Review7

Petrol stations in many parts of China have begun rationing diesel amid rising costs and falling supplies. Some truck drivers are having to wait entire days to refuel, according to posts on social media site Weibo. China is currently in the midst of a massive power crunch, as coal and natural gas shortages have closed factories and left homes without power. And this latest issue is only likely to contribute to an ongoing global supply chain crisis, say analysts. "The current diesel shortages seem to be affecting long distance transportation businesses which could include goods meant for markets outside of China," said Mattie Bekink, China Director at the Economist Intelligence Unit. "Depending on the duration and intensity of this crunch, we could well see this contribute to the global supply chain challenges." The global supply chain crisis has been largely driven by the Covid-19 pandemic, with demand surging as economies re-open. In China, trucks are only being al...

Boris Johnson's government has just laid out its annual tax and spending plans with a clear central theme: building back better after the pandemic. The prime minister wants to overhaul the UK economy as it  emerges from a deep recession  by boosting productivity, skills and wages. His task is being made all the more difficult by  skyrocketing inflation , shortages of goods and  fuel , and massive government budget deficits. Business could help Johnson deliver his economic agenda. But analysts and industry leaders worry that Johnson and his finance minister, Rishi Sunak, are more interested in using taxpayers' money to pursue a political agenda that appeals to voters than helping businesses recover and thrive. Johnson's Conservatives are the traditional party of business, yet the prime minister has long had a difficult relationship with corporate interests. In 2018 while serving as Foreign Secretary, it was widely reported in UK media that when ask...