draw the line when it comes to automated ‘job theft’? Yogesh Patel gives it some thought. Hammers, spanners, screwdrivers, scissors: tools of all shapes, sizes and functions have acted as catalysts for human

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Permanent Output Losses from the Pandemic

In the World Economic Outlook, published October 12, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) slightly lowered its forecast for global economic growth this year to 5.9%, while maintaining a forecast of 4.9% for 2022. It also emphasized the “divergence” in the

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From the Black Plague to the Covid Crisis, Quarantine has Affected Maritime Trade

An overly familiar term in the 2020s, “quarantine”, dates from the 14th Century and is derived from quarantena — Italian for 40 — the number of days ships were held in the port of Venice, crews aboard, during the Black

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Home is Where the Mortgage is: 2008 Crisis has Lessons for Sector

Of all the sectors affected by the pandemic, the housing market has performed better than expected. In 2008, home loans were at the epicentre of one of the largest economic downfalls in history. The packaged selling of risky loans led

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Where are We Going? Nowhere, Fast, According to Travel and Tourism Stats

Whether domestic or international, business or pleasure, travel is an integral part of modern life — no longer just a luxury for the wealthy. The rise of the affluent middle class, and increased access to global networks, have caused a

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Shock and Ore — India’s Love of Gold Goes Beyond Market Prices

Gold is considered the most valuable of all the precious metals — especially in Indian culture. While the fabulous ore holds value around the world, Indians often keep it for reasons that extend beyond monetary worth. Its purity makes it

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Glued to the Box, or Linked to a Laptop? Streaming is Up-ending Entertainment

Digital consumer habits are reshaping the entertainment industry. A recent report by consulting firm Deloitte found that UK residents are now more likely than ever to have multiple subscription-based, on-demand services for film, TV, and video games. That shift, and

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