David Sheppard
@oilsheppard.bsky.social
Financial Times Acting Whitehall Editor. Former FT Energy Editor, but still dabbles in what makes the world go round. Ex-Reuters.
If you like arguing about Oxbridge, class, regionalism and alleged politically convenient truthiness - and your presence on this website suggests you probably do - then read on. as.ft.com/r/58f0f3fa-f... @rachel-rees.bsky.social
UK education secretary accused of misleading claim about Oxford entry
Former Xaverian College pupils say Lucy Powell was not the ‘only one’ in her year to attend elite university
as.ft.com
Jeremy Clarkson now has the chance to do the funniest thing...
The Wapo algo has created the most Bluesky of stories
The Washington Post@washingtonpost.com · 2mo agoSocks from Arsenal Football Club were designed for professional soccer players. But the club had dozens of unused pairs piling up. Now, the socks are getting a new life by protecting rescued donkeys and horses, and helping them heal from injuries.
Is there really a credible route for Andy Burnham? I can see a farcical route back - which I wouldn't rule out Labour embracing. But a credible one? Not so much.
One of the saddest post-pandemic/inflation surge/general malaise trends we’re still living through is the number of London restaurants no longer doing the free bread thing
The Atlantic@theatlantic.com · 3mo agoRestaurants have been judged on the quality of their free bread from the institutions’ earliest days, @caity.bsky.social writes. She set out to discover which one actually serves the best free bread in America: theatln.tc/7c72x8iK
FORE! A Russian businessman looked at buying a Lake District golf course that sits next to the rail line serving the UK's shipyard where the nuclear-power Aukus attacks submarines will be built. Then the FT started asking questions... www.ft.com/content/19a3...
Russian oilman tried to buy land on railway to British nuclear site
Purchase of Lake District golf course collapsed this week after government officials and the FT raised questions over strategic location
ft.com
Won 21, drawn 7, lost 5 Hearts, Man City and Arsenal all with near identical results in their respective leagues this season, but only two sets of fans feeling kinda cursed right now
💥 Trump threatened to stop supplying weapons to Ukraine in order to pressure European Nato allies to join a “coalition of the willing” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Nato’s Rutte warned capitals Trump was “rather hysterical” about their refusal w @lauramdubois.ft.com as.ft.com/r/d508debe-f...
Trump threatened to stop weapons for Ukraine unless Europe joined Hormuz coalition
[FREE TO READ] Nato’s top official urged key alliance members to offer help to US to reopen key waterway
as.ft.com
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth’s broker looked to buy a BlackRock defence fund before Iran attack The inquiry on behalf of the high-profile potential client was flagged internally at BlackRock, according to three people familiar with the matter www.ft.com/content/744e...
Pete Hegseth’s broker looked to buy defence fund before Iran attack
Morgan Stanley wealth manager approached BlackRock about multimillion-dollar investment on behalf of US defence secretary
ft.com
Trump tells @edwardluce.bsky.social Nato faces a ‘very bad future’ if they don’t assist the US in Iran www.ft.com/content/1ca6...
Donald Trump warns Nato faces ‘very bad future’ if allies fail to help US in Iran
US president tells the FT in an interview that China summit could be delayed
ft.com
US intervention in oil futures would be a ‘biblical disaster’, CME chief Terry Duffy warns, amid speculation the Trump administration was considering the option as.ft.com/r/8cde746a-4... @financialtimes.com
US intervention in oil futures would be ‘biblical disaster’, CME warns
[FREE TO READ] Terry Duffy says any attempt by the government to lower prices using derivatives market would erode confidence
as.ft.com
I have no view on this beyond finding grown men saying they’re “excited” strangely nauseating.
Mike Masnick@masnick.com · 5mo agoToni is a wonderfully thoughtful and insightful exec, who has shown that you can build a real business around open software. Finding someone who can execute and who understands the vision of an open protocol at the same time is rare—Toni gets it. I'm excited to see what Toni and Jay build together.
Oil just hit Mum and Dad seen dancing together in the kitchen. She’s glowing. He’s smiling for the first time in years. Kids confused.
Marie Le Conte@youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com · 5mo agoI don't know anything about oil/the oil markets/the oil trade (be warned: I am not asking you to explain these things to me) so would say my life online right now is "child of probably divorcing parents senses that maybe the vibes are becoming increasingly off at home?"
The oil market thinks Trump just TACO’d (I’m less convinced, but let’s see) A $30 price swing in a day, helped by expectations of a big strategic oil stock release. Such larks. Oil tumbles to $90 as Trump says Iran war is ‘very complete’ www.ft.com/content/56dd... via @ft
Middle East war live: Oil tumbles to $90 as Trump says Iran war is ‘very complete’
Brent benchmark had exceeded $119 in early action
ft.com
For those who go to bed at a normal hour rather than watching Armageddon/a normal economic reaction to scarcity
David Sheppard@oilsheppard.bsky.social · 5mo agoAt the risk of boring everyone,a little context. $100 oil in isolation isn’t that bad. It averaged around that level from 2011-2014 without severe economic ramifications*. It’s the pace of the rise that has people spooked. And not knowing where it might stop.
At the risk of boring everyone,a little context. $100 oil in isolation isn’t that bad. It averaged around that level from 2011-2014 without severe economic ramifications*. It’s the pace of the rise that has people spooked. And not knowing where it might stop.
Oil just hit Dad’s bought a convertible without telling Mum shortly after the open
Marie Le Conte@youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com · 5mo agoI don't know anything about oil/the oil markets/the oil trade (be warned: I am not asking you to explain these things to me) so would say my life online right now is "child of probably divorcing parents senses that maybe the vibes are becoming increasingly off at home?"
"He always goes for the hug but she's sticking with the formalities!" 😅 A nice moment between Princess Anne and Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu 🤗
Radical parties of the right and left in top two slots. Legacy parties getting only a third of the vote between them. A whole new world.
Owen Winter@owenwntr.bsky.social · 5mo agoYouGov has the Greens in second place for the first time
American military assets in the region and Gulf oil supplies are vulnerable to retaliation and Israel is a renewed target. Read the FT's military briefing here: ft.trib.al/sJzNxc2
one of the world's largest smuggling networks has accidentally exposed itself because of a stupid e-mail configuration blunder, which has revealed around 50 apparently unconnected companies are all sharing back-office functions: www.ft.com/content/4310...
Email blunder exposes $90bn Russian oil smuggling ring
Apparent network of companies using same server includes little-known group that has become country’s largest oil exporter
ft.com
Shabana Mahmood, Lisa Nandy and Wes Streeting (and dark horse contender Armed Forces Minister Al Carns, who's not in cabinet) have now all also Tweeted or voiced support for Starmer. He's got a full house for the moment. Now to see if they all really mean it...
David Sheppard@oilsheppard.bsky.social · 6mo agoOnly three cabinet ministers have not Tweeted or put out a message of support for Starmer: Wes Streeting Shabana Mahmood Lisa Nandy (who is at the Winter Olympics) This could of course change, but it's where we're at just before 3:30pm
Only three cabinet ministers have not Tweeted or put out a message of support for Starmer: Wes Streeting Shabana Mahmood Lisa Nandy (who is at the Winter Olympics) This could of course change, but it's where we're at just before 3:30pm
How Epstein propelled investment career of UK power broker Ian Osborne, a onetime PR man and adviser to David Cameron Epstein guided him in setting up Hedosophia (now one of UK’s most important start-up backers) and even appointed him to one of his own investment vehicles www.ft.com/content/8b04...
Epstein propelled investment career of UK power broker Ian Osborne
Convicted sex offender helped establish tech fund Hedosophia after Osborne offered to help clean up Epstein’s image
ft.com
EXC: US State dept is set to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities in UK/ Europe to amplify Washington’s policy stances and challenge perceived threats to free speech W/ @annasophiegross.bsky.social, @oilsheppard.bsky.social & Amy McKinnon as.ft.com/r/98452b33-5...
US government to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities in Europe
[FREE TO READ] State department grants to spread ‘American values’ are part of Washington’s 250th anniversary celebrations
as.ft.com
If Trump has actually convinced India to stop buying Russian oil it’s potentially a very big deal. India was buying ~40% of Russian export volumes, and now the only remaining buyer of any significance is China. And Beijing just got huge pricing power and leverage www.ft.com/content/72f1...
Trump says US to cut India tariffs after Modi agrees halt to Russian oil imports
President claims New Delhi will buy more than $500bn of American goods
ft.com
EXC: The multibillion-pound contract to build ‘Skynet 6’ next-gen military satellites is shaping up as key flashpoint in UK govt, as Trump’s threats to western allies are fuelling concern about London’s reliance on Washington for defence giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Trump threats fuel concern over UK reliance on US defence and military satellites
Contest between Airbus and Lockheed Martin to supply SkyNet 6 programme has become lightning rod for Whitehall debate
giftarticle.ft.com
